Colorado Springs, CO — Authorities in El Paso County have arrested 27-year-old Khayla Dawson, a Colorado Springs woman and Olympic shot put hopeful, after she allegedly stabbed an Uber driver to death and left his body in a field before fleeing in his car.
Former Olympian Accused of Brutal Killing
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by investigators, the incident occurred late on Sunday night, when Dawson allegedly scheduled an Uber ride with 38-year-old Jeremy Campbell, the victim. Dawson, who competed at the 2024 USA Olympic Trials in Oregon, reportedly told police she “wanted to go for a joy ride” because she felt “cooped up” at home.
She claimed she fell asleep in the back seat of Campbell’s 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe and woke up to him trying to sexually assault her. Dawson told investigators she “defended herself by stabbing him,” as per the reports.
Graphic Details From the Affidavit
The affidavit alleges that Dawson and Campbell struggled inside the vehicle, which then crashed through a barbed-wire fence and came to rest in a field with horses. Investigators say Dawson then pulled Campbell’s body out of the car, got behind the wheel, and drove away in his vehicle, leaving him fatally wounded.
When Campbell’s father reported him missing, detectives tracked his phone’s last location using Snapchat maps, which led them to Dawson’s apartment complex in Colorado Springs. Campbell’s Hyundai was found parked outside.
Inside the vehicle, deputies discovered blood spatter on the dashboard, steering wheel, driver’s seat, and passenger window, along with a large pool of blood behind the driver’s seat.
Evidence Points Toward Dawson
Upon executing a search warrant, authorities found Campbell’s key fob, wallet, and driver’s license hidden inside a box of dryer sheets in Dawson’s apartment. A knife was missing from her kitchen’s butcher block, and investigators discovered a matching chrome-handled knife at the crime scene.
According to the affidavit, Campbell’s body was found around 11:30 a.m. Monday with multiple stab wounds to the neck, head, shoulder, and hands. A bloody butcher knife, a folding knife, and Dawson’s credit cards were also recovered near the body.
Self-Defense or Premeditation?
Dawson told police she acted in self-defense, claiming Campbell “tried to touch her.” However, investigators noted that Dawson had no stab or puncture wounds and only a broken knee bone, while the victim sustained multiple deep injuries.
Authorities also reported finding a machete-style knife hidden behind a cabinet in her living room.
Charges and Court Proceedings
Khayla Dawson has been charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery, and motor vehicle theft. She is currently held without bond at the El Paso County Jail and is scheduled to make her first court appearance on November 6.
Local outlet KRDO confirmed Dawson’s athletic background, noting she was a former member of the USA Track & Field Colorado Chapter and placed 22nd at the 2024 Olympic Trials with a distance of 16.86 meters.
A Tragic End to a Promising Career
The case has shocked both the Colorado Springs community and the sports world, as Dawson was once considered an athlete with Olympic potential. Now, she faces life imprisonment if convicted of the first-degree murder charge.
Authorities continue to investigate the events leading up to the fatal stabbing as they seek to determine whether Dawson’s self-defense claim holds merit.
What are your thoughts on this shocking case? Do you believe Dawson’s self-defense claim or the investigators’ findings? Share your opinions in the comments below.
