In a chilling case that has haunted California for nearly three decades, the story of Richard “Ricky” Cowles Jr., who was murdered in 1997, has been revisited in a recent Dateline investigation, shedding light on the involvement of his then-16-year-old girlfriend, Amy Preasmyer. The investigation highlights how Preasmyer went from a seemingly innocent teenager to a convicted orchestrator of Cowles’ brutal death.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/where-is-amy-preasmyer-now-main-060525-7e10cc770ed94205b3f20d209ffbf3e6.jpg)
Cowles, just 21 years old at the time, was found beaten and shot in his Lancaster apartment on 12 August 1997. Preasmyer, who was pregnant with his child, had been out for a drive when the incident occurred. Though he initially survived, Cowles slipped into a coma and tragically passed away two days later. The initial investigation pointed to William “Billy” Hoffman, a store clerk, who became the prime suspect after he allegedly bragged about the murder to various individuals.
Hoffman was convicted in 1999 for Cowles’ murder and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Despite initially claiming innocence, he later confessed in a letter to Cowles’ parents, stating he had acted on the instructions of Preasmyer. “I believe she reached a point where she blamed the victim for the pregnancy,” remarked Deputy District Attorney Michael Blake, elaborating on Preasmyer’s alleged feelings towards her boyfriend. Evidence suggested that Preasmyer was actively seeking someone to kill Cowles long before the tragic events unfolded.
Months after Cowles’ death, law enforcement apprehended Hoffman, who had reportedly used a claw hammer in the assault and subsequently shot Cowles. During his trial, witnesses recounted Hoffman’s claims that the murder had been orchestrated at Preasmyer’s behest, yet she continued to deny any involvement until her own arrest in 2005.
In 2007, Amy Preasmyer was convicted following a lengthy legal battle and was found guilty of orchestrating her boyfriend’s murder. She faced multiple charges, including conspiracy and solicitation to commit murder. Alongside her conviction, two other individuals were also found culpable in relation to Cowles’ death. Jennifer Kellogg, who had been living with the couple in the days leading to the crime, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and received a 17-year sentence. Testimonies during the trial indicated Kellogg’s involvement in facilitating the murder by discussing ways to commit the crime with Hoffman.
In a further twist connected to the case, David Ashbury was sentenced to two years for supplying the firearm used in the murder, illustrating the complex web of involvement surrounding Cowles’ tragic death.
Following her conviction, Preasmyer was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in 2008. While serving her time at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, she alleged that she was falsely accused of sexual assault and subsequently spent time in Administrative Segregation. Preasmyer has expressed her experiences of confinement and conditions in an essay published in 2013, contributing to a nonprofit writing platform aimed at incarcerated individuals.
Recent developments concerning Preasmyer suggest that she has been re-evaluated for her sentence, as there are indications she was granted parole suitability in December 2025, possibly paving the way for her release from prison.
Meanwhile, Hoffman has experienced a significant transformation since his own release. Following a commutation of his sentence by former California Governor Jerry Brown, he was released from prison in 2020. In interviews, he has expressed a desire to educate young people about the hazards of violent crime, reflecting on his past with a sense of remorse. “It’s something I don’t like to think about, but part of me doesn’t want to forget what I’ve done,” Hoffman stated during an interview, shedding light on his ongoing struggle with the weight of his actions.
As the case of Ricky Cowles Jr. continues to resonate with the public, it serves as a stark reminder of the complexity of human relationships and the dire consequences that can arise from misguided choices. With both Preasmyer and Hoffman navigating their respective paths post-incarceration, the true impact of that fateful day in 1997 lingers, illustrating the long shadows cast by crime and punishment.