California prosecutors drop charges against 2 men for 2006 triple slaying, citing legal issues
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against two men who were accused of killing three members of a Southern California household whose bodies were found at a burning home.
The Riverside County district attorney's office on Friday dismissed charges against 26-year-old Robert Pape and 25-year-old Cristin Smith, citing legal issues that arose during grand jury proceedings against Pape.
The office declined to discuss the decision in greater detail and says the investigation continues.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The men were arrested earlier this year and charged with the 2006 murders of Pape's ex-girlfriend, 18-year-old Becky Friedli, her mother, Vicki Friedli, and her mother's boyfriend, Jon Hayward.
The teenager's body was found on fire in a wheelbarrow near the family's home in the rural community of Pinyon Pines. The other two victims' bodies were found inside.