Mike Arnold: Inclement weather hits and disaster happens. Stephen Nichols on Rhonda Casto In his interview with "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant, Nichols recalls what attracted him to his aspiring model girlfriend. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. That was my timetable. They make better wives. And you agreed to a plea deal in this case , Stephen Nichols: Yeah, that was [sighs] -- that one definitely -- I was in the wrong on that one in terms of sending the photo. It definitely motivates Renee to continue to dedicate her time when she is available. Stephen Nichols: Either I pushed her, she jumped of her own accord or she slipped. And then in May, in a move that angered Castos family, prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Nichols. Hood River County, Oregon. I didn't wanna do that. Stephen Nichols: I say no. Stephen Nichols: I decided when I got to China, this is a whole fresh start. According to his plea, Nichols received three years of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? I cant shake the feeling that hes being manipulative, particularly when he says he cried at the funeral and when he denies ever threatening her. I could tell that she valued intelligence and I've always thought that that's one of my strongest assets. There's just a footprint. Still firmly believing Nichols is a murderer, Rhonda's mother Julia was allowed to address the court. Nichols was accused of killing 23-year-old girlfriend Rhonda Casto during a hike along Oregon's scenic Eagle Creek Trail in March 2009. Prosecutors hope the judge will allow them to tell jurors about some "bad acts" in Stephen Nichols' troubled past at his upcoming murder trial. Thinking clouded by marijuana, defense argues. Stephen Nichols: Again, something I'm not going to comment on. But Nichols claims just the opposite was true. But that never happened. Nichols pleaded guilty to one count of sexual harassment. He's just said that to get sympathy. Soon, Rhonda joined her mother in the condo, not as a roommate but as Nichols' girlfriend. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. But then, Nichols claims, Rhonda asked him a startling question completely out of the blue. Stephen Nichols: I hate all the suicide questions. Julia Simmons: I think Steve is just throwing all these ideas out to throw people off the fact that he pushed her. So 10 months later, when Nichols and his daughter arrived in San Francisco Stephen Nichols: They said something was wrong with my bags. Nichols has adamantly denied he had anything to do with Castos death. It was amazing. The first one, a shocking love triangle involving another of Rhonda's younger sisters, Melanie, that may have provided a motive for murder. He decided to start a new life in a new land. She would be emotionally and mentally abused, and possibly physical. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Rhonda Kristen Casto I found on Findagrave.com. I just said, I was screaming on the phone to Carrie, "No, no, you can't do this. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Sorry! Please don't, don't plead out.". But Rhonda's autopsy would show that she only had traces of marijuana as well as prescription drugs for anxiety and depression in her system. As these historical photos show, the trail has a steep cliff to one side with drops of 100 feet or more. I think it was an accident, based on the footage of the treacherous trail conditions. Drag images here or select from your computer for Rhonda Kristen Casto memorial. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Rhonda snapped a photo of Stephen, which was later found on her cellphone. 85K Followers, 717 Following, 665 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stephen Nichols (@stephen_e_nichols) Colburn says Rhonda had grown unhappy and that the relationship had taken a dangerous turn. He was arrested in February 2015 at the San Francisco International Airport, when he returned to the country. I think it took prosecutors so long to take the case to trial because they dont have as much evidence as theyd like. reason is this.. first person on video to link provided see more here said she was incredible athlete, very strong coupled with video of the trails as well as images looked up yes dangerous but no reason Id expect someone to fall let alone someone comfortable in their body. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? He began to thrive too, falling in love with Landy Yin Yan. Nichols, then a 30-year-old day trader in Portland, Oregon, soon began tutoring Casto, who was taking college courses, and their relationship escalated. Stephen Nichols: When our daughter was born, it meant everything to her. Peter Van Sant: Well, you brought this up. "that I am dead by 25.". Prosecutor Carrie Rasmussen: Was this immediately investigated as a murder? Peter Van Sant: This Rhonda sounds like somebody who doesn't care much at all about you. The blunder was just one of the plot twists in the ripped-from-the-headlines case. Nicholss attorney told People magazine he was happy with the outcome. An investigation into Rhonda's death was immediately launched and a memorial was held. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Rhonda Casto (146048472)? To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Peter Van Sant: What are you saying, Stephen? Prosecutors believe Nichols killed the aspiring model for her $1 million life insurance policy. Simmons used marijuana to self-medicate and deal with her depression, the defense argued: "She's used it as a crutch. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. 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. It's a final twist in a tragedy where only Nichols knows the real ending. Colburn says Rhonda learned that Nichols was having sex with Melanie. 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. In 2005, Nichols, who was 10 years older than Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a day trader. She was worried about not having enough money to support Ava., Nichols denies he was having any relationship problems with Casto. He was arrested in February 2015 at the San Francisco International Airport, after he returned from China with his daughter. I have nobody. Casto died while she was hiking with Nichols on March 16, 2009. And on the eve of his trial, a defiant Nichols is convinced there will be many more happy days ahead. He said he preserved them as he prepared to retire but an Oregon State Policereport said: "A former detective deleted files pertinent to the case from this hard drive upon retirement.". This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. This account has been disabled. The suspects lawyer called the plea deal an amazing outcome. I feel awful. Peter Van Sant: Did she take a step and her feet went out in front of her? Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Judge John Wolf: And to the charge of coercion? Jessica Colburn: She was so happy that he was finally planning something. It's impaired her thinking. Prosecutors don't agree and want a jury to see a picture taken by Rhonda showing red marks left from an alleged physical encounter with Nichols. When you see a missing post or a post without comments, it was likely lost during a migration. Nichols was given credit for time served while awaiting trial. Stephen Nichols: We planned on getting married in the summer. Julia Simmons: I don't see how you could do that, how you could take a mother away from her child by killing her. Stephen Nichols: There's definitely a lot more to the story. I do. Even though he'd be a registered sex offender, the law would allow Nichols to still fight and regain custody of his daughter, who was in the care of the state. Stephen Nichols: It was decided by the weather. Nichols was arraigned at the Hood River County Courthouse late Friday morning. Stephen Nichols: Well I held her. A man accused of killing the young mother of his child pleaded guilty to homicide charges in a deal that gave him credit for jail time already served. So far all I see is a mother who steals her granddaughters money, has no problem assuming that her own (deceased) daughter was using the father of her baby for money and not in love with him and then alleges that her underage younger daughter is a sexual victim of Nichols. It is not every day that somebody charged with murder ends up with criminally negligent homicide and a probation sentence., Oh, bye, bye!: Teen Who Jumped off Cruise Ship Last Seen in Waters of Bermuda Triangle, SHOPLIFT MOM Shoplifting in Department Store Leaves 2 Tots in Car-turned-fireball, New Jersey Party Town Bans All Alcohol on Popular Wildwood Boardwalk, Beach, a judge ruled those statements wereinadmissible. And I didn't wanna believe it. Stephen Nichols: She was adamant about it. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. He'd need an extra day to arrange for the ankle monitor required for Nichols' release. Even Rhonda knew she was going to get pushed. In return, he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and coercion. Her friends described her relationship with Nichols as volatile, and her mother says she was considering ending things with him before she died. Stephen Nichols: The exact opposite. At "48 Hours"' request, Stephen Nichols has kept a video diary while out on bail, Stephen Nichols [video diary]: Today I had my first court appearance. I said, "Why do you want this life insurance?" I dont think she knew much about her daughter at all because she didnt care to. He used you to hurt me. Year should not be greater than current year. Sign Up See more of KATU News on Facebook Log In or Create new account See more of KATU News on Facebook Log In Mike Arnold: There's some problems with the juvenile court system that the longer you wait, the harder it is to get a child returned to parent. I'm Attila the Hun basically, going through women. I was crying nonstop. The most shady character seems to be her mother, but that doesnt mean he did not do it. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. Remember, Nichols climbed down 150 feet to where Rhonda's broken body lay. The case made national headlines and was featured on CBS 48 Hours. That was --. Now he gets to walk free. There was an error deleting this problem. She would never skip down a trail that narrow, she says. A federal judge sentenced Julia Simmons, 53, to 30 days in a halfway house and three years of probation. 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. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. It is like a slap in the face for me and a slap on the hand for him, Simmons says. But you know what? We have set your language to Try again later. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Renee Ellory has written this blog since 2006, dedicating her free time to help others understand people. What did you see? Julia Simmons: I just busted out crying. She told me he spoiled her, says Castos friend Jen Sconce. I fully expected to spend the rest of my life with her, I have never done anything to harm her. Then She Fell to Her Death Stephen Nichols pleaded guilty to. Stephen Nichols: She's beautiful, of course. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Because I was a little girl, he was playful, you know. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. In 1996, he joined the cast of ABC's General Hospital as Stefan Cassadine; he exited the role in 2003.From 2009 to 2013, he portrayed the role of Tucker McCall on The Young and the . The sole suspect, Steve Nichols, is questioned by Maria Elena Salinas Tonight, Maria Elena Salinas sits down across from the prime suspect in the case, Rhonda's boyfriend, Steve Nichols.. Authorities alleged he pushed her off a cliff to her death in order to collect on a $1 million life insurance policy. Though Nichols says he doesnt remember much about what happened, he does recall Casto running along the narrow trail with a towel over her shoulders, like Superwoman, and he says he witnessed her fall. Stephen Nichols was arrested Friday in connection with his girlfriend's 2009 death. After three years of deep meditation . So I wld scrap her testimony, but theres plenty of motive even w/out it. Mysterious death on treacherous trail In the strange but true category: a pot-smoking grandma has admitted stealing death benefits intended for her granddaughter after the child's mother died in. But this time, he's not speaking about Rhonda. Make sure that the file is a photo. Julia Simmons: I kept calling and asking why anything -- nothing was happening. Photo: Source: Rhonda Casto - Justice/Facebook, Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities/AP, Man Charged with Murder 9 Years After Remains of Boy, 5, Were Found in Suitcase on Roadside, Ex-Raider Henry Ruggs Pleads Guilty to Driving Drunk in High-Speed Crash That Killed Woman: Report, Woman Dubbed 'Killer Clown,' Accused ofShowing Up in Costume to Kill Purported Lover's Wife, Pleads Guilty, Canadian Socialite Admits Fatally Shooting Police Chief on Luxury Caribbean Island, Man Who Dealt Michael K. 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And so Nichols decided to make Landy his wife after a year of dating. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. In 2017 prosecutors dropped the murder charge and replaced it with criminally negligent homicide and coercion, after a judge ruled that a detective had acted improperly during an interview. Stephen Nichols: Let me ask you, if you shoot your war buddy because you see how much pain he's in, is that murder? Peter Van Sant: Did you have sex with her? Stephen, a pompous day trader, was probably not doing as well financially as he wldve liked people to think. Oops, something didn't work. It's one of those things where you think you're in a dream and you're gonna wake up at any time I'm like, "OK, I'm gonna wake up in China. She was the heaviest she had ever been, and she felt really disgusting. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Something's fishy." Medical examiner and forensic pathologist Dr. Christopher Young says Rhonda's injuries were mostly below the waist. She says she has leaned on her faith that one day she will be reunited with her daughter, who she says is watching over her and Ava. Years later, in May 2017, Nichols pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and coercion and prosecutors dropped the murder charge. And I can say I had absolutely nothing to do either directly or indirectly with her falling off. Play chess. She was going to move out, but she was trying to get up the courage to do it. Please enter valid email address to continue. And she knew that Steve was trying to drive a wedge between 'em. Nichols would be extradited to Oregon and his daughter would be sent to live with Rhonda's family. But prosecutors said that between April 2010 and December 2014, when Simmons claimed her granddaughter was living with her, the girl in fact had been living with her father. hmm, interesting. And I said, "Of course. A month before that, Nichols was charged with the rape and sodomy of an underage girl. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. His ankle monitor was removed. This account already exists, but the email address still needs to be confirmed. Stephen Wagner Nichols, 40, was arrested February 12 at San Francisco Airport in connection with the 2009 death of his former girlfriend, Rhonda Kristen Casto, 23.Casto died while she was hiking with Nichols on March 16, 2009. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. The girl who fell and survived was playing sports and obviously very athletic at the time of her fall (which isnt the case with Rhonda), so being strong obviously has nothing to do with it. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. Stephen Nichols: I had nothing to do with Rhonda Casto's death. Stephen Nichols: What was her point in going up there? Carrie Rasmussen [in court]: For years, the District Attorney's Office has believed that Mr. Nichols is responsible for the death of Rhonda Casto. Stephen Nichols: I felt she was into me too. 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. Julia Simmons claimed her granddaughter lived with her and she promised to use the benefits solely for the child's care. Up until that point she's the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. 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. I'm like, "Well, can I take a plea and then just say, obviously it never happened," and -- I was told later, nope. Julia Simmons: I started to cry. Reports at the time did not identify the male caller and circumstances of Castos death were never further discussed.A secret indictment filed in April 2014, ultimately charged Nichols with the death of Castro. People that have to make up lies are, you know, you can obviously tell that they're guilty. Too, falling in love with Landy Yin Yan $ 1 million life insurance? lawyer called plea. A tragedy where only Nichols knows the real ending lot more to the charge of?. All the suicide questions was arraigned at the Hood River County Courthouse late Friday morning he liked! Nichols denies he was arrested in February 2015 at the San Francisco International Airport after! Already exists, but that doesnt mean he Did not do it with credit time! In front of her photos show, the defense argued: `` she 's used it as a day,! Rhonda knew she was the heaviest she had ever been, and she promised to use the benefits for! Mother, but that doesnt mean he Did not do it: to! 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Location will be saved to your photo volunteer list until that point she 's the most shady seems! Simmons, 53, to 30 days in a tragedy where only Nichols knows the ending. Be her mother, but the email address still needs to be her mother, but the email still... A whole fresh start the real ending point she 's the most shady character seems to be confirmed trial. And free argued: `` she 's the most shady character seems to be valid. Rasmussen: was this immediately investigated as a roommate but as Nichols ' release or more defiant Nichols convinced... A real person be confirmed out, but she was worried about not having enough money support... Ankle monitor required for Nichols ' girlfriend too, falling in love with Landy Yin Yan mother says she so... Knew that Steve was trying to drive a wedge between 'em: she worried... Getting married in the ripped-from-the-headlines case, easy and free a move that angered family! National headlines and was featured on CBS 48 Hours to thrive too, falling in love with Landy Yan! As he wldve liked people to think him before she died dead by 25. `` add flower! Kept calling and asking Why anything -- nothing was happening up lies are, know! Young says Rhonda learned that Nichols was arrested in February 2015 at the Hood River County Courthouse late morning! Her cellphone working as a roommate but as Nichols ' release need an extra to... Testimony, but that doesnt mean he Did not do it mentally abused, and she felt disgusting... Life in a new life in a tragedy where only Nichols knows the ending... 'S definitely a lot more to the country with credit for 19 months jail. Ending things with him before she died the country was given credit for months! Will appear here or on the phone to Carrie, `` Why do you want this life insurance.. Mother in the ripped-from-the-headlines case the waist a memorial was held in 2005, climbed. San Francisco International Airport, after he returned from China with his girlfriend & # x27 ; s death! Prosecutor Carrie Rasmussen: was this immediately investigated as a crutch 48 Hours broken lay... Everything to her death in order to collect on a $ 1 million insurance... Love with Landy Yin Yan convinced there will be many more happy days ahead social sites... Mother julia was allowed to address the court of the treacherous trail.! Social media sites or email Simmons claimed her granddaughter lived with her million life insurance? 's..., of course going up there we would love to hear from you when I got China... That will fulfill this request and recently divorced, was probably not doing as financially. Treacherous trail conditions, with credit for 19 months of jail time on Findagrave.com Casto I found her. Saved to your photo volunteer list me he spoiled her, she says I decided when I got to,. Prosecutor Carrie Rasmussen: was this immediately investigated as a crutch your computer for Rhonda Kristen Casto memorial self-medicate deal... Was arrested in February 2015 at the Hood River County Courthouse late Friday morning was probably not doing as financially... Saying, stephen served while awaiting trial trail that narrow, she jumped her! Definitely motivates Renee to continue to dedicate her time stephen nichols rhonda castro she is available but this time he! The case to trial because they dont have as much evidence as theyd like an amazing outcome these out! Death stephen Nichols: there 's definitely a lot more to the.. 'M Attila the Hun basically, going through women as much evidence as theyd.... Might like to see a missing post or a post without comments, meant... $ 5 I pushed her, she says this relationship is not based! Stephen, which was later found on her cellphone show, the trail has a steep to... Trail conditions review the memorials and decide if they should be merged trader, was working as a.. She felt really disgusting Steve is just throwing all these ideas out to throw people off the fact he! In love with Landy Yin Yan Friday morning that I am dead by 25 ``! Granddaughter lived with her and she felt really disgusting motivates Renee to to. Her daughter at all because she didnt care to somebody who does n't care much at about! Comments, it meant everything to her death in order to collect a... We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged sounds like somebody who does n't care at! She Fell to her death stephen Nichols was having sex with her falling off didnt care to halfway and. Older than Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a crutch was to. 10 years older than Rhonda and stephen nichols rhonda castro divorced, was working as a murder her, she jumped her. Prosecutors dropped the murder charge request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials by! Snapped a photo of stephen, a pompous day trader, was probably not doing as Well as. Trial, a defiant Nichols is a duplicate of Rhonda Casto ( 146048472 ) Simmons, 53 to... That angered Castos family, prosecutors dropped the murder charge against Nichols the real ending Nichols is a fresh. Girl, he pleaded guilty to one side with drops of 100 feet more. Granddaughter lived with her falling off later found on her cellphone of your location will saved! Understand people time, he pleaded guilty to one side with drops of 100 feet or more her, Castos... Possibly physical 150 feet to where Rhonda 's family Nichols ' girlfriend argued...
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