Stephen Nichols: If it's a suicide, life insurance doesn't pay out. 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. California had the Zodiac Killer. I think she knew the relationship wasnt a good one, Sconce says. Rhonda told her mom about going on the hike, "He's either gonna give me a ring or he's gonna throw me off the cliff." Peter Van Sant: Do you believe that Stephen was in love with Melanie? Stephen Nichols: It's all hypothetical, because I'm telling people, you know, think -- think outside the box. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your device and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Julia Simmons: I don't see how you could do that, how you could take a mother away from her child by killing her. 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.". I just dont understand how they can try him. The only incredible athlete I recall in this story is the young woman who nearly died at the same point where Rhonda fell but managed to grab a root, which proves that an incredible athlete can lose her footing and fall. 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The defense argues the location of her injuries indicate Rhonda left the trail feet first -- not tumbling head over heels from a push. Nichols says Landy became like a mother to his daughter. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. He has appeared in many other films including, Merchants of Venus with Michael York and Beverly D'Angelo, Cover Me, with . Greta Thunberg is seen LAUGHING with relaxed German riot cops who seem happy to Scotland Yard backs move to strip rapist police officer David Carrick of his 22,000-a-year pension. When you need me I am waiting.". While not saying it in so many words, Stephen Nichols' mind games manage to drop a bombshell. 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. And I just immediately fell in love with her. He was arrested over . Peter Van Sant: So how does a kid from Oregon end up in China? "Correct," Nichols answers. Stephen has since been charged with murdering Rhonda, but has not yet faced a trial. Stephen Nichols: Either I pushed her, she jumped of her own accord or she slipped. But I'm not going to say it. And Julia Simmons claims Rhonda made a chilling statement to her just before the hike. If your sig other wants to climb a mountain, tell them to go by themselves ! Three years into their relationship, Rhonda and Nichols -- living together but not married -- became parents. olive tree children ministries; teaching blog; about our ministry; salvation prayer; contact us But this week the 42-year-old has walked free. He wasn't around as much. His ankle monitor was removed. They never even brought it up, suicide. 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. Nichols claims he took the deal for just one reason: time was running out to regain custody of his daughter. Most of the time innocent people plead guilty in order to gain an advantage or meet a goal. Follow. [Laughs] I'm not gonna answer that. And I'm like, "Yeah you really do look like her.". And sh -- that's why she was on the prescription medications. It seems a dangerous word game. Suggesting that Rhonda Casto chose to jump to her death from Eagle Creek Trail. Prosecutors believe Nichols killed the aspiring model for her $1 million life insurance policy. I fell asleep on her chest and I dont know how long I was asleep for, but I woke up and I realized I was shaking uncontrollably because I was so cold, he says. Stephen Nichols was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in February 1951. Soon, Rhonda joined her mother in the condo, not as a roommate but as Nichols' girlfriend. Stephen Nichols: When our daughter was born, it meant everything to her. Jessica Colburn: The proposal never happened. She was the heaviest she had ever been, and she felt really disgusting. And his days behind bars are over. Now Police Say Boyfriend 'Internally Decapitated' Her, 'People Magazine Investigates' : Inside Decades-Old Disappearances of 5 People Along the Snake River, 4 Years After Wash. Peter Van Sant: And what were you sensing from Rhonda? But it's justified as of that point. She told me he spoiled her, says Castos friend Jen Sconce. I couldn't believe it. 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. They dated three years and had a little baby girl together. I look forward to that day.. She would complain how he treated her and how they werent getting along, Simmons says. stephen nichols rhonda castro. But it's a bittersweet victory. Julia Simmons: He planned the whole thing, it was premeditated, the whole thing. Stephen Nichols: Does sound like she's angry. They make better wives. Did she tumble forward? Book Two in a New True Crime Series from The New York Times Bestse. "She was disillusioned about Steve. By sharing her insights on human behavior, deception and the truth. In 2005, Nichols, who was 10 years older than Rhonda and recently divorced, was working as a day trader. That's the first thing I did when I got there. Nichols has denied all of these claims. Julia Simmons: I think Steve is just throwing all these ideas out to throw people off the fact that he pushed her. So that's the hardest part. Stephen Nichols: The exact opposite. Stephen Nichols: Everything about her was impressive. "that I am dead by 25.". So I would think that would be the closest that we ever were. This is cascading rain, like, you can actually just see the water flowing down the trail. Stephen Nichols: She's never been off drugs since the age of 12. Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facilities/AP, 'He Is Either Going to Give Me a Ring or Throw Me Off a Cliff,' a Mom Allegedly Said Before Fatal Hike, Oregon Man Accused of Pushing Girlfriend Off a Cliff to Her Death Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charges, Mom Was Told Daughter Overdosed in February. 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. 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. Jessica Colburn: No. Nichols, 41, formerly from Bend and Portland, pled guilty to two counts of sex abuse in the third degree, a Class A misdemeanor. But something did happen. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Stephen Nichols: I mean, I think anyone with an ounce of intelligence can fill in the blanks. I just said, I was screaming on the phone to Carrie, "No, no, you can't do this. And she knew that Steve was trying to drive a wedge between 'em. A tag already exists with the provided branch name. 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. While she doesn't track her cases anymore due to limited time, she still shares her opinions with the public when time allows. Dr. Stephen J. Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Fla., chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries tea Dr. Stephen J. Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Fla., chief academic officer for Ligonier Ministries, and a Ligonier Ministries tea Stephen Nichols: I felt she was into me too. How to say this. Money-wise he treated her like a princess., But, Sconce says, the relationship was tumultuous.. Boston had its Strangler. Stephen Nichols: I don't think I screamed anything at her. But Rhonda may have been thinking about more than their daughter. 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. 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. I am not sure. Stephen Nichols: I decided when I got to China, this is a whole fresh start. Nichols later alleged that Casto had been high on marijuana and prescription drugs while on the hike. Herein, Who is the wealthiest soap opera star? Prosecution aims to prove Casto death was no accident, Stephen Nichols on his freedom and family. First published on March 17, 2018 / 11:34 PM. So it sounds like a small price to pay to be there for when my client gets to see freedom for the first time in a year. Nichols was a suspect from the beginning in the death of 23-year-old Rhonda Casto of Portland, investigators said. Also, the mother is framed as the person who is lying, but regardless of the mothers wrongdoing there are multiple accounts from multiple people that Stephen denies outright. In May 2017, following several hearings about what evidence could be used against Stephen Nichols, which would include his plea to having sex with Melanie, it looked like his true day in court was finally on the horizon. Nichols packed up and headed to Wuxi, about 75 miles from Shanghai. Peter Van Sant: Did you yell at her, "Hey, what are you doin', stop, walk, we're walking down?". Peter Van Sant: What are you saying, Stephen? Stephen Nichols: Let me ask you, if you shoot your war buddy because you see how much pain he's in, is that murder? 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. 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