Man pleads not guilty to murder in 2009 Eagle Creek death

Nichols is scheduled to stand trial in late May of next year, according to the court’s records. His next pre-trial appearance before Circuit Court Judge John Olson is scheduled for Aug. 3 at the courthouse.

Officials were alerted to Casto’s death at Eagle Creek Trail near Cascade Locks in March 2009. According to a story in the March 18, 2009 edition of the News, Hood River 911 received a call on March 16, 2009 from a man who reported he had accompanied Casto on a hike. He claimed Casto had died after falling off a cliff on the trail. Rescuers arrived shortly after and found the body of Casto down an embankment approximately 100 feet off the trail.

Nichols was charged with murder via a secret indictment filed April 21, 2014, according to court records—10 months before he was ultimately arrested in February. Officers arrested Nichols at San Francisco International Airport on Feb. 2 on a nationwide felony warrant after arriving from China, according to the San Mateo County, California, Sheriff’s Office. His destination was Medford.

Nichols has been in custody at the Northern Oregon Regional Correctional Facility in The Dalles since February.

In court Monday, Arnold, Judge Olson and Hood River County Deputy District Attorney Carrie Rasmussen discussed future dates for Nichols’ case, Withycombe reported. Arnold indicated plans to file several motions. A hearing regarding Nichols’ release from jail has been tentatively scheduled for August, while motions to recover some of Nichols’ property seized by authorities is also pending, Withycombe reported.