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'It was like a kick in the gut all over again': Cory Fowler's parents heartbroken over dropped murder charge

Cristina Stiles was charged with first-degree murder in the death of her ex-boyfriend Clifford "Cory" Fowler, who was shot and killed in his Spokane Valley apartment in 2016.

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — A first-degree murder charge against Cristina Stiles has been dismissed after the State was unable to obtain necessary evidence to proceed with a trial, according to newly released documents.

Stiles’ ex-boyfriend Clifford “Cory” Fowler, 34, was shot and killed in his Spokane Valley apartment in 2016. His parents, Patty and Dan Fowler, were the ones who discovered his body after a week. 

In August 2018, Spokane Valley Major Crimes detectives arrested Stiles in connection to Fowler’s murder in Jacksonville, Florida. 

She was held on a $1,000,000 bond, which was eventually reduced to $250,000. 

Stiles' defense attorney Thomas Kryzminski told KREM reporter Amanda Roley that she has no restrictions now that the charges have been dropped. Her bond has also been refunded.

Kryzminski cited evidence showing that the trajectory of the bullets suggests that a person much taller than Stiles had shot Fowler, according to Roley. 

Kryzminski had also planned to have the medical examiner explain how the sequencing of the bullets was incorrectly reported. He said the first bullet went through Fowler's chest and the second to his head. 

Documents initially reported the sequencing of the bullets the other way around, according to Roley. 

Kryzminski also told Roley that the defense was prepared to go to trial on March 11. 

Fowler's parents were heartbroken over the dismissed charges. They said they still believe Stiles killed their son. 

"It was like a kick in the gut all over again. It came as quite a shock," Dan Fowler said.

"I'm sure that they're doing the best job they can with what they have to work with. It would be best to drop them now and arrest her again later than take her to trial now and lose it," he continued. 

When Fowler’s parents first received the phone call about Stiles' arrest in August, they said they immediately knew who it was.

"It is really awesome news. I just don't know, I feel kind of like a wall has come down," Patty Fowler said in August of 2018.

RELATED: Arrest in 2016 victim's murder case gives parents relief

RELATED: Cory Fowler's family still waiting for answers a year after his murder

Prior to Fowler’s death, he and Stiles were involved in child custody hearings.

In February 2016, detectives questioned Stiles about her whereabouts between February 11 and February 13, and she could not give a definitive answer. In March 2016, a Spokane County detective requested emails from Fowler’s ex-girlfriend.

Stiles said she did not kill Fowler and was not involved in his death in any manner, according to court documents.

Court documents said Fowler’s body was in the “later stages of decomposition,” which included mummification and bloating. This showed he had been dead for several days.

RELATED: Detectives look into homicide victim's ex-girlfriend

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