Son learns fate years after brutal family murders in wealthy coastal enclave
Share this @internewscast.com

A 34-year-old man from California has been found guilty of brutally murdering his parents and the family housekeeper inside their Newport Beach residence.

Camden Burton Nicholson was convicted on Wednesday by a jury on three counts of first-degree murder, including a special circumstance charge for committing multiple murders. The victims were his parents, Richard Nicholson, aged 64, and Kim Nicholson, aged 61, along with Maria Morse, a 57-year-old housekeeper from Anaheim who had been employed by the family for many years.

The prosecution revealed that the tragic events transpired over a span of two days in February 2019 within the confines of the Nicholsons’ gated community home. The prosecution’s opening statements provided a comprehensive account of the sequence of events leading to the murders.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Dave Porter presented evidence to the jury, highlighting surveillance footage that captured Richard Nicholson arriving home around 12:45 p.m. on the fatal day, as reported by The Orange County Register. Once inside the garage, Camden confronted his father, following his parents’ encouragement for him to address his mental health and addiction problems.

Camden Burton Nicholson

An image captioned with “A California man was found guilty years after murdering his parents and family housekeeper in their Newport Beach home” and attributed to Getty Images and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office was included.

Porter depicted Nicholson as being heavily reliant on his parents, describing how he repeatedly stabbed his father in a frenzy. He then moved the body into a small bathroom, using towels to block the doorway in an attempt to contain the blood.

When his mother returned home a short time later, Nicholson struck her with a metal statue and stabbed her multiple times, killing her in the garage.

“There was so much blood, the defendant tried to soak it up with a bag of flour,” Porter told jurors. Investigators also found clumps of Kim Nicholson’s hair, suggesting she fought for her life.

newport-beach-yachts

Yachts and other boats are visible in Newport Harbor, Newport Beach, Calif., April 27, 2024. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)

The next morning, when Morse arrived for work, Nicholson stabbed her repeatedly and slit her throat before placing her body inside a large plastic bin in the kitchen pantry, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors said Nicholson took his parents’ car and went on a spending spree after the murders, purchasing hundreds of dollars in items at a Santa Ana marijuana dispensary and buying sex toys.

The following night, around 8:30 p.m. Feb. 13, 2019, Nicholson drove to a Kaiser Permanente site in Irvine, where he called 911 and claimed he had killed his parents in self-defense because he believed they were trying to kill him.

When Newport Beach police officers arrived at the home for a welfare check, they found the house in disarray with blood throughout and all three victims suffering from multiple stab wounds.

Newport Beach at night

Corona del Mar, an affluent coastal neighborhood of Newport Beach in Orange County, Calif. (halbergman/Getty Images)

Nicholson’s defense attorneys argued he had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Defense attorney Richard Cheung said Nicholson’s mental health struggles began around 2012 during a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Florida, when he was hospitalized on a psychiatric hold and treated with antipsychotic medication, the Register reported. 

Nicholson lived independently in Colorado in 2017, where he began hormone therapy, stopped taking his medication and again experienced visions and voices, the defense said.

In December 2018 and early February 2019, Nicholson was admitted to mental health centers, which his attorneys said showed he was delusional and unreachable by his family leading up to the killings.

The sanity phase of his trial began Thursday to determine whether Nicholson was legally insane at the time of the murders. The outcome will decide whether he spends life in prison without parole or is committed to a state mental hospital.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office and Nicholson’s legal team for comment.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Iran's war against the US and Israel is being fueled by North Korean weapons, expert warns

Iran’s Surprising Arsenal: How North Korean Weapons are Powering Conflict with the US and Israel

The extensive missile arsenal of the Islamic Republic of Iran is a…
Michigan Dem told staffers to be silent on Khamenei's death because of 'sad' voters in shock audio leak

Leaked Audio Reveals Michigan Democrat Urged Silence on Khamenei’s Passing Due to Voter Sensitivity

WASHINGTON — In a startling development, leaked audio has surfaced of a…
Thieves steal paintings by Renoir, Cézanne and Matisse from Italian private museum

Masterpiece Heist: Renoir, Cézanne, and Matisse Paintings Stolen from Italian Museum

ROME — In a daring theft, burglars have absconded with three priceless…
North Carolina lawmakers pass 'Iryna's Law' to eliminate cashless bail after Charlotte train stabbing

Providence Mayor Urges Removal of Controversial Iryna Zarutska Mural, Citing ‘Divisive’ Impact

The mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, is advocating for the removal of…
Reality TV stars share footage of Hollywood road rage attack

Reality TV Personalities Release Exclusive Footage of Hollywood Road Rage Incident

Two reality TV stars are recounting a harrowing road rage incident they…
Fitness influencer Roberto Cunha Lima shot and killed leaving gym as cops launch manhunt

Tragic End for Fitness Icon Roberto Cunha Lima: Authorities Launch Urgent Manhunt After Shocking Gym Shooting

A well-known fitness influencer met a tragic end when a gunman on…
Texas student, 15, shoots high school teacher before fatally shooting himself, authorities say

Tragic Shooting Incident at Texas High School: 15-Year-Old Student and Teacher Involved

A tragic incident unfolded on Monday morning when a 15-year-old student at…
Woman dies after falling from 60-foot cliff along popular Smoky Mountains trail

Tragic Fall Claims Woman’s Life on Scenic Smoky Mountains Trail

A tragic incident occurred at Great Smoky Mountains National Park this past…
US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba amid blockade as Trump says island ‘has to survive’

US Permits Russian Oil Tanker to Dock in Cuba Despite Blockade; Trump Remarks on Island’s Resilience

A Russian oil tanker is set to deliver its crude cargo to…
Sec. of Treasury visits Long Island to tout small business

Treasury Secretary Highlights Small Business Success on Long Island Visit

On Monday evening, Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent made a visit…
Trump unveils renderings for Miami skyscraper that will serve as his presidential library 

Trump Reveals Vision for Miami Skyscraper to House Presidential Library

On Monday, former President Donald Trump revealed ambitious plans for a presidential…
Viral 'takeover' chaos erupts as teen brawl breaks out, multiple arrests after mall melee caught on video

Teen Brawl Sparks Chaos at Mall, Video Leads to Multiple Arrests

Over a dozen teenagers were reportedly arrested following a chaotic altercation outside…