Nathan Addison, a 27-year-old San Jose man accused of stabbing his 6-year-old nephew and elderly grandmother to death, reportedly hid during his first court appearance on Monday. According to court documents, Addison had a documented obsession with knives, was diagnosed with a mental illness, and was a heavy drug user.
During his court appearance, Addison chose to stand just outside the courtroom in a hallway used for escorting inmates, hiding behind his defense attorney. Frustration was evident among family members present at the proceedings due to Addison’s decision to remain out of sight.
Addison is charged with the murder of Jordan Cam Walker, his 6-year-old nephew, and Delphina Turner, his 71-year-old grandmother. The shocking slayings occurred on August 3rd inside Turner’s apartment, with investigators yet to release a motive.
Police reports suggest that Addison attempted to destroy evidence, including his grandmother’s cellphone, and cleaned up the blood at the crime scene before fleeing on foot. The bodies of the victims were discovered the following morning by family members.
Over the past two years, Addison faced multiple felony charges, including burglary, drug possession, attempted arson, theft, threats, and possession of a knife. Despite these charges, all criminal cases were suspended by judges who allowed Addison to be diverted into mental health treatment programs.
Addison’s defense attorney noted that he suffered from bipolar disorder, struggled with a methamphetamine use disorder, and had survived an abusive childhood. Despite these factors, Addison was classified as moderate-to-low risk for future violence in the Mental Health Diversion program.
Following his latest arrest on suspicion of two murders, Addison was ordered to remain in custody with no bail. He is scheduled to return to court on September 29 to enter a plea.