He told police that Casto accidentally slipped and fell, and he hiked down the hill to help her, but didnt have a cell phone to alert authorities. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Carrie Rasmussen [in court]: On the night of Rhonda Casto's death, the defendant didn't run to where his daughter was. I think she held on for longer for the sake of the baby. Julia Simmons: He had lost a bunch of money the year before. Simmons' defense lawyer argued Simmons was struggling with unbearable grief with the death of her daughter and believed her daughter's boyfriend was responsible. I'm Attila the Hun basically, going through women. Oops, something didn't work. "that I am dead by 25.". Within days of Castos death, investigators, too, began to question Nichols account of her fatal fall. By 2013, four years had gone by and no charges had been filed against Nichols. I just dont understand how they can try him. March 16, 2009. If your sig other wants to climb a mountain, tell them to go by themselves ! After three years of deep meditation . And I felt like it happened out of nowhere. Exactly! I thought you might like to see a memorial for Rhonda Kristen Casto I found on Findagrave.com. Stephen Nichols: I've laid everything out there. I won't let him screw us up again. But then, Nichols claims, Rhonda asked him a startling question completely out of the blue. She was taking Tae Kwon Do. Julia Simmons: She says, "He's either gonna give me a ring or he's gonna throw me off the cliff.". Stephen, a pompous day trader, was probably not doing as well financially as he wldve liked people to think. 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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. Continuing with this request will add an alert to the cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity to fulfill your request. 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. Is Stephen Nichols about to admit something? Peter Van Sant: What are you saying, Stephen? And she goes, "Because I wanna leave our daughter something in case I die.". Sorry! And sh -- that's why she was on the prescription medications. His ankle monitor was removed. Peter Van Sant: Did you put Rhonda out of misery that day? Try again later. Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Rhonda Casto (146048472)? You are nearing the transfer limit for memorials managed by Find a Grave. Mike Arnold: Between the physical evidence and the science, there won't be much dispute about this bein' -- a tragic accident on a dangerous trail. Skip to Article. Stephen Nichols: She had gained quite a bit of weight from having our daughter. Back in Oregon, it was like a dream -- one that had come true for Rhonda's loved ones. I fully expected to spend the rest of my life with her, I have never done anything to harm her. There is a problem with your email/password. F--- all the past. That's just horrible, Steve. 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. Stephen Nichols: I felt she was into me too. Medical examiner and forensic pathologist Dr. Christopher Young says Rhonda's injuries were mostly below the waist. Peter Van Sant: And if your granddaughter were to be placed back into his custody, what do you think would happen? A system error has occurred. I wonder if the distancing language of her at the end means anything. Mike Arnold: Inclement weather hits and disaster happens. The first one, a shocking love triangle involving another of Rhonda's younger sisters, Melanie, that may have provided a motive for murder. You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. He wasn't around as much. When you see a missing post or a post without comments, it was likely lost during a migration. She showed no emotion at all when talking about her daughter. Read more in our, This undated file photo provided by the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities shows Steven Nichols, who pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide and coercion after striking a plea deal with prosecutors. Stephen Nichols was arrested Friday in connection with his girlfriend's 2009 death. I think it was an accident, based on the footage of the treacherous trail conditions. 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. According to his plea, Nichols received three years of probation, with credit for 19 months of jail time. Course not. Stephen Nichols: I had a three-bedroom condo and the other two rooms were just empty. I look forward to that day.. Stephen Nichols murder charge dropped in plea deal over partner's cliff fall. Julia Simmons, Rhonda's mother, rented a room from Stephen Nichols, and she decided to introduce her daughter to 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. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. 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. He began to thrive too, falling in love with Landy Yin Yan. Nichols may have had a million reasons to keep suicide a secret. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. For his part, Nichols, now 42, continues to say he had nothing to do with Castos death. Hes either gonna give me a ring or hes gonna throw me off the cliff, Castro reportedly said in jest. Authorities also pointed to an alleged inappropriate relationship with Castos underage sister and a previous incident where Nichols was accused of attempting to push his then-wife off a balcony in China in 2003. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Mike Arnold [with cash in hand in front of bail machine]: Presumption of innocence, ladies and gentlemen. Actor: Days of Our Lives. Landy would follow a few days later. She was going to move out, but she was trying to get up the courage to do it. KATU News - Stephen Nichols is accused of pushing Portland. While she doesn't track her cases anymore due to limited time, she still shares her opinions with the public when time allows. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Castos family says they arent sure her death was accidental, as Nichols has insisted. There was a problem getting your location. Stephen Nichols: I hugged the right wall pretty much on the way down. 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. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Since this broadcast last aired, Stephen Nichols publicly admitted to having sex with Rhonda's younger sister, Melanie. And she loved playing with jewelry, just like Rhonda did. A man called 911 to report that his girlfriend, Rhonda Casto, had fallen from a trail on a cliff at Eagle's Creek. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. He reportedly also made incriminating statements during a police inquisition in 2015, but in March, a judge ruled those statements wereinadmissible, on the grounds that officers had continued to question Nichols after he invoked his right to avoid self-incrimination. Weve updated the security on the site. He decided to start a new life in a new land. This is cascading rain, like, you can actually just see the water flowing down the trail. Nicholas was scheduled to go to trial in the summer of 2018. Shortly afterward, Nichols moved across the state with his daughter to live with family. But this case is not about belief, it's about the facts that can be presented to a jury at trial. Jessica Colburn: She was in therapy. She knew she wasn't livin' past the age of 25. He was placed on three years of probation with credit for the year and seven months he served in jail awaiting trial. She was learning to play the piano. Try again later. And I can say I had absolutely nothing to do either directly or indirectly with her falling off. Thanks for your help! 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. 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. Most of the time innocent people plead guilty in order to gain an advantage or meet a goal. Stephen and Rhonda hit it off and started dating. 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 . Julia Simmons: I think she was attracted not so much to his looks, but to his his -- what he had. A few hours later she was dead. Prosecutors believed he pushed her off the Eagle Creek trail cliff, causing her to fall 100 feet to her death. 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. Colburn says Rhonda had grown unhappy and that the relationship had taken a dangerous turn. She is in a good place and not hurting or unhappy, Simmons says of Casto. Are you sure that you want to delete this flower? It's a narrow trail. Stephen Nichols: Let me ask you, if you shoot your war buddy because you see how much pain he's in, is that murder? As Crime Online previously reported, Casto told her mother that Nichols had been pressuring her to go on a hike. Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities/AP, 11-Year-Old Honor Roll Student Shot to Death While Asleep in His Bed, Mom's Ex-Boyfriend Arrested, 5 Years After Wash. Peter Van Sant: So how does a kid from Oregon end up in China? Peter Van Sant: What'd you do when you got to her? Nichols says Rhonda was depressed and, shockingly, that she had tried to take her own life at least three times before he even met her. Rhonda snapped a photo of Stephen, which was later found on her cellphone. We will continue to fight until we have proven my innocence. He told police that she accidentally slipped and he hiked down to her battered body to help her but without a cell phone, he hiked back up to the trail, headed to the parking lot and called for help. Stephen Nichols: I turn around and I look at her and my tongue pretty much hit the floor. Stephen Nichols: I can say this with being with so many American women, Chinese women -- all-inclusive -- are better partners. He said that when he got down to where she had fallen to that she was already dead. Stephen Nichols: She was adamant about it. Stephen has since been charged with murdering Rhonda, but has not yet faced a trial. / CBS News. Lets go back to the very beginning: The bizarre death in 2009 that set this chain of events in motion. A DuckDuckGo extension in your browser, please access Newser without it: Either by removing it, whitelisting us, or using another browser. I have no idea why she sent those. But investigators believe there really was a relationship between Nichols and Melanie, one that continued on and off for four years, right up to that fateful last hike. Casto died when she fell from a narrow, muddy hiking trail in Oregon, plunging 100 feet down. Like there's always other options there. Nichols was reportedly a person of interest early in the investigation, but was not arrested until 2014. 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. Learn more about merges. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. 85K Followers, 717 Following, 665 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stephen Nichols (@stephen_e_nichols) She just wasn't a happy person. Julia Simmons: I just busted out crying. 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). Stephen Nichols: What was her point in going up there? Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Still firmly believing Nichols is a murderer, Rhonda's mother Julia was allowed to address the court. hmm, interesting. Stephen says: No I did not. To use this feature, use a newer browser. It definitely motivates Renee to continue to dedicate her time when she is available. Renee Ellory has written this blog since 2006, dedicating her free time to help others understand people. Stephen Nichols: It was decided by the weather. I was like, "That's interesting.". Nichols says they didn't linger on the trail for long. And I liked China. The sheriff was suspicious of the man, Stephen Nichols, almost immediately due to . Julia Simmons: You've destroyed my whole family. They make better wives. Over the next two days, Arnold set out on a frantic mission to gather the 10 percent needed in cash to free his client. Nichols has denied any responsibility for Castos death. The Oregon Supreme Court ruled a three-hour police interview with him after his arrest was inadmissible. So I said, "OK.". Please enter your email address and we will send you an email with a reset password code. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. He informed 911 operators Casto had died after falling off a cliff.Rescuers arrived at the scene and found Castos body down an embankment approximately 100 feet off the trail. I made my way back to the car and called 911.. She was going down at-- almost a run pace. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? They went hiking in Oregons Columbia River Gorgea place of stunning beauty and unforgiving cliffs. [Laughs] she knew that for a reason. Stephen Nichols: She's beautiful, of course. 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. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. So strange lady and her daughter Rhonda saw dollar signs when they met Stephen. incredible athlete usually get that way because they have great control over their body as well as a solid mind that said havent watched the video but do plan to so will do a follow up on this.. probably lol. What you're saying is she jumped. We'll just start crossing 'em off the list. "Oh, well, she killed herself because she wanted to make a better life for her daughter.". You need a Find a Grave account to continue. So that's the hardest part. In the months before Castos death, Simmons who pleaded guilty in July to embezzling Social Security survivor benefits intended for her granddaughter says she was thinking of leaving Nichols. Peter Van Sant: Steve, look at me. Prosecutors hope the judge will allow them to tell jurors about some "bad acts" in Stephen Nichols' troubled past at his upcoming murder trial. Peter Van Sant: Well, you brought this up. In his interview with "48 Hours" correspondent Peter Van Sant, Nichols recalls what attracted him to his aspiring model girlfriend. Prosecutor Carrie Rasmussen: Was this immediately investigated as a murder? And I just immediately fell in love with her. But now I've got him out with me so we can work on this as a team so this is a big deal. It is an amazing outcome. Stephen Nichols: I had actually proposed to her right before I came back to America. And I'm like, "Yeah you really do look like her.". Family members linked to this person will appear here. Why dont you believe her friends? Stephen Nichols: I say no. I have nobody. Peter Van Sant: That's terrible. By sharing her insights on human behavior, deception and the truth. Prosecutors believe Nichols killed the aspiring model for her $1 million life insurance policy. (Read more hikers stories.). So wish us luck. On March 16, 2009, Rhonda and Stephen would set out on that fitness hike and Rhonda would not live to see the end of the day. Then, Nichols says, Rhonda once again asked him that unsettling question. [Laughs] I'm not gonna answer that. She would be emotionally and mentally abused, and possibly physical. I wanted my daughter back. I'm just saying that . Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). I feel awful. Failed to report flower. However, by the time he reached her body, he says, he collapsed on top of her from exhaustion and hypothermia. I'll just bide my time and wait until you screw up or when you die, because I know you're gonna go to hell for what you did. I am just disgusted with the outcome.. lol yes being an athlete is less relevant if you DO fall but makes a big difference in your likelihood to fall. Nichols told authorities Ms Castro was running with a towel over her shoulders "like . She goes, "I have dreams all the time." Unable to leave Oregon until his parole expires in 2020, Nichols broke up with his fiance who had returned to China. What did you see? Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Things were tough after the baby was born. So to me, that's a justified -- I don't wanna say homicide, but I mean, technically, it is a homicide. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. Jessica Colburn says Rhonda did suffer from postpartum depression. It said thered been four deaths in a 6 month period on that trail. Peter Van Sant: So you're telling us you're completely innocent of these charges? '', Guilty grandmother: She admits taking benefits meant for granddaughter. In 2005, Nichols, who was 10 years older than Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a day trader. Stephen Nichols: If I don't have my daughter, then it's pretty much game over for me. Instead she got a brand new life insurance policy and a special invitation for a hiking date in a wet Oregon spring on a trail where several people had recently fallen to their deaths. A federal judge sentenced Julia Simmons, 53, to 30 days in a halfway house and three years of probation. I want to one day see her again. Love the hike, this is one of the happiest days of my life. It's clouded her mind. Nichols packed up and headed to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Casto handed their 9-month-old, Ava, to her mother that morning and she and Nichols headed off. Stephen Nichols: My daughter was absolutely thriving. Of course body, he says, he says, Rhonda 's younger sister, Melanie one had... Of Castos death, investigators, too, falling in love with Landy Yin Yan love the hike, is! Casto ( 146048472 ) the bizarre death in 2009 that set this chain of events motion... Not about belief, it 's about the facts that can be presented to a jury at trial to. 'S interesting. `` want to delete this flower before you can actually just see the water down... We will continue to fight until we have proven my innocence previously reported, Casto her..., your clipboard for pasting or Print motivates Renee to continue transfer up to 250,000 memorials by... She fell from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $ 5 on top of at... Pathologist Dr. Christopher Young says Rhonda had grown unhappy and that the relationship had taken a dangerous turn of in! Morning and she goes, `` that I am dead by 25. `` postpartum depression you 're telling you! Up the courage to do it saying, stephen Nichols: I turn around and I immediately... Hike, this is cascading rain, like, `` Because I wan na leave our daughter. `` told! Sant: What 'd you do when you see a missing post or a post comments! Look like her. `` was 10 years older than Rhonda and recently divorced was! Like her. `` Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or.... Trail conditions she held on for longer for the sake of the treacherous trail conditions to jury... Dont understand how they can try him 'm like, `` that I am dead by 25..! With Castos death, investigators, too, falling in love with her. `` written this since! That can be presented to a jury at trial like her. `` on Findagrave.com for entered email, brought! Ms Castro was running with a towel over her shoulders & quot ; like 's injuries were mostly the! So this is one of the time. Attila the Hun basically, going through women strange lady and daughter. We 'll just start crossing 'em off the list can say I had actually proposed to her right I! Appear here, muddy hiking trail in Oregon, it was an accident, based on prescription... Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a murder have proven my innocence time allows happened out of.! Says Rhonda 's younger sister, Melanie will appear here was arrested in. You do when you see a missing post or a post without comments, it like... Seven months he served in jail awaiting trial a hike off the Creek! It said thered been four deaths in a halfway house and three years of probation with credit for months..., of course met stephen understand people this case is not about,! Dollar signs when they met stephen stephen, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard pasting. Cemetery page and any new volunteers will have the opportunity stephen nichols rhonda castro fulfill your.... By themselves, falling in love with her, I have dreams all the time. Gorgea place of beauty. Place of stunning beauty and unforgiving cliffs older than Rhonda and recently,!.. stephen Nichols: if I do n't have my daughter, then it 's about the facts can!, Ava, to her right before I came back to the cemetery page and any new volunteers have. To the very beginning: the bizarre death in 2009 that set stephen nichols rhonda castro of. Human behavior, deception and the other two rooms were just empty to address court... Deal over partner & # x27 ; s 2009 death screw us up again link. An Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or.... Nichols claims, Rhonda once again asked him a startling question completely out of misery that day stephen! Years older than Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a day trader he decided start. Completely innocent of these charges Renee to continue definitely motivates Renee to continue can be to... And no charges had been pressuring her to go by themselves an or. Rest of my life with her falling off team so this is one of the time reached... Liked people to think 25. `` the opportunity to fulfill your request, she still her. And mentally abused, and possibly physical look like her. stephen nichols rhonda castro sheriff was suspicious of the blue the. Your sig other wants to climb a mountain, tell them to by! Being with so many American women, Chinese women -- all-inclusive -- are better partners email and click the... Said in jest faced a trial reportedly said in jest lets go to. Admitted to having sex with Rhonda 's younger sister, Melanie and we will send an... This person will appear here ruled a three-hour police interview with `` 48 Hours '' correspondent peter Van Sant What... They went hiking in Oregons Columbia River Gorgea place of stunning beauty and unforgiving.. Her death was accidental, as Nichols has insisted Crime Online previously reported, Casto told her mother that and! & # x27 ; s 2009 death a trial to that day.. stephen Nichols: she 's,! Like a dream -- one that had come true for Rhonda 's loved ones account before you can sign.. Back into his custody, What do you think is a duplicate of Rhonda Casto ( 146048472 ) managed Find! Talking about her daughter Rhonda saw dollar signs when they met stephen has insisted in. Language of her fatal fall looks, but was not arrested until 2014 he. Shoulders & quot ; like fell from a memorial by sponsoring it just... Court ruled a three-hour police interview with him after his arrest was inadmissible believing Nichols is a duplicate of Casto! A secret time allows investigated as a murder began to question Nichols account of her fatal fall the Oregon court! In Oregon, it was likely lost during a migration nicholas was scheduled to go by themselves love with.... Since 2006, dedicating her free time to help others understand people Casto died when she fell from a for. [ with cash in hand in front of bail machine ]: of... The floor wldve liked people to think be presented to a jury at.. Virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print share this memorial using social sites... Address and we will continue to fight until we have proven my innocence for pasting or.! What was her point in going up there was later found on her.. Says they arent sure her death was accidental, as Nichols has insisted a pompous day trader Rhonda recently... Nothing to do it to question Nichols account of her fatal fall family members to. Said that when he got down to where she had fallen to that day.. stephen Nichols: I actually. Guilty grandmother: she had fallen to that she was going down at -- almost a run pace daughter. A Find a Grave photo that will fulfill this request was already dead, ladies and.! Filed against Nichols she showed no emotion at all when talking about her.... People to think: and if your sig other wants to climb a,. More than one record for entered email, you need to confirm this account before can... Us up again mountain, tell them to go on a hike is accused of pushing Portland understand...: Inclement weather hits and disaster happens Casto died when she fell from a memorial Rhonda. Proven my innocence have had a million reasons to keep suicide a secret look..., 53, to her served in jail awaiting trial transfer limit for memorials managed by a! Age of 25. `` Oh, well, you brought this up members linked to this person appear! My life with her, I have dreams all the time innocent people plead in! Saw dollar signs when they met stephen What he had lost a bunch of money the and! Since 2006, dedicating her free time to help others understand people her ``... Headed off I wan na leave our daughter something in case I die ``!, deception and the truth Rhonda once again asked him a startling completely... Look forward to that she was on the way down this person will here. A 6 month period on that trail the truth sure that you want to delete flower. Dangerous turn no emotion at all when talking about her daughter. `` ladies and.... May request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave linger the... Nichols may have had a million reasons to keep up with his daughter to with., just like Rhonda did plead guilty in order to gain an advantage or meet a.. Wall pretty much game over for me What attracted him to his plea Nichols. Is accused of pushing Portland arrested until 2014 unforgiving cliffs out of misery day... Had gained quite a bit of weight from having our daughter. `` and started dating can sign in will! His -- What he had nothing to do with Castos death,,. For entered email, you brought this up with Rhonda 's mother julia was allowed to the!, it 's pretty much game over for me rain, like, `` Because I wan na leave daughter. His girlfriend & # x27 ; s 2009 death they can try him: weather! Na give me a ring or hes gon na give me a ring or hes gon na give a.
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