Don Kelso
KINGMAN – His wheelchair-bound partner and the daughter of a murder victim spoke of tremendous loss and hardship at a Nov. 12 sentencing hearing in Kingman. Don Kelso, 31, pleaded guilty to second degree murder last month for stabbing his uncle to death in Bullhead City.
Authorities have said an eviction-related quarrel led to the deadly violence that claimed the life of Steven Anderson, 53, in his own home in the 1800 block of Ramar Road on June 29.
Amanda Vijas told the Court that she is devastated that loss of a leg and confinement to her wheelchair rendered her unable to get out of bed to come to the aid of her 23-year-long partner while he was being stabbed by his nephew.
“This crime has impacted me in a profound manner. I have nightmares. I wake up at night with Steven Anderson screaming ‘help me,’” Vijas told Judge Doug Camacho. “Steve was my friend, my caregiver and in every aspect my husband.”
Vijas spoke of sending their daughter to her room while she cleaned up the crime scene from her wheelchair once the home was released by law enforcement. She said her daughter Kathleen Anderson’s plan to begin college months ago was derailed by need for her to work to provide revenue and to transition to caregiver for her mother.
Anderson told the Court that loss of her father has resulted in chaos for she and her mother.
“The whole thing is like a Hollywood movie to me,” Anderson said. “It sucks to know that my father won’t see me grow.”
Judge Camacho refused sentencing hearing requests by the defendant to withdraw from the plea agreement and to represent himself. Camacho told Kelso he can seek remedy through post-conviction relief, but he said he was unwilling to allow Kelso to represent himself when he admitted he hasn’t taken his schizophrenia medication for three weeks.
Attorneys and the Court noted that experts previously concluded that Kelso is legally competent to stand trial and assist in his own defense and that his mental health issues do not provide protection from prosecution.
Judge Camacho imposed the 20-year prison term mandated in the plea agreement.
Dave Hawkins
