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. I was crying nonstop. Try again later. 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. But Castos mother, Julia Simmons, doesnt buy Nichols story and believes her daughter would never put herself at risk. Stephen Nichols: I can say this with being with so many American women, Chinese women -- all-inclusive -- are better partners. Peter Van Sant: So take me to the time of the fall. Stephen Nichols murder charge dropped in plea deal over partner's cliff fall. Our sincerest apologies. Resend Activation Email. This past weekend, 48 Hours profiled the story of Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Castro. She had everything going for her.. You seemed unmoved by Rhonda's death. Peter Van Sant: That's terrible. F--- all the past. Melanie Casto. Nicholss attorney told People magazine he was happy with the outcome. But having now admitted to inappropriate behavior with a 13-year-old girl, pleading to having sex with Rhonda's underage sister and playing a role in Rhonda's death, Nichols' chances of regaining custody of his daughter are in jeopardy. The plea came after the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that Nichols had "unequivocally" invoked his right against compelled self-incrimination after he was arrested at San Francisco International Airport, returning to the country in February 2015, but San Mateo County detectives continued to illegally interrogate him. Stephen Nichols: I've laid everything out there. Stephen Nichols pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide. Stephen Nichols: I became desperate. Stephen Nichols: What was her point in going up there? She just wasn't a happy person. Jessica Colburn: That was part of her modeling portfolio. Ultimately, the father, Nichols, received 40 percent of the life insurance money and the little girl will get 60 percent, according to statements in court. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. So I said, "OK.". According to official records, her family recalled she had joked about the hike, saying, "He will either give me my ring or push me off a cliff. I just dont understand how they can try him. Peter Van Sant: So you're telling us you're completely innocent of these charges? Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Stephen Nichols: The weather was excellent, actually. Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. This is a carousel with slides. Nichols packed up and headed to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Sign Up See more of KATU News on Facebook Log In or Create new account See more of KATU News on Facebook Log In He sat down and spoke to "48 Hours" about the day Rhonda Casto died. For Simmons, the years since Castos death have been difficult and moving on has been even harder. 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. Stephen Nichols: I decided when I got to China, this is a whole fresh start. Stephen and Rhonda hit it off and started dating. Try again later. Prosecutors hope the judge will allow them to tell jurors about some "bad acts" in Stephen Nichols' troubled past at his upcoming murder trial. I'm just saying that . Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Julia Simmons: I think she was attracted not so much to his looks, but to his his -- what he had. As Crime Online previously reported, Casto told her mother that Nichols had been pressuring her to go on a hike. Simmons fought to keep Nichols from having custody of her granddaughter and didn't want Nichols collecting on her daughter's$1 million life insurance policy, the defense argued. There's a single footprint, you're telling me, at the edge of the cliff. Stephen Nichols. I do. But he received credit for his time already in custody, meaning he will not spend any more time behind bars. 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. Something's fishy." Because I was a little girl, he was playful, you know. Stephen Nichols: She did fall off. In October 2016 while awaiting his murder trial, Peter Van Sant [to Nichols]: You agreed to plead guilty to two counts of sexual abuse with Melanie Casto. But Nichols claims just the opposite was true. Stephen Nichols: I felt she was into me too. Carrie Rasmussen [in court]: When you look at the relationship that the defendant then had with Rhonda Casto, Notes from a therapist Rhonda had been seeing reveal she was depressed but not suicidal from her relationship with Stephen, which she described as "loveless.". Three months after Stephen Nichols' arrest in 2015, his attorney, Mike Arnold, took his own investigative team up the Eagle Creek Trail where, he believes, Rhonda Casto slipped and fell to her death. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. An Oregon court terminated Nichols' parental rights. Please complete the captcha to let us know you are a real person. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Stephen Nichols was accused of pushing his fiance to her death off a dangerous hiking trail in 2009. The granddaughter had been in foster care since the state Department of Human Services took custody of her in October 2015. She showed no emotion at all when talking about her daughter. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 85K Followers, 717 Following, 665 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stephen Nichols (@stephen_e_nichols) Stephen Wagner Nichols, 42, was sentenced earlier this week to 19 months for each of the felonies as well as three years of probation. SHe is an opportunistic, lying piece of crap in my view! Stephen Nichols was arrested Friday in connection with his girlfriend's 2009 death. For months following his February 2015 arrest for murder, Stephen Nichols faced pretrial hearings on a slew of issues from evidence to motive -- including whether there should even be a trial since the defense considers Rhonda Casto's death an accident. Within days of Castos death, investigators, too, began to question Nichols account of her fatal fall. Judge John Wolf: What is your plea to the charge of criminally negligent homicide? Julia Simmons: I started to cry. / CBS News. Less than six months after Rhonda's death, he was charged with five counts of sex abuse for allegedly touching a 13-year-old girl on the buttocks. Julia Simmons: You've destroyed my whole family. They dated three years and had a little baby girl together. Mike Arnold: This is probably the most hiked area in the Columbia River Gorge for several reasons. She would be emotionally and mentally abused, and possibly physical. First published on March 17, 2018 / 11:34 PM. Biden on debt ceiling deal to avoid default: "This is vital", No more survivors located after train derailment in India kills over 280, Lifeguard shortage may force half of public pools to close or limit hours, 3 Israeli soldiers killed in gun battle at Egyptian border, Churchill Downs suspends races after 12 horse deaths, Trump lawyers told DOJ they couldn't find classified doc discussed in audio, AI eliminated nearly 4,000 jobs last month, report says, Trained dogs assisting search efforts after building collapse in Iowa, Art museum in Chicago gives veterans a place to heal. In fact, I actually feel that the mother is the more shady one. This past weekend, 48 Hours profiled the story of Stephen Nichols and Rhonda Castro. So our daughter would have gotten nothing. A few hours later she was dead. Lets go back to the very beginning: The bizarre death in 2009 that set this chain of events in motion. It's a final twist in a tragedy where only Nichols knows the real ending. Casto died when she fell from a narrow, muddy hiking trail in Oregon, plunging 100 feet down. After having her baby, Rhonda gained a little weight and wanted to lose it, said Nichols, so he suggested they go hiking. Stephen Nichols: I try to just take it one day at a time. In the strange but true category: a pot-smoking grandma has admitted stealing death benefits intended for her granddaughter after the childs mother died in mysterious Columbia River Gorge fall. She was going to move out, but she was trying to get up the courage to do it. Twice.". Rhondas mother seems to have a prescription drug problem, and doesnt make any bones about getting money any way she can. 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. And she goes over. Peter Van Sant: Was she alive when you got to her? Nichols would spend the next 14 months in jail awaiting trial. But how exactly did Nichols and his attorney end up at this moment? Jessica Colburn | Rhonda's friend: Yes. There was a problem getting your location. Please enter your email and password to sign in. She knew she wasn't livin' past the age of 25. But prosecutors knew their case against Nichols could fail. Make sure that the file is a photo. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. In this case, this is Mr. Nichols purchasing insurance. Simmons, who pleaded guilty to theft of government funds, also must pay back the stolen benefits, a total of $39,124. I cant tell if he is lying. GREAT NEWS! At the time, police thought she slipped and fell to her death on the popular Eagle Creek Trail west of Cascade Locks.According to a Hood River News report, police received a call shortly after 6 p.m. from a man who said he had accompanied Casto on a hike. Peter Van Sant: You sent sexually suggestive texts to her and a selfie with your shirt off. And Julia Simmons claims Rhonda made a chilling statement to her just before the hike. I said, "Why do you want this life insurance?" But then when they brought the mother into the story, she seemed even more shady than the boyfriend. It sounds so insulting to American women [laughs], but they just -- they make better partners. I -- I've witnessed their fights. Mike Arnold: I'm very excited to see Steve for the first time outside in the fresh air. Stephen Nichols: I have been emotionally abusive at times to people. My daughter will be nudging me and we'll be back to normal." Stephen Nichols: That's [laughs] of course that's not what I'm saying. 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. Hes either gonna give me a ring or hes gonna throw me off the cliff, Castro reportedly said in jest. This is cascading rain, like, you can actually just see the water flowing down the trail. The couple's daughter was 9 months old at the time of her mother's death. I just answered the questions that they asked. Gerry Tiffany | Lead investigator: Pretty much the next morning. What Nichols didn't know is that the entire time he was out of the country, investigators stayed on Rhonda's case and Simmons stayed on theirs. Im pretty sure I mentioned that.. Just because the mother is a creep (all of the people involved seem like lowlifes, frankly), doesnt mean that Nichols isnt guilty. Failed to report flower. Verify and try again. ", The boyfriend comes under immediate suspicion. Adding to the prosecutions problems was the fact that the former lead detective, who had retired in 2012, destroyed evidence on his computer, including crime scene and autopsy photos and trail-head fee envelopes from potential witnesses. What you're saying is she jumped. But something did happen. He used you to hurt me. I was just like, "After all this time, finally.". But in April 2016, with a trial date nowhere in sight, Judge John Olson reduced Nichols' bail to $250,000. It was a long time coming, Mike Arnold told People. Stephen Nichols says this is how the tragedy unfolded: they were heading down the trail, Rhonda is in a great mood and jokingly she had put a towel around her shoulders and was calling herself Supergirl. Casto handed their 9-month-old, Ava, to her mother that morning and she and Nichols headed off. Julia Simmons: He can be very charming. A month before that, Nichols was charged with the rape and sodomy of an underage girl. Thinking clouded by marijuana, defense argues. Julia Simmons: I kept calling and asking why anything -- nothing was happening. But six years later, in April 2014, a grand jury handed down a secret indictment against Nichols and an arrest warrant was issued for him days later. To Simmons' shock and horror, there had been a settlement conference with the prosecution and the defense agreeing to allow Nichols to plead guilty to lesser charges. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Course not. So I feel it was an accidental death and I feel an autopsy or the crime scene would show signs of a struggle if it was murder (Im not that far into the show yet). She goes, "I have dreams all the time." CC 140066CR Decided: March 02, 2017 En Banc Doug M. Petrina, Assistant Attorney General, Salem, argued the cause and filed the briefs for the petitioner on review. He's too narcissistic, egotistical, sociopath. Still firmly believing Nichols is a murderer, Rhonda's mother Julia was allowed to address the court. But Arnold would need more than luck. Nichols was accused of killing 23-year-old girlfriend Rhonda Casto during a hike along Oregons scenic Eagle Creek Trail in March 2009. 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. Nichols, then a 30-year-old day trader in Portland, Oregon, soon began tutoring Casto, who was taking college courses, and their relationship escalated. On their hike, Rhonda, according to Stephen, slipped and fell to her death. Failed to delete memorial. She didn't miss a case for five years! Colburn says Rhonda had grown unhappy and that the relationship had taken a dangerous turn. ). For his part, Nichols, now 42, continues to say he had nothing to do with Castos death. Stephen Nichols: I'm trying to think of a way to think of this. Courtesy of Arnold Law Firm/CBS News-48 Hours), Years later, a guilty plea to criminally negligent homicide. Stephen Nichols: For about three months after Rhonda died, I completely shut down. Please reset your password. Stephen Nichols: I mean, I think anyone with an ounce of intelligence can fill in the blanks. 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.". I dont think anyone described Rhonda as an incredible athlete. Jessica Colburn says Rhonda did suffer from postpartum depression. I was on the phone a couple of times when they were in a physical fight, actually. I made my way back to the car and called 911.. He was arrested in February 2015 at the San Francisco International Airport, when he returned to the country. Peter Van Sant: Did you yell at her, "Hey, what are you doin', stop, walk, we're walking down?". Leaving his hometown of Dayton, Ohio, Stephen Nichols traveled West, not in search of "fame and fortune," but to become a monk. You are putting someone out of their misery that essentially has zero chance of survival. Nichols says they didn't linger on the trail for long. I'm Attila the Hun basically, going through women. And there are allegations of another physical assault of a woman with eerie similarities to what Nichols stands accused of now -- allegations made by his ex-wife. Then, for the second time in our "48 Hours" interview, Nichols brings up the topic of suicide. Stephen Nichols: If it's a suicide, life insurance doesn't pay out. Her friends described her relationship with Nichols as volatile, and her mother says she was considering ending things with him before she died. Nichols has adamantly denied he had anything to do with Castos death. Even Rhonda knew she was going to get pushed. Using never doesnt make it that believable, but maybe hes just trying to deny strongly because he wants to distance himself from this false accusation. For defense attorney Mike Arnold, representing Stephen Nichols gives new meaning to the phrase "full-time job.". But it's justified as of that point. And his days behind bars are over. His ankle monitor was removed. Stephen Nichols: We were both holding onto each other's clothing, and we were both yelling. Remember, Nichols climbed down 150 feet to where Rhonda's broken body lay. Julia Simmons: I first met Stephen Nichols through the internet. One, the sheer beauty of the hike. So I wld scrap her testimony, but theres plenty of motive even w/out it. How to say this. In order to pass the sex offender treatment, you have to admit that. It is like a slap in the face for me and a slap on the hand for him, Simmons says. There has been a crowd funding campaign for his bail at http://www.fundedjustice.com You can donate by clicking here: https://www.fundedjustice.com/en/projects/27691-Stephen-Nichols-Murder-Bail-LOAN---Rhonda-Casto-Eagle-Creek-Fall-Death The lead detective investigating the death destroyed evidence on his computer, complicating prosecution, court records indicate. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. For more on Castos sudden death and the investigation that followed, subscribe now to PEOPLE or pick this weeks issue, on newsstands Friday. She would complain how he treated her and how they werent getting along, Simmons says. A federal judge sentenced Julia Simmons, 53, to 30 days in a halfway house and three years of probation. You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Over the next two days, Arnold set out on a frantic mission to gather the 10 percent needed in cash to free his client. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Mike Arnold: When you have a case where someone's falsely accused, you can't really separate yourself from work and home life. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. Did you not hear that FOUR other people fell from that same ledge in 6 months?? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Is Nichols being self-sacrificing, having said nothing about suicide until now -- even as he stands charged with murder -- or is he self-serving? Bail was set at $2 million. He eventually hiked back to the parking lot where he called for help. Stephen Nichols Sentenced in Hiking Death of Girlfriend Rhonda Casto Crime / hikers She Predicted He Would Kill Her. Landy would follow a few days later. I never go out. We use cookies. Also, when he denies pushing her off the cliff in the interview, his short bursts of emphasized minimally connected sentences reminded me of Bill Clintons denial. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Stephen Nichols: I had a three-bedroom condo and the other two rooms were just empty. Carrie Rasmussen [in court]: On the night of Rhonda Casto's death, the defendant didn't run to where his daughter was. Stephens ego saw arm candy when he met Rhonda. 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So Nichols says the couple came up with an adventurous plan to lose weight. Julia Simmons: I don't see how you could do that, how you could take a mother away from her child by killing her. Jessica Colburn: She told me that he had -- in the recent months -- been physically abusive to her. And she goes, "Because I wanna leave our daughter something in case I die.". I thought you might like to see a memorial for Rhonda Kristen Casto I found on Findagrave.com. Stephen Nichols: I remember we kissed for a little bit. After Rhonda went off the trail, Nichols says he hiked down the deep ravine. I had hypothermia. It was a nice day starting out.. Julia Simmons: [Laughs] She's never attempted suicide. Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. Mike Arnold: It's still a long fight ahead. That's a jump. [Pauses, looks away from Van Sant]. She was disillusioned about Steve.. The mother, however, I feel is trying to capitalise on the accident which is sad. And then, just when we thought this story had come to an end, our interview with Nichols took a turn into the surreal. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. But this case is not about belief, it's about the facts that can be presented to a jury at trial. By sharing her insights on human behavior, deception and the truth. They dated three years and had a little baby girl together. Peter Van Sant: So how does a kid from Oregon end up in China? Year should not be greater than current year. (Successful day traders dont move to China to teach English, either.) Nichols flew back to the U.S. with his daughter in February 2015 to get married. When Rhonda Casto set out. We will continue to fight until we have proven my innocence. 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. She is in a good place and not hurting or unhappy, Simmons says of Casto. I think she held on for longer for the sake of the baby. Castos family says they arent sure her death was accidental, as Nichols has insisted. Mike Arnold [in court]: It is something that obviously is titillating and interesting. Since this broadcast last aired, Stephen Nichols publicly admitted to having sex with Rhonda's younger sister, Melanie. Stephen Nichols: I had nothing to do with Rhonda Casto's death. The case was involving my daughter. I feel awful. It said thered been four deaths in a 6 month period on that trail. That isnt the case, seeing as the girl who was on the show that had also fallen from the same cliff and survived was also very athletic and strong. with the rape and sodomy of an underage girl. In March 2009, Casto, 23, was hiking with Nichols on a trail in the Columbia River Gorge when she fell 100 feet to her death. And sh -- that's why she was on the prescription medications. I could tell that she valued intelligence and I've always thought that that's one of my strongest assets. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. He's just said that to get sympathy. Stephen Earl Nichols (born February 19, 1951) is an American actor, recognized for his roles on American daytime soap operas. What do you believe? Nichols was arrested for murder in February 2015, accused of pushing his girlfriend Rhonda Casto off a trail in Oregon six years earlier. An investigation into Rhonda's death was immediately launched and a memorial was held. Nichols told authorities Ms Castro was running with a towel over her shoulders "like . Try again. Prosecutors believe Nichols killed the aspiring model for her $1 million life insurance policy. I couldn't believe it. Peter Van Sant: So when Stephen is telling us that they were planning their future together and everything was great and it was a lovey-dovey relationship, is he lying to me? 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