One Jury Deadlocked, Another Convicted, and Judges Keep Stepping Aside Inside Humboldt Courts

Humboldt County Superior Court handles a steady flow of criminal cases each day, but most proceedings pass without much public notice unless they result in major developments.

In this column, Redheaded Blackbelt provides a regular look at what’s moving through the local courts — tracking hearings, trials, and filings in cases that are either well known or warrant closer public attention. As always, any individuals described should be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

THIS WEEK’S ROUND-UP:

IN THE CASE OF: Destinee Rhamy — Roommate Stabbing Retrial Set for June 15

Destinee Rhamy Booking Photo

The woman whose voluntary manslaughter trial ended in a hung jury last March is headed back to court — this time with a retrial set to begin June 15. Redheaded Blackbelt was present for the trial proceedings and reported on the hung jury outcome when the mistrial was declared. 

Destinee Grace Rhamy, 22, faces two felony counts — voluntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon, both carrying special allegations — stemming from the August 2, 2023 death of her roommate, Holland “Holly” Elbik, 27, at their shared West Sonoma Street home in Eureka. 

The first trial ran twelve days and ended on March 12, 2026, when the jury deadlocked 7-5 in favor of acquittal — falling short of the unanimous verdict required under California law. Judge Killoran declared a mistrial. Defense attorney Andrea Sullivan immediately moved to dismiss the case outright, but the motion was denied, leaving the DA’s office free to pursue a second trial. Observing the process from the gallery for the duration of the jury trial back in March, were friends and family of Rhamy, as well as friends of Holland Elbik, the victim, alongside her mother.

Defense Attorney for Rhamy, Andrea Sullivan told Redheaded Blackbelt she believes Rhamy acted in self-defense and that the defense would welcome any additional investigation by the DA’s office. Senior Deputy District Attorney Roger Rees, for his part, declined to comment on ongoing litigation following the mistrial — a sign that the People intended to retry the case.

No modifications to the charges have been filed, according to a review of court records. Rhamy still faces the same two felony counts as the first trial: voluntary manslaughter with a special allegation of personal use of a deadly weapon, and assault with a deadly weapon with a special allegation of inflicting great bodily injury.

One notable development was a handwritten notation in the June 2 readiness conference minutes indicating the DA made an oral motion to continue under PC1050, citing a need for additional DNA testing. The defense had no objection and the court granted the continuance. What specific evidence is being tested — and whether it represents new material or a retest of existing evidence — is not clear from the record.

Rees is again prosecuting, with Sullivan continuing to represent Rhamy, who remains out of custody on a $130,000 bond. The case carries a disqualified designation in eCourt — Judge Killoran, who presided over the first trial, is no longer assigned. Judge Cockrum presided at the June 2 readiness conference. A final readiness conference is scheduled for this morning, with jury trial set to begin June 15, 2026.

IN THE CASE OF: Nichole Thorpe — Alleged Killer Arrested in Humboldt Custody

Nicole Ann Thorpe Image from the Redkey Police Department

The woman accused of killing her young daughter in Humboldt County in 2022 and then allegedly concealing the child’s death for years is now behind bars locally. Redheaded Blackbelt first reported on this case when the felony complaint was filed.

Nichole Ann Thorpe, 32, was booked into the Humboldt County Correctional Facility on June 7, 2026. No bail amount has been set, and no arraignment date had been scheduled as of Monday morning.

[INSERT BABY FACE FB POST]

Thorpe faces four counts including murder, felony child abuse with a great bodily injury special allegation, and a welfare fraud charge as well. The charges stem from the death of her toddler-aged daughter, CarmenEve Faith Robison, who prosecutors allege was killed on or about March 9, 2022, in Humboldt County. 

According to the Eureka Police Department, the investigation began in December 2023 when Arcata Police requested assistance with a missing child report. Detectives came to believe the child was deceased and that the child’s death had been concealed by Thorpe. Human remains were discovered near Blue Lake the following day, according to the Eureka Police Department. DNA testing confirmed they belonged to CarmenEve.

Thorpe was arrested April 29, 2026, in Redkey, Indiana, by Humboldt County authorities working with the U.S. Marshals Service and local Indiana law enforcement — more than 2,000 miles from where the investigation began. She was held pending extradition before being transported back to Humboldt County. The case is currently assigned to Judge Christopher Austin.

IN THE CASE OF: Trinidad Gomez — Guilty 

Trinidad Gomez was found guilty of sex crimes with the special allegation of abusing a position of trust – an added element that will be factored into his sentencing, on June 16. [Screengrab from ecourt shows the Special Allegation finding as to Count One.]

Trinidad Cortez Gomez, 46, was found guilty of two felony counts of lewd acts upon a child. The jury also “found true” on both counts of the special allegation that Gomez took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to commit the offenses — a finding that carries significant weight at sentencing. 

According to the complaint, Count One alleged abuse occurred at Gomez’s McKinleyville home between June 2020 and September 2022, when the victim was between nine and twelve years old. Count Two alleges separate abuse in Gomez’s vehicle between June 2022 and June 2024, when the victim was between twelve and thirteen years old.

On Day 9 (May 29) of the trial proceedings, the prosecution’s expert on Child Sexual Abuse Accommodation Syndrome — a recognized behavioral pattern in child abuse victims that can explain delayed disclosure or seeming inconsistency — completed his testimony. After that testimony, in a relatively rare move, Gomez took the stand in his own defense, testifying through the afternoon and into the following day under extended cross-examination by Deputy District Attorney Whitney Timm.

On Day 10, before closing arguments, defense attorney Owen Tipps moved for a mistrial, arguing that Timm’s cross-examination of the defendant had been improper. Judge Feeney denied the motion — and denied it again when Tipps renewed it. The defense also sought to introduce statements from the defendant’s son regarding a key witness, but the court excluded that evidence. Closing arguments followed.

DA Timm addressed the jury the following morning, Attorney Tipps responded in the afternoon, and then Timm gave a rebuttal argument. The jury began deliberating and then on Day 11, the court opened with all twelve jurors resuming deliberations. 

The jury sent two notes to the court requesting read-back of testimony before reaching a verdict at 3:32 p.m that day. The jury’s designated foreperson announced the verdicts, and each juror affirmed the outcome for the judge. 

Gomez has been held in Humboldt County Jail for eleven months, since July 6, 2025. Sentencing is set for Thursday, June 11, before Judge Feeney.

IN THE CASE OF: Daryl Jones — Judges Recuse Themselves

Darryl Jones

A case against the man accused of making dozens of threatening calls to Humboldt County schools, daycares, and businesses is having difficulty finding a judge willing to hear it — and the reason may not be hard to understand. Considering that in a small rural community, even local judges may have a family member who was impacted by the widespread “criminal threats” alleged against the defendant, and then would feel inclined to recuse themselves for ethical reasons.

Daryl Ray Jones, 32, faces 35 felony counts including multiple counts of stalking and criminal threats stemming from a wave of threatening phone calls in early 2025.

Two Humboldt County Superior Court judges have now voluntarily recused themselves from People vs. Daryl Ray Jones, with both recusal orders filed on Monday. Judge April A. Van Dyke signed her recusal on May 28, and Judge Lawrence M. Killoran signed his on June 2. Both cited concerns for impartiality in the matter. Van Dyke recused herself, noting that she had personal knowledge of disputed facts in the case, while Killoran noted reasonable doubt as to his ability to remain impartial in the case.  

Additionally, at the June 2 hearing, the District Attorney’s office indicated its intent to file a judicial disqualification motion targeting a third judge, Judge Neel — meaning the case could be losing its third judge before trial has even been set. 

According to the Ramey warrant affidavit filed by Arcata Police Detective Celeste Villarreal, Jones — who grew up in Humboldt County — allegedly called schools, a daycare, the California Conservation Corps, and several local businesses with disturbing threats to shoot up the school, kill employees, and rape workers. The threatening calls – at times including explicit death threats directed at specific individuals – triggered school campus lockdowns across the county’s northern school districts. 

Jones was extradited from Oklahoma, held to answer at a lengthy preliminary hearing, and arraigned on 35 counts in March 2026. He remains in Humboldt County Jail without the possibility of bail.

The case may need a visiting judge assigned to handle the matter, including the trial setting and a petition for a mental health diversion – currently slated for June 16, according to court minutes.

Humboldt County Correctional Facility. [Composite image for Inside Humboldt Courts by Ryan Hutson]

If you know of a case that has significant public interest that you would like followed, email us at [email protected].