California Man Convicted for Triple Homicide
A 34-year-old man from California has been found guilty of brutally murdering his parents and their housekeeper in Newport Beach.
On Wednesday, a jury convicted Camden Burton Nicholson on three counts of first-degree murder, also noting the special circumstances of multiple murders concerning his parents, Richard Nicholson, aged 64, and Kim Nicholson, aged 61, as well as Maria Morse, a 57-year-old housekeeper who had worked for the family for years.
The prosecution presented evidence indicating that the murders unfolded over a span of two days in February 2019 within the confines of the Nicholsons’ home situated in a gated community. During the opening statements, Senior Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter highlighted crucial surveillance footage showing Richard Nicholson returning home around 12:45 p.m. on the day of his death. It was mentioned that Camden’s parents had encouraged him to seek help for his mental health and addiction challenges, which had led to a confrontation in the garage.
According to Mr. Porter, Camden’s dependence on his parents played a significant role in the tragic events. He recounted how Camden stabbed his father “over and over again” before trying to conceal the body in a small bathroom, blocking the door with a towel to contain the blood.
Shortly after, when Kim returned home, Camden attacked her with a metal statue, stabbing her repeatedly in the garage. Porter described the scene, noting the amount of blood, and mentioned that Camden attempted to absorb it with a flour bag. Investigators found clumps of Kim’s hair, indicating a struggle for her life.
The following morning, when Maria Morse arrived for work, Camden likewise stabbed her multiple times, slit her throat, and concealed her body in a large plastic box located in the kitchen pantry. Disturbingly, following the murders, he continued to spend extravagantly using his parents’ vehicle, purchasing a variety of items, including hundreds of dollars worth of goods at a local marijuana dispensary.
On the evening of February 13, 2019, Camden drove himself to a medical facility in Irvine, calling 911 to report that he had killed his parents in self-defense, claiming he believed they were attempting to murder him. When police arrived, they discovered a chaotic and bloody scene, with all three victims showing numerous stab wounds.
During the trial, Camden’s defense lawyer argued that he suffers from schizoaffective disorder and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. Defense attorney Richard Chan explained that Camden’s mental health issues began around 2012 while he was on a mission with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida, during which he was treated in a psychiatric hospital. While living independently in Colorado in 2017, he discontinued his medication and began experiencing hallucinations again.
Nicholson had been admitted to a mental health facility just a few months prior to the killings. His legal team contended that at the time of the murders, he was paranoid and had been unable to connect with his family.
The trial is now entering its next phase, set to commence Thursday, focusing on Nicholson’s mental state at the time of the murders. This determination will influence whether he faces life in prison without parole or receives treatment in a state mental health facility.
