Female Fugitive Now in Humboldt Jail Facing Murder Charge in Death of Toddler Found Near Blue Lake

Arrest of Nichole Ann Thorpe [Image from the Redkey Police Department]

Nichole Ann Thorpe, 32, was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on June 5 after being extradited from Indiana, where she was arrested in April following a nationwide search. According to the Humboldt County jail booking sheet, Thorpe was booked on charges of murder, felony child abuse, a great bodily injury enhancement involving a child under five, and welfare fraud.

Nicole Ann Thorpe Image from the Redkey Police Department

The charges stem from the death of CarmenEve Faith Robison, who prosecutors allege was murdered in Humboldt County on or about March 9, 2022.

Thorpe was arrested April 29 in Redkey, Indiana after Humboldt County authorities, working with the U.S. Marshals Service and local Indiana law enforcement, located her more than 2,000 miles from where the investigation began. Authorities there initially announced she was being held pending extradition to California. She now appears to have been transported back to Humboldt County and formally booked into local custody.

The case first became public in May when court records revealed that Humboldt County prosecutors had filed a felony complaint charging Thorpe with murder, felony child abuse, and welfare fraud.

According to the Eureka Police Department, the investigation began on December 3, 2023, when Arcata Police requested assistance with a missing child investigation. Detectives learned that CarmenEve had not been seen by family members for an extended period and came to believe the child was deceased and that her death had been concealed. The following day, investigators searched a remote area near Blue Lake where human remains were found. DNA testing later confirmed the remains belonged to CarmenEve.

Screenshot of Nichole Ann Thorpe’s Facebook page showing Carmen. The image was posted as her cover photo almost a month after prosecutors allege Thorpe murdered the toddler.

Court records allege Thorpe murdered the child and personally inflicted great bodily injury on a victim under the age of five. Prosecutors also allege she fraudulently collected approximately $18,636 in public assistance benefits intended for CarmenEve between May 2022 and May 2024, more than two years after the child’s alleged death.

The Humboldt County jail booking sheet lists the following charges:

PC 187(a) — Murder
PC 273a(a) — Child abuse likely to produce great bodily injury or death
PC 12022.7(d) — Great bodily injury enhancement involving a child under five
Welfare and Institutions Code 10980(c)(2) — Welfare fraud

Now that Thorpe has been returned to Humboldt County, the case will move into the early stages of the felony court process. According to the California Courts Self-help Guide, her first appearances are likely to focus on arraignment, appointment or confirmation of counsel, and scheduling. Because she faces felony charges, including murder, the next major milestone will likely be a preliminary hearing, where a judge will decide whether prosecutors have presented enough evidence for the case to proceed toward trial. This hearing is not a determination of guilt or innocence.

After that, the case could spend months in pretrial proceedings as prosecutors and defense attorneys exchange evidence, litigate motions, and argue over what evidence may be presented to a jury. Given the seriousness and complexity of the allegations, a trial is unlikely to occur quickly, and murder cases commonly involve lengthy pretrial litigation before a jury is ever selected.

Earlier: ‘Nobody Knew That Baby Was Gone’: Murder Charges Reveal Tragic Timeline in Death of Humboldt Toddler