San Jose Man Accused of Stabbing Nephew and Grandmother Had History of Mental Illness

Court documents reveal that Nathan Addison, a 27-year-old man from San Jose, California, who is accused of stabbing his 6-year-old nephew and elderly grandmother to death, had an obsession with knives, was diagnosed with mental illness, and was a heavy drug user. Addison made his first court appearance on Monday and declined to enter a plea.

According to the court documents, Addison had a history of felony charges including burglary, drug possession, attempted arson, theft, threats, and possession of a knife over the past three years. He was arrested multiple times by different law enforcement agencies in the area. During each arrest, Addison was found to be armed with large knives.

Despite the criminal charges, judges suspended all of Addison’s cases and allowed him to be diverted into mental health treatment programs. Prosecutors attempted to keep Addison in the criminal court system and jail as recently as June 2023 but were unsuccessful. In the Mental Health Diversion program, he was classified as a moderate-to-low risk for future violence.

Addison’s former defense attorney, Ariel Toran, stated that he suffered from bipolar disorder, struggled with methamphetamine use disorder, and had a history of an abusive childhood. Dr. Carolyn Murphy, who evaluated Addison, noted that his bipolar disorder caused him to experience mania, depression, and impulsive behaviors. Addison admitted to using methamphetamine daily during certain periods of his life.

On August 3, Addison allegedly murdered his nephew, Jordan Cam Walker, and his grandmother, Delphina Turner, inside Turner’s apartment. He then destroyed evidence and cleaned up the crime scene before fleeing on foot. The victims’ bodies were discovered the following morning by family members.

Addison was released from Santa Clara County jail on June 29 but was arrested again last week on suspicion of the two murders. During his court appearance, the judge ordered him to remain in custody with no bail. Addison is scheduled to return to court on September 29 to enter a plea.

Family members of the victims declined to speak to news reporters as they left the courthouse.