Redding murder victim's family tells killer he left their lives 'in shambles'
The family members of a man murdered in Shasta County two years ago had their day in court Wednesday, telling his killer how he inflicted pain on them and left their lives "in shambles."
Shasta County Superior Court Judge Daniel Flynn sentenced Clayton Allen Stearns, 37, to 25-years-to-life in prison for stabbing to death his cousin, Christopher Allen Catterson, 35, of Redding in an off-road vehicle area north of Redding.
About a dozen members of Catterson's family showed up in court Wednesday. During the sentencing, Stearns showed little emotion as he listened to several of them speak about the suffering they had endured since Catterson's death in October 2021.
"Today is the day I have been waiting for. For two years and three months I have waited to be able to get up here and speak about the great loss and pain my family and I have been through due to Clayton Stearns' heinous actions. Yet I feel there are no words to describe the pain I am in," said Robin Bagley, Catterson's mother.
"Clayton Stearns has left our family and friends with a profound loss, which will continue for the rest of our lives," Bagley said.
Although Stearns and Catterson had not spoken for some time, Stearns had contacted his cousin about going fishing together in the Redding area.
"Stearns was dealing with mental health issues, so the victim decided to go fishing to try and help his cousin," the Shasta County District Attorney's Office said in a statement.
Bagley said she thought it was "weird" that Stearns wanted to go fishing with her son, because neither of them were into fishing.
The two met in a remote area north of Redding, but Catterson never made it back home. On Oct. 17, 2021, the family called law enforcement to report him missing.
They later found Catterson's pickup in the area of the Chappie/Shasta Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area near Keswick Lake. The man's body was discovered nearby in a deep ravine, the DA's office said.
In the meantime, Stearns returned home in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where he received treatment for injuries investigators believe he received during a struggle with Catterson.
Investigators obtained search warrants and found traces of Catterson's blood in Stearns' vehicle. They also found blood on a rock near where the victim was found. That blood contained DNA that belonged to both Catterson and Stearns, law enforcement officials said.
During the sentencing, Stearns stood and spoke briefly, telling the family he was sorry for killing his cousin.
Lindsay Schurig, a victim advocate, read several statements on behalf of some family members.
Nicole Westerman, Catterson's fiancee, said in a statement read by Schurig, that she would have preferred Stearns be executed for the first-degree murder charge, which he pleaded no contest to in December 2023.
Westerman and Catterson got engaged the month before he was murdered. Bagley said she believes Stearns was motivated by jealousy to kill her son because he was successful, was engaged and had a good job as a professional diver.
"I've been lost since he has been gone. My life has been a shambles," Westerman said.
Catterson's father, Allen Catterson, also told Flynn that his son's murder has affected him profoundly.
"As for impact, my life is over, your honor. I will never be the same man," he said.
Catterson's family has set up a Gofundme account to raise money to establish a scholarship fund for others who want to become professional divers. The scholarship would be through South Central Louisiana Technical College, where Catterson earned a degree.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Redding murder victim's family tells OR man he left lives in shambles
