California Man Convicted of Triple Murder Following Ultimatum from Parents
A man in California was found guilty of murdering his parents and their housekeeper during a violent spree inside their $6 million home. This disturbing incident was reportedly triggered by his parents urging him to seek treatment for mental health and addiction issues.
Camden Burton Nicholson, 34, was convicted on three counts of first-degree murder for the killings, which took place in 2019 in a gated community in Newport Beach. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office confirmed the verdict.
Up until a certain point, Nicholson had lived a fairly normal life. However, after returning from a nine-month Mormon mission at age 19, he reportedly sank into deep depression, leading to increasingly erratic behavior.
His parents grew increasingly alarmed by his actions, which included substance abuse and contacting escorts. “In such a short time, he transformed from a well-behaved kid to someone involved with drugs and escorts,” his brother, Cabin Nicholson, testified in court.
Defending her family, Cabin mentioned that their mother had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, which she felt contributed to the toxic family dynamics that could have worsened Camden’s mental health.
After instances of verbal abuse and Camden disappearing for a time in late 2018, his parents engaged a private investigator, fearing for his safety. They worried he might have harmed himself or been hospitalized.
He resurfaced at a Marriott hotel, racking up charges on his father’s credit card before his parents insisted he return home to seek help. Following a short admission to a psychiatric facility, which ended on February 11, 2019, he returned to his family’s home.
Police reported he initially confronted his father, Richard, around 7 p.m., ultimately stabbing him multiple times. A deputy chief speculated that Richard must have realized Camden was the assailant.
Camden then attacked his mother, beating her with a heavy statue and subsequently stabbing her. By the time housekeeper Maria Morse arrived to clean the following day, she too was violently attacked, with her body later hidden in a plastic bin.
Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter questioned Camden’s mindset during the acts, highlighting behavior inconsistent with someone lacking mental capacity. After the brutal events, Camden spent freely on a night out, buying marijuana and other items, before eventually calling 911 to claim self-defense.
When authorities conducted a welfare check, they discovered a horrific scene in the family home, with all three victims fatally wounded.
On Wednesday, an Orange County jury reached a verdict, convicting Camden of multiple murders. The case then advanced to a new phase to assess his mental state at the time of the acts as officials ponder whether he was criminally insane.
While Porter indicated the potential for mental illness, he noted that Camden had never been diagnosed with severe conditions, although he was receiving treatment for autism spectrum disorder. Depending on the findings, Camden could face life imprisonment or be sent to a mental health facility.
