An attempt by a defense attorney to plead incompetency in an El Paso County murder case may have backfired after the former Olympic hopeful herself refused evaluation.
Khayla Dawson, 27, was ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation for an undisclosed condition in March after it was requested by her defense team. Yet the expert hired by the defense to conduct the evaluation told a judge Thursday that Dawson had twice refused to be examined.
Recommended Stories
▶
Khayla Dawson, 27, was arrested for the alleged murder of Jeremy Campbell on Monday, Oct. 27, 2025. (Courtesy of El Paso County Sheriff’s Office)
Dawson faces a first-degree murder charge for allegedly stabbing and killing 38-year-old Jeremy Campbell. She had hired him as an Uber driver on a night in October 2025 to go for a “joy ride,” she told investigators following her arrest.
Campbell’s body was found dumped in a field north of Colorado Springs, with his car nearby.
Dawson’s case has been delayed several times due to the ongoing evaluations, as well as her refusal to show up to court hearings. A trial was set in April, but then vacated after defense attorney Nick Rogers brought up possible competency issues.
During an evidence hearing last year, the courtroom was packed with a crowd of people who donned bright green shirts in memory of Campbell.
El Paso County district court Judge Eric Bentley said he is getting more and more frustrated with the delays and asked for a resolution on Dawson’s competency next week. He set aside a time Oct. 29 for the defense’s expert to make her findings based on information she’s gathered from the investigation and another competency report that was filed in August.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Stephanie Redfield indicated that Dawson herself said in a prior hearing that she was ready to proceed and is competent, though Redfield still asked Bentley to hold off on a ruling until the expert files her report.