Twenty-nine years after Ricky Cowles was found beaten and shot in his Lancaster, California, apartment, investigators say his pregnant 16-year-old girlfriend, Amy Preasmyer, orchestrated the killing. William “Billy” Hoffman was convicted in 1999, later admitted his role and implicated Preasmyer; she was convicted in 2007 and received a life sentence. Records indicate she was granted a parole suitability hearing in December 2025 and appears to have been released following that hearing. Hoffman’s sentence was commuted and he was released in 2020; he has spoken publicly about remorse and trying to make amends.
Where Is Amy Preasmyer Now? A Look At Her Life Nearly Three Decades After Her Boyfriend’s 1997 Murder
Amy Preasmyer (L)Credit: NBC
Nearly 29 years after Richard “Ricky” Cowles Jr. was found beaten and shot in his Lancaster, California, apartment, the case that tied his death to his then-16-year-old, pregnant girlfriend, Amy Preasmyer, remains a striking example of a long-running homicide investigation and multiple subsequent convictions.
What Happened
On Aug. 12, 1997, deputies discovered 21-year-old Cowles alive but comatose in his apartment; he died two days later. Investigators ultimately concluded the attack was premeditated and involved several people who discussed and assisted in carrying out the killing.
Ricky Cowles' fatherCredit: NBC
Investigations and Trials
Authorities first arrested William "Billy" Hoffman, a store clerk who, according to witnesses, had told others he committed the killing. Hoffman was convicted in 1999 of beating Cowles with a claw hammer and shooting him and was sentenced to life without parole. In a 2002 letter to the victim's family, he admitted his role and said he would testify that Preasmyer had solicited the murder.
Preasmyer denied involvement for years but was arrested in 2005. In 2007 a jury convicted her of murder with special-circumstance findings, including lying in wait, conspiracy and solicitation of murder. She received a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Billy Hoffmann on 'Dateline'Credit: NBC
Other People Involved
Jennifer Kellogg, who had stayed with the couple around the time of the killing, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years. Prosecutors said Kellogg and Preasmyer introduced Hoffman to the residence, discussed hiding places and how the attack could be carried out. David Ashbury later received a two-year sentence for supplying the firearm used in the crime.
Prison Writings and Claims
While incarcerated at the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla, Preasmyer wrote about prison life and said she was falsely accused of sexual assault, leading to a period in administrative segregation (Ad-Seg). She published an essay in 2013 in the San Francisco Bay View and contributed pieces to Prison Writers, a nonprofit platform for incarcerated authors.
Later Custody Changes And Public Attention
The case received renewed attention in a 2023 Dateline investigation that revisited the evidence and witness testimony connecting Preasmyer to a plot to kill Cowles. Records from the Central California Women’s Facility indicate Preasmyer was granted a parole suitability hearing in December 2025 and appears to have been released following that hearing, according to facility records. This outcome has been reported as based on those records but may be subject to later updates or official confirmations.
William "Billy" Hoffman After Prison
Hoffman’s life sentence was commuted by former California Governor Jerry Brown, and he was released in 2020. In interviews since his release, including a 2023 Dateline conversation, he described trying to make amends and educating young people about the consequences of violent crime. He has maintained a modest social media presence and identifies as remorseful and focused on family life.
Note: Details about post-2025 custody and release status were drawn from facility records and contemporary reporting. Readers should consult official state records or reporting updates for any further developments.
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