Left inset: Isaiah Campbell (Columbia County Sheriff’s Office). Right inset: Nicole Lopez (WTLV/YouTube). Background: The Columbia County area where Campbell and Lopez were staying when police say Campbell allegedly killed Lopez (Google Maps).
A 19-year-old Florida man allegedly beat and stabbed his girlfriend, then failed to help as she collapsed and died on the floor in front of him. He told investigators he believed Nicole Lopez was “playing around and wanted attention,” according to police.
Isaiah Campbell told police that Lopez, 21, eventually died. He said he then covered her body with a white sheet because he was “tired of looking at her,” according to an arrest report.
“Flies started to swarm the body,” the report states.
Campbell was arrested Thursday after a domestic violence call at his Columbia County residence. The arrest report says he called police at about 4:19 a.m. to report that his girlfriend was not breathing.
Deputies entered the home and found Lopez in the kitchen. Her body was cold and stiff, according to investigators. Campbell was detained and questioned about the events leading to her death.
During the interview, Campbell was visibly upset and crying, the arrest report says. He told investigators that he had blacked out and “didn’t mean to kill her.”
Campbell said he and Lopez had been arguing when she “began to strike him in the chest and arm,” according to the report. He allegedly responded by becoming enraged and hitting Lopez in the face several times.
He told police that Lopez fell to the floor after saying she felt “lightheaded.” Campbell allegedly said he then went into another room to calm down.
“Isaiah stated he felt as if she was playing around and wanted attention,” the report says. He allegedly did not check on Lopez after she fell and instead remained in another room for about 30 minutes.
Campbell said he later returned and found Lopez lying on her back and “not responding.” According to his account, he performed CPR for about an hour before covering her with the sheet and calling 911.
“Isaiah stated he was extremely scared and did not know what to do,” the arrest report says. He told investigators that he called 911 after the initial panic began to subside.
In addition to facial swelling and widespread bruising, investigators documented multiple puncture wounds on Lopez’s body where she appeared to be stabbed, according to police. Investigators also found blood spatter throughout the house, as well as blood under Campbell’s fingernails and on his shoes.
Campbell claimed he never stabbed Lopez and only struck her in the face. He is charged with murder and is being held at the Columbia County Detention Facility without bond.
The post Teen dismissed dying girlfriend as wanting attention and ‘playing around’ after beating her, covered her with a sheet as he was ‘tired of looking at her’: Cops first appeared on Law & Crime.
