CA CA - David Josiah Lawson, 19, Humboldt Cty, 15 April 2017

[burblestein]

I have been tracking this very controversial case, but haven't listed it because it had always seemed on the brink of solution. In fact, there was an arrest made, and the case has been considered by a grand jury, which refused to charge anyone.

Did I say controversial? Consider these factors. White local guy is accused of stabbing black student. There's race, there's the old "town versus gown" factor, and it all happened in the most confusing circumstances imaginable--in the midst of an enormous out-of-control beer bust.

Anyhow, I am presenting a short list of links, out of the dozens extant. If you want more links, click on the most recent one in my list, and at the bottom all the prior stories are linked. Kym Kemp of Redheaded Blackbelt is incredible that way.

The day of the homicide: [UPDATE 1:26 p.m.] 19-Year-Old HSU Student Dies After Stabbing in Arcata Early This Morning – Redheaded Blackbelt

Suspect's family releases his account of the stabbing; there's a handy timeline below that account. Family of Arcata Stabbing Suspect Claims the Real Killer Has Not Been Caught (Includes Timeline of Events as Presented in Public Statements by Those at the Party) – Redheaded Blackbelt

Accused man's uncle comes to his defense, suggests some other person stabbed the victim.
‘Reckless Statements’ Were Made by Tom Parker, and Lawson Attorney, Shelley Mack, Writes Uncle of Kyle Zoellner in Letter to the Editor – Redheaded Blackbelt

Victim's mother claims there's DNA on the murder weapon: Zoellner’s DNA on Knife Used to Kill Her Son, Says Mother of David Josiah Lawson in Open Letter – Redheaded Blackbelt

 

[burblestein]

Due to deep dissatisfaction by the community, the Humboldt County DA tried to turn the case over to the State Attorney General. The AG could find no legal grounds to assume the case.

Redheaded Blackbelt, 6 December 2019: California Attorney General’s Office Declines to Take Up Case of David Josiah Lawson – Redheaded Blackbelt

 

[burblestein]

Three years in, and the controversy still rages.
Three Years Ago Today–The Killing of David Josiah Lawson Changed This County – Redheaded Blackbelt

 

[Rosslyn107]

I was a student at HSU when this happened, I never knew Josiah personally but we both began school at HSU during the Fall of 2015 as first-time freshman. It was during our sophomore year in the Spring semester (2017) when he was murdered. I was going to attend the party as it was part of a BU (brothers united) party that my friend was also a member of and invited me to go with him but something came up and we ended not going. The next day we got the news, as well as an email from the university, informing us of the stabbing and I had many classmates and friends who did attend that night, some who even witnessed the murder. From what my peers said, Josiah was murdered by Kyle Zoellner who was not an HSU student, he was just some guy who lived in Mckinleyville (a town very close to Arcata) I have no idea why Zoellner was at the party since he was not a BU member or even a student at HSU but he was there with a few other people including his girlfriend. From what I heard, some of my classmates overheard one of the girls who was with Zoellner that night say "I hope that N***** dies" at some point that night (I'm unsure if it was during, before, or after the stabbing). Zoellner and Josiah got into an altercation after Zoellner's gf accused Josiah of stealing her phone which is what lead up to the altercation where Josiah was sprayed with mace/pepper spray and then stabbed. 9-1-1 was called and I heard that the ambulance took an overly long amount of time (about 20 mins) to arrive despite the hospital being a 5-minute drive from the location of the party. When police arrived and saw Josiah bleeding to death on the floor outside of the house where the party took place, they were not at all focused on Josiah or helping him, their first concern was shutting down the party and I have been told that they just watch Josiah bleed to death. When police collected the murder weapon the officer did not even wear gloves to do so, he grabbed the knife with his bare hands. They shortly questioned Zoellner, his girlfriend, and the other (I believe it was another two girls) and then let them leave in together in their vehicle. It is possible that Zoellner may have been in custody that night but was later released, I am unsure if he left with his gf and friends or if he spent the night in jail but his gf and friends for sure did leave together that night (possibly with Zoellner) despite many witnesses telling officers what they witnessed (including his girlfriend's comment about wanting Josiah dead). There is DNA evidence and many witnesses linking Zoellner to the case, we all know he murdered Josiah. I attended many marches and protests for Josiah, at once an officer stated "we cannot do anything, we don't have any evidence to charge anyone, we do not need you to protest, that will do nothing, what we need is witnesses, if there are any or you know someone that knows or saw something please tell them to come forward." a young man who was another student at the protest responded with "I was there, I gave my statement and know many people who have, what more do you need??" a few other party-goers from that night also responded that they gave their statement already and the officer had zero response this. Humboldt PD is notorious allowing crimes to go unpunished and they have a very long history of racism, the area is truly full of corruption and as a student of color I never felt safe there, after Josiah was murdered, a lot of us felt even more scared than we already did. I pray justice is brought for Josiah and the Lawson family, this crime shook the entire student body and we demanded and continue to demand justice but Humboldt PD has ignored our demands.

 

[burblestein]

Welcome to Websleuths, Rosslyn.
Before the grinches start yelling for links to MSM, let me point out that the facts above are in the links I already listed. The only difference is Rosslyn's personal view of the event, and that lends a freshness to the account.

 

[SuzanneEtc]

I’m very interested in this case. My son will be a junior in Fall 2021. When Josiah was murdered he wasn’t a student yet, but I heard about when we visited before his freshman year.

I feel so sad for his brave mother and family. She’s been indefatigable in her efforts to keep her son’s case in people’s minds.

It would be thrilling to help solve this. I’m in Los Angeles, please let me know if I can help in some way from here.

 

[Steelhead]

Zoellner Civil Case Lurches Toward Trial

“. . . At issue is Fleming's testimony about exactly what led her to charge Zoellner with murder. In an April 5, 2019, letter to the state Attorney General's Office asking it to take over the case, Fleming wrote that initial reports submitted to her office "indicated an eyewitness could identify the suspect" and her office "filed charges based on that information." But according to a filing from Zoellner's attorneys, Fleming's recollection about what led her to file a murder charge against Zoellner on April 19, 2017, has changed.

According to the attorneys, Fleming testified she did not yet have the police reports that erroneously stated a witness claimed to have seen the killing and instead filed the murder charge based on a different — but also inaccurate — report, this one stating an analysis of fibers located on a knife believed to be the murder weapon matched Zoellner's clothing.

But Zoellner's lead attorney Elizabeth Zareh contends her office has never received the referenced fiber report as a part of the civil discovery process, as the law would require. Zareh accuses the city's attorneys of "creating a trial by ambush" and "hiding" records. . .”