3 Homicide Victims ID'd In Newport Beach Killings

NEWPORT BEACH, CA —Three people killed in a multimillion-dollar Newport Beach home were identified Friday, the Orange County Coroner's division reported.

CEO of Irvine-based West Pacific Medical Laboratory, Richard Nicholson, 64, his wife Kim Nicholson, 6I, and their housekeeper, Maria Morse, 57, of Anaheim, were all found dead at their Palazzo home in the Bonita Canyon gated community Wednesday night.

Their son, Camden Burton Nicholson, 27, was booked on suspicion of committing the three homicides, according to Heather Rangel of the Newport Beach Police Department.

About 9 p.m. Wednesday, Newport Beach police received a call from the Irvine Police Department asking that they perform a welfare check on the 0 block of Palazzo, according to Rangel. Officers went to the home and found three victims -- two women and a man -- dead inside, Rangel said. The manner of their death has not yet been released.

According to Rangel, Irvine police requested a welfare check after speaking to the suspect at the emergency room of Irvine Medical Center.

Camden Nicholson faces three counts of murder with a special circumstances allegation of multiple murders. Nicholson was appointed an attorney from the Orange County Public Defender's Office and his arraignment was rescheduled for March 8 in the jail courtroom in Santa Ana. He is being held without bail.

Camden Burton Nicholson described himself online as a Corona Del Mar High School and University of Utah graduate, golfer and current Costa Mesa resident. On a since-deleted Mormon.org page, Camden Nicholson declared that he was a "devout Mormon."

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