Butte County, CA – Jessica Rose Nichols, 27, was sentenced on Tuesday to 35 years to life in prison after pleading no contest to charges that she shot and killed her husband, 22-year-old Mateo Lange, while he slept on the floor of their apartment on Nov. 6, 2020. The sentence includes 25 years to life for first-degree murder plus an additional 10 years for using a firearm during the crime.
The case drew attention not only for its fatal outcome but for the evidence that undercut Nichols’ initial claim of self-defense. Investigators say audio, forensic analysis and digital records painted a picture of premeditated violence that included an earlier attempt to poison Lange’s pillow and escalating physical abuse.
The Crime and Immediate Evidence
Neighbors called 911 after hearing gunfire at the couple’s apartment. When officers arrived, they found Nichols on the front porch with the couple’s 22-month-old child in a stroller and a note containing contact information for the child’s paternal grandmother. The neighbor said they heard two gunshots, then Nichols returned inside, and a third gunshot followed.
- Date of killing: Nov. 6, 2020
- Victim: Mateo Lange, 22
- Perpetrator: Jessica Rose Nichols, 27
- Child present: 22-month-old (in stroller)
- Wounds: shot twice in the head and once in the chest at close range
Crime scene investigators with the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Forensic Services determined that Lange was shot while he was lying on the floor, a finding that contradicted Nichols’ initial claim that Lange had “charged at her” during a confrontation. Surveillance audio captured outside the apartment recorded no immediate argument before shots were fired; an argument between the couple had occurred the night before, during which Lange allegedly told Nichols he planned to leave the next day.
Investigators Detail Prior Abuse and Poisoning Attempt
Prosecutors say multiple forms of evidence — including text messages and selfie videos — showed Nichols as the more violent partner. The Butte County District Attorney’s Office reported that Nichols admitted to throwing items at Lange, destroying his property, and previously trying to “kill him by poisoning his pillow with household cleaner.”
“Nichols initially claimed that Lange had ‘charged at her’ while they had an argument,” the DA’s release said, but surveillance and forensic evidence contradicted that account.
How the Case Unfolded in Court
Nichols entered a no contest plea last month to one count of first-degree murder and one count of using a firearm to commit a crime. On sentencing day, the court imposed the combined 35 years to life term. The plea removed the need for a full trial, but the evidence cited by prosecutors was central to the DA’s case and to the judge’s sentencing decision.
- Plea entered: No contest to first-degree murder and firearm enhancement
- Sentence: 25 years to life (murder) + 10 years (firearm) = 35 years to life
- Prosecutors’ key evidence: surveillance audio, forensic scene analysis, texts and videos
Community Reaction and Legal Implications
The case highlights the intersection of intimate-partner violence and lethal escalation. Neighbors who encountered Nichols with the child and the note were shaken; prosecutors emphasized the danger presented by the prior poisoning attempt and the fatal shooting while Lange was defenseless.
Legal experts say cases that include forensic evidence proving a victim was incapacitated or asleep can significantly weaken self-defense claims and strengthen murder charges. The DA’s public materials summarized how audio and physical evidence undercut Nichols’ statements to police and laid the groundwork for the prison term.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Date of incident: Nov. 6, 2020
- Sentence: 35 years to life
- Method claimed: alleged prior poisoning of pillow with household cleaner
- Evidence undermining defense: surveillance audio, forensic scene work showing victim was lying on the floor
- Child present: 22-month-old in stroller at scene
What Happens Next? Nichols will serve her sentence in California state prison. The case is closed as to criminal sentencing; any family or civil matters, including custody or protective actions, may be handled separately in other courts or by family members.
Call to Action: Do you think the 35-year sentence fits the crime? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation on intimate-partner violence and public safety.
