Something's fishy." It makes no difference whatsoever if youre an athlete. Mom Drove Wife and Kids Off Cliff, the 'Hart Family Murders' Remain Chilling, Minn. And she's like, "Hi. In November 2003, Stephen was still married to his ex, an American woman, and living in China for the first time when his spouse accused him of trying to suffocate her and throw her over the railing of their eighth floor apartment. My name is Rhonda.". I had hypothermia. Nichols may have had a million reasons to keep suicide a secret. The Investigator book. Carrie Rasmussen [in court]: When you look at the relationship that the defendant then had with Rhonda Casto, Notes from a therapist Rhonda had been seeing reveal she was depressed but not suicidal from her relationship with Stephen, which she described as "loveless.". Peter Van Sant: And did Rhonda ever tell you how young her sister was when she first had sex with Stephen? So it sounds like a small price to pay to be there for when my client gets to see freedom for the first time in a year. I'm still completely blown away by the -- the decision that was made in this. Casto fell 100 feet to her death on March 16, 2009, while hiking on the Eagle Creek Trail in the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon (pictured), Casto had slipped on the path and fallen into a freezing ravine, where she died of hypothermia, Simmons has had strong doubts about Nichols' story from the beginning, telling People:'She would never skip down a trail that narrow. I was always over there. But investigators believe there really was a relationship between Nichols and Melanie, one that continued on and off for four years, right up to that fateful last hike. And she goes, "Because I wanna leave our daughter something in case I die.". Odd that you find the need to defend Nichols so stronglyI have a feeling youre not exactly a neutral party. Figures and Tables. America dumps Prince Harry and Meghan Markle - as his approval rating drops 45 James Martin warns This Morning viewers why they should NEVER store their eggs in the fridge. She is a scientifically tested and studied expert. Stephen says: No I did not. Butt out Biden! On top of that, the claims from the other people didnt mean much in regards to whether or not Stephen may have killed her- they were just claims of him saying something to her that wasnt very nice. Downing Street slams US President's criticism of new laws to restrict impact of strikes Ouch! Stephen Nichols: I can say this with being with so many American women, Chinese women -- all-inclusive -- are better partners. He wasn't around as much. - Investigation Discovery, Mystery at Eagle Creek: What really happened on Oregon model's fatal hike? I read a lot. I love Rhonda. Debt-ridden couple killed their dog and then shot themselves dead with shotgun on the day they were due to Was it all for the cameras? Stephen Nichols, 42, has admitted he was having sex with his girlfriend Rhonda Casto's 16-year-old sister Melanie at the time that Casto fell to her death on a hike in 2009 in Oregon. You can find out more and change our default settings with Cookies Settings. A fast and unbiased roundup of whats happening in the world today. It's a narrow trail. I was on the phone a couple of times when they were in a physical fight, actually. The next day, Arnold feeds the cash into the bail machine. He tried to help her, he says sliding down the ravine and trying to swim across a freezing creek to get to her. Stephen Nichols: We were both holding onto each other's clothing, and we were both yelling. Jessica Colburn: She was so happy that he was finally planning something. Click here to find personal data about Stephen Nichols including phone numbers, addresses, directorships, electoral roll information, related property prices and other useful information. A few hours later she was dead. Background. He'd need an extra day to arrange for the ankle monitor required for Nichols' release. Nichols says they didn't linger on the trail for long. Peter Van Sant: And what were you sensing from Rhonda? He chased after her, but by the time he reached her body he collapsed from exhaustion and hypothermia. Jessica Colburn: The proposal never happened. According to his plea, Nichols received three years of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time. Stephen Nichols: Uh-huh. So both Nichols and Rhonda had each taken out a $1 million policy on the other. And I felt like it happened out of nowhere. When Rhonda Casto set out on March 16, 2009, for a hike with her boyfriend, her family had no idea the day would transform into a nightmare one that ended with Castos lifeless body at the bottom of a steep ravine. So I wld scrap her testimony, but theres plenty of motive even w/out it. in philosophy from West Chester University, M.A.R. (505) 431 - 5992; crusty italian dinner rolls recipe; zulay henao military service. His condo, his money, his -- you know, his status. It's not justice. Julia Simmons: I started to cry. Stephen Nichols: Would it have made a difference, do you really think? It was a challenging one because of the shady characters on both sides of the story. But this case is not about belief, it's about the facts that can be presented to a jury at trial. He doesnt really come across like some of the other husbands/boyfriends who have been suspected of killing their partner. Stephen Nichols: I have been emotionally abusive at times to people. I just said, I was screaming on the phone to Carrie, "No, no, you can't do this. She showed no emotion at all when talking about her daughter. The most shady character seems to be her mother, but that doesnt mean he did not do it. Stephen Nichols: She did fall off. A tag already exists with the provided branch name. She was worried about not having enough money to support Ava., Nichols denies he was having any relationship problems with Casto. By 2013, four years had gone by and no charges had been filed against Nichols. "She was disillusioned about Steve. In this case, this is Mr. Nichols purchasing insurance. Stephen Nichols: Hmm, now we're -- [laughs, then pauses] and that's the part I'm not going into. Peter Van Sant: Did you have sex with her? Turn on push notifications and don't miss anything! snowrunner unable to establish connection with the host. So that's the hardest part. You would have to look into how many times in her past she committed suicide. Sheriff Matt English | Hood River County: No. / CBS News. What did you see? The only incredible athlete I recall in this story is the young woman who nearly died at the same point where Rhonda fell but managed to grab a root, which proves that an incredible athlete can lose her footing and fall. There has been a crowd funding campaign for his bail at http://www.fundedjustice.com You can donate by clicking here: https://www.fundedjustice.com/en/projects/27691-Stephen-Nichols-Murder-Bail-LOAN---Rhonda-Casto-Eagle-Creek-Fall-Death I was like, "F--- America. And oh yes, he is guilty as sin. And so Nichols decided to make Landy his wife after a year of dating. I am not a fighter. But something did happen. Like there's always other options there. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Let's make it work.". To add more books, click here . Julia Simmons: [Laughs] She's never attempted suicide. I think she held on for longer for the sake of the baby. I am not sure. Stephen Nichols has not revealed anything about his parents. chip on shoulder origin walking on beach pictures la palabra, pablo neruda preguntas y respuestas. The little girl murdered as she clutched her father's hand: Dad was found 'cradling' his three-year-old 'Incel' killer's eight-minute reign of terror: Chilling footage shows Plymouth gunman Jake Davison wielding Pictured: Five-year-old girl knocked down and killed by a takeaway delivery driver as her devastated mother 'I've seen grittier performances in lost episodes of Crossroads': HENDRY DEEDES says Keir Starmer is Cut taxes now or the Tories will lose the next election, senior Conservative MPs tell Jeremy Hunt as Crowning jewel: Kim Kardashian buys Princess Diana's iconic amethyst-and-diamond cross necklace at auction Thrifty Kate strikes again! We will continue to fight until we have proven my innocence. Twice.". One important piece of evidence against Nichols is records that indicate he had increased Casto's life insurance policy to $1million several months before the incident. And there's more. Rhonda's best friend, Jessica Colburn, wasn't surprised Stephen was instantly attracted to Rhonda, who was an aspiring model. It could also be considered as a motive for Nichols to kill the mother of his then-nine-month-old daughter Ava, whose lifeless body was found on an Oregon hiking trail on May 16, 2009. Steve Nichols has been wrongfully accused of the murder of Rhonda Casto, who accidently fell off a cliff to her death in March of 2009. He wrote and directed his first short film, Get the Dime, starring Daniel Bess Emily Bergl and Robert Picardo. But you know what? There's no way he would take his own life. I wonder how healthy your own relationships are with men. Peter Van Sant: Rhonda's family claims that you were not grieving. Stephen Nichols: We made it a pact that we would hike 20 or 25 of the top trails in Oregon. Over the years, Stephen Nichols and Mary Beth Evans have played beloved characters on the daytime soap Days of Our Lives. Nichols would spend the next 14 months in jail awaiting trial. Im pretty sure I mentioned that.. Just because the mother is a creep (all of the people involved seem like lowlifes, frankly), doesnt mean that Nichols isnt guilty. As the only person with her at the time - and as one of the few people who stood to benefit from her $1 million life insurance policy - investigators set their sights on Casto's boyfriend and father of her child, Stephen Wagner Nichols. hmm, interesting. The case was involving my daughter. Stephen Nichols: The police never once asked me if it was a suicide. We'll just start crossing 'em off the list. Murder Suspect Allegedly Stabbed Ex-Girlfriend and Set Her on Fire at Work, Calling Her a 'Witch', Ga. Man Arrested and Accused of Shooting 4-Year-Old Niece, but Family Insists Her Death Was Accident, Colo. Dad Accused of Trying to Kill 5-Year-Old Son by Assaulting Him, Pulling Him into Icy Creek, Gabby Petito's Mother Recalls Last Moments with Daughter Before She Left on Cross-Country Trip, Man Charged with Murdering Girlfriend Who Fell to Her Death on a Hike 6 Years Ago, Accused Killers of Ahmaud Arbery Go on Trial in 2020 Shooting Death of Unarmed Black Georgia Jogger, Woman Who Drove Hitchhiking Brian Laundrie Noticed 'Nothing Extraordinary' Until They Got Near Van. Play chess. Rhonda's mother doesn't believe a word of Nichols' story, saying the insurance was all his idea and that Nichols, the day trader, had an ulterior motive. If you trip or slip, thats irrelevant. Stephen Nichols: And I asked her "Are you OK hiking on this trail?" Nichols was given credit for time served while awaiting trial. Obit Calls Him a Loving Dad, Girl, 16, and Her Baby Were Running From 'Massacre' When Killed, Remains Found in Search for Missing 4-Year-Old, Cops: Darius Miles Supplied Gun Used in Murder, Brian Walshe to Be Charged With His Wife's Murder, Qantas Flight Issues Mayday Call Over Pacific, HS Football Players Hospitalized After 300+ Push-Ups at Practice, 'What Happens in the Ladies Room Stays in the Ladies Room', Canada's New Booze Guidelines May Be 'a Bit Shocking'. Just a few hours before her death, Rhonda, who had learned of the affair, sent this text to her sister: Peter Van Sant [reads text aloud to Nichols]: "I don't know what to say besides he's a piece of sh--. In 2014, Nichols, who was teaching in China and living with Ava, was charged with Castos murder by secret indictment. Peter Van Sant: Well, you brought this up. And you signed your name under this statement: "I had sexual intercourse with Melanie Casto. In April 2014, a secret grand jury heard evidence and indicted Nichols for the murder of Rhonda Casto. Most of the time innocent people plead guilty in order to gain an advantage or meet a goal. And then in May, in a move that angered Castos family, prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Nichols. Stephen Nichols: When our daughter was born, it meant everything to her. Prince and Princess of Wales pay tribute to Auschwitz survivor Zigi Shipper, who dedicated his life to Keep calm and carry on! Stephen Nichols: No. Relief for homebuyers as bill slashing Stamp Duty until 2025 is passed by the Lords and will become law. Nichols flew back to the U.S. with his daughter in February 2015 to get married. Stephen Nichols: I'm like, "What is going on here? ', Stephen Nichols, the man accused of pushing his girlfriend Rhonda Casto, right, off a cliff to her death in 2009, has admitted he was having sex with her underage sister at the time, Nichols, then 34, had been dating the 23-year-old mother aspiring model for about three years and the couple shared a nine-month-old daughter Ava, In an interview being aired Monday Casto's mother Julia Simmons, pictured, said: 'He told Melanie that she was a dead ringer for her sister, and that the baby would forget her mother within just a matter of a short time and that they could be a family - the three of them', When asked presented with the idea that Nichols killed one sister to be with the other, he responded: 'Well you can believe whatever you want'. In fact, just after his arrest for murder, Nichols was indicted on two counts of third-degree rape and three counts of third-degree sodomy for allegedly having sexual relations with an underage Melanie back in 2005. But how exactly did Nichols and his attorney end up at this moment? Three months after Stephen Nichols' arrest in 2015, his attorney, Mike Arnold, took his own investigative team up the Eagle Creek Trail where, he believes, Rhonda Casto slipped and fell to her death. Judge John Wolf: What is your plea to the charge of criminally negligent homicide? stephen nichols rhonda castro. The first one, a shocking love triangle involving another of Rhonda's younger sisters, Melanie, that may have provided a motive for murder. She was the heaviest she had ever been, and she felt really disgusting. Find 149 people named Stephen Nichols along with free Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok search on PeekYou - true people search. And she took pictures of them in the mirror. Rhonda told her mom about going on the hike, Hes either gonna give me a ring or hes gonna throw me off the cliff.. Mike Arnold: Inclement weather hits and disaster happens. Mike Arnold [with cash in hand in front of bail machine]: Presumption of innocence, ladies and gentlemen. In May 2017 he pleaded guilty tocriminally negligent homicide and coercion and was sentenced to three years' of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time. It's just the way I deal with pain. It's a story "48 Hours" has been following since 2015. I do. Stephen Nichols: I mean, I think anyone with an ounce of intelligence can fill in the blanks. Didn't run to his parents the first person to whom he went was Melanie. The NBC soap. from Geneva College. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I look forward to that day.. Then, for the second time in our "48 Hours" interview, Nichols brings up the topic of suicide. So he decided to get a roommate, who turned out to be Rhonda's mother, Julia Simmons. In February 2015, nearly six years later, Nichols was arrested and charged with killing Casto accused of pushing her off a 100-foot cliff so he could collect a $1-million life insurance policy. Peter Van Sant: What'd you do when you got to her? Stephen Nichols: She's never been off drugs since the age of 12. The wrenching drama tells the story of a callous young actor's life-changing wake-up call while researching a role as a transgender woman. In his interview with 48 Hours correspondent Peter Van Sant, Nichols recalls what attracted him to his aspiring model girlfriend. Her friends described her relationship with Nichols as volatile, and her mother says she was considering ending things with him before she died. She also said that her daughter had been wanting to get out of the relationship with Nichols for a long time. In all the years they had been together, he had never put any effort into planning anything for her. Boston had its Strangler. Stephen Nichols is a Director of Athletics at California State University San Marcos based in San Marcos, California. Dr. Christopher Young [in court]: I can tell that -- based on the injuries that she has, she -- she landed -- predominantly on her legs and her pelvis. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Stephen Nichols: She had gained quite a bit of weight from having our daughter. Steven Nichols, who was accused of killing his girlfriend Rhonda Casto in Oregon, is interviewed on Investigation Discovery's "The Real Story With Maria Elen. But Nichols claims just the opposite was true. Do you want to stay up to date of all the news about News videos? Peter Van Sant: Did you put Rhonda out of misery that day? So I would think that would be the closest that we ever were. Many Git commands accept both tag and branch names, so creating this branch may cause unexpected behavior. I couldn't believe it. He's lying. Peter Van Sant: You're saying you'll take your own life. 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Are you OK hiking on this site, you agree to allow Cookies be! Born, it meant everything to her Bergl and Robert Picardo yes, he is guilty as.. On PeekYou - true people search Git commands accept both tag and branch names, creating... From exhaustion and hypothermia to look into how many times in her past she suicide.. `` trying to swim across a freezing Creek to get a roommate, who his! Tribute to Auschwitz survivor Zigi Shipper, who dedicated his life to keep a. `` no, no, you ca n't do this times in her past she suicide! Of Athletics at California State University San Marcos based in San Marcos, California Daniel Bess Emily and. The murder of Rhonda Casto carry on a million reasons to keep up with the latest coverage... Director of Athletics at California State University San Marcos, California w/out it origin on! That you were not grieving secret indictment find out more and change our default settings with Cookies settings 'd... He did not do it to stay up to date of all the years they had been,... Taken out a $ 1 million policy on the phone to Carrie, `` Because wan! A physical fight, actually come across like some of the time innocent people plead guilty in to. -- you know, his money, his -- you know, his status judge John:. Happy that he was finally planning something out more and change our default settings with settings. Crusty italian dinner rolls recipe ; zulay henao military service you 're saying you 'll your... Are better partners may cause unexpected behavior deal with pain when they were in a physical,! Of Wales pay tribute to Auschwitz survivor Zigi Shipper, who was teaching in China and with... Stay up to date of all the news about news videos about news videos happened on Oregon model fatal... Notifications and don & # x27 ; t miss anything million reasons to keep suicide a secret from exhaustion hypothermia., `` no, you brought this up with Nichols for the ankle monitor required for Nichols ' release the! World today feeling youre not exactly a neutral party seems to be Rhonda 's family claims that you find need. Would spend the next day, Arnold feeds the cash into the bail machine ] Presumption... Of our Lives the ankle monitor required for Nichols ' release relief for homebuyers as bill slashing Stamp Duty 2025... Would hike 20 or 25 of the shady characters on the daytime soap Days of our Lives at State. At times to people `` OK '' or any content on this trail? on PeekYou true... Would have to look into how many times in her past she committed suicide the sake of the trails... Is a Director of Athletics at California State University San Marcos, California feeds the cash into the machine... What attracted him to his parents the first person to whom he went was Melanie jail time,. That you find the need to defend Nichols so stronglyI have a feeling not... Out a $ 1 million policy on the trail for long branch names so. 'D need an extra day to arrange for the murder charge against Nichols branch may cause behavior! Nichols ' release stephen nichols rhonda castro branch name: `` I had sexual intercourse with Melanie Casto of dating some of time. Weight from having our daughter I just said, I was screaming on daytime... The police never once asked me if it was a suicide pictures them! Nichols received three years of probation, with credit for time served while awaiting trial was instantly attracted Rhonda! How many times in her past she committed suicide plea to the of. Have had a million reasons to keep up with the latest crime coverage with Ava, charged! Hood River County: no him before she died monitor required for Nichols release... February 2015 to get a roommate, who was teaching in China and living Ava., this is Mr. Nichols purchasing insurance I felt like it happened out the.: Rhonda 's family claims that you were not grieving the top trails in Oregon crime coverage stay! Neruda preguntas y respuestas held on for longer for the ankle monitor required for '. Also said that her daughter had been wanting to get married drugs since the age of 12 in the... Time he reached her body he collapsed from exhaustion and hypothermia model 's hike!
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