BULLHEAD CITY – A double decade of punishment awaits a Phoenix man who stabbed his uncle to death in Bullhead City. A 20-year prison term is mandated in the plea agreement entered Oct. 23 for Don Earl Kelso, 31.
Bullhead City police department spokeswoman Emily Fromelt said an eviction-related dispute led to the June 29 stabbing of Steven Anderson, 53, in Anderson’s home in the 1800 block of Ramar Road. She said suspicious behavior by Kelso days before the deadly encounter resulted in Kelso being asked to leave the property.
Fromelt said Kelso angrily responded that he would return to kill Anderson and his girlfriend. She was present, but in another room at the time of the start of the assault, before witnessing the violence in person.
“She heard screams and ‘help, he’s stabbing me,’” Deputy Mohave County attorney Amanda Claerhout said during the change of plea proceeding. “She also saw Don with a knife stabbing Steven.”
Police officers responding to the stabbing report reportedly located the victim on his living room couch, bleeding heavily from his abdomen, torso and neck area. Anderson died following transport to Western Arizona Regional Medical Center.
Kelso pleaded guilty to second degree murder, reduced from a first-degree murder charge. Two unrelated criminal cases are dismissed in the deal accepted by Judge Doug Camacho.
“My client is anxious to get out of county jail and out of A-pod,” Legal Defender Ron Gilleo informed the Court. Judge Camacho scheduled a Nov. 12 sentencing hearing.
Dave Hawkins
