Newport Beach, CA – A 34-year-old California man was found guilty of murdering his parents and their housekeeper after his family staged an intervention urging him to enter rehab for mental health and substance abuse treatment. Prosecutors say the killings took place in February 2019, and the convicted man could now spend the rest of his life in prison.
The Incident: Family Intervention Turns Deadly
Authorities said Camden Burton Nicholson, then 27 years old, fatally stabbed his parents — Richard Nicholson, 64, and Kim Nicholson, 61 — inside the family’s Newport Beach home after they confronted him about his behavior and demanded that he seek treatment.
According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Nicholson attacked his father first on February 11, 2019, stabbing him multiple times during a confrontation. He then dragged his father’s body into a bathroom and plugged the bottom of the door to prevent blood from leaking into the hallway.
“When Nicholson’s mother returned home a few minutes later, he hit her with a metal statue and repeatedly stabbed her, killing her in the garage,” prosecutors wrote in a news release.
The following morning, Nicholson attacked the family’s housekeeper, Maria Morse, 57, when she arrived to clean. Investigators said he stabbed her multiple times, slit her throat, and stuffed her body into a plastic bin in the kitchen pantry.
Investigation and Evidence: Grisly Discovery at the Family Home
The next morning, Nicholson reportedly stole his father’s car and drove to a Kaiser Permanente facility in Irvine, where he called 911 and claimed he had killed his parents in self-defense because they were “trying to kill him.”
Police responded to the call and performed a welfare check at the family’s Newport Beach home. Officers described the scene as being in “disarray,” with blood throughout the house. The bodies of Richard and Kim Nicholson and Maria Morse were found inside.
Prosecutors said that after the killings, Nicholson went on a spending spree using his parents’ money — buying sex toys and spending hundreds of dollars at a Santa Ana marijuana dispensary.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Nicholson was financially and emotionally dependent on his parents, who had threatened to cut him off if he didn’t enter rehab.
“He was completely dependent on his parents,” a prosecutor told jurors, according to the Orange County Register. “They wanted him to get help. Instead, he responded with violence.”
Court Proceedings and Jury Verdict
On Wednesday, an Orange County jury found Nicholson guilty of three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his parents and the housekeeper. Jurors also found a special circumstance of multiple murders, which makes him eligible for a life sentence without parole.
The sanity phase of the trial began Thursday, during which jurors will determine whether Nicholson was legally insane at the time of the killings.
Prosecutors said the verdict brought partial justice for the victims’ families after nearly six years of court delays.
If found sane, Nicholson faces life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Community Reaction and Statements from Officials
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office praised law enforcement and jurors for their diligence in handling what they described as one of the most brutal domestic murder cases in recent county history.
“This case shows the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness and addiction,” a spokesperson said. “Three innocent lives were lost in a matter of hours because of rage and instability.”
Neighbors described the Nicholson family as well-known and respected in the Newport Beach community. The shocking nature of the crime — particularly the killing of a longtime housekeeper who had worked for the family for years — left many residents deeply shaken.
Background and Legal Context
Court records show that Nicholson had a long history of mental health struggles and substance abuse issues prior to the murders. Family members had reportedly staged multiple interventions before 2019, hoping he would agree to treatment.
Legal experts note that in cases involving family-related homicides and claims of insanity, the court must balance mental illness defense standards with the evidence of premeditation and intent.
The insanity phase of the trial will focus on psychiatric testimony and whether Nicholson understood the wrongfulness of his actions when he killed his parents and housekeeper.
Ongoing Developments and Next Steps
The sanity phase is expected to continue through next week in Orange County Superior Court, with closing arguments anticipated shortly after. The final sentencing will depend on whether the jury determines Nicholson was sane at the time of the murders.
If jurors reject his insanity defense, he will face life in prison without parole. If accepted, Nicholson could be committed indefinitely to a state mental hospital.
Conclusion
The Nicholson family murders have become a chilling reminder of how addiction, mental illness, and family conflict can escalate into unimaginable violence. As the trial enters its final phase, the court’s decision will determine whether Camden Nicholson spends his life behind bars or in psychiatric confinement.
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