DA's Office Dismisses Charges Against 2 Men In 2006 Pinyon Pines Triple Murder

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Charges were dismissed Friday for two men in the 2006 triple murder located at a Pinyon Pines home.

According to the Riverside County District Attorney's Office, Robert Lars Pape, 26, and Christin Conrad Smith, 25, were each charged with three counts of murder in the deaths of Jon Hayward, Vicki Friedli and daughter Becky Friedli.

Earlier this year, Pape was indicted by a grand jury and Smith was ordered to stand trial by a judge following a preliminary hearing, according to authorities.

According to the district attorney, legal issues arose during proceedings against Pape that made it appropriate to dismiss the case at this time.

Authorities said the district attorney's office found it would not be appropriate to continue the criminal proceedings only against Smith, thus, the charges against both men have been dismissed.

Authorities said just before 10 p.m. on Sept. 17, 2006, a fire was reported at the Friedli home locate on Alpine Drive.

Once on scene, firefighters said they found the body of Becky Friedli burning outside in a wheelbarrow located about 70-feet from the home that was engulfed in flames.

When the blaze was extinguished, officials found the bodies of Hayward and Vicki Friedli, who were shot inside of their home.

No motive was given in the cold case, which sparked attention in 2012 when the victims' family enlisted a team of 10 retired law enforcement investigators to assist.

This investigation into these murders is ongoing.

The district attorney's office said they believe and expect murder charges to be refiled in the near future.

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