Police: Stepson planned attack

Tuesday, May 20, 2003 | 10:53 a.m.

A Henderson man lost an eye as a result of a stabbing attack that police say was planned by his stepson, according to police reports.

Henderson Police arrested an 18-year-old man on charges of trying to kill his friend's mother and stepfather in their home early Sunday.

Christopher Robinson and the couple's son, James Donald, 18, were being held in the Henderson Detention Center on two charges of attempted murder and two charges of conspiracy in connection with the stabbings of Karla and Randy Norris, Officer Shane Lewis said. Robinson was also charged with burglary.

The attack occurred about 2:45 a.m. Sunday inside the Norris home in the 700 block of Ashbury Park Street, near Boulder Highway and Lake Mead Drive.

Randy Norris was stabbed in the face and eye, and Karla Norris' arm and head were slashed. They are being treated at University Medical Center. A University Medical Center spokesman said they were in fair condition late Monday night.

Henderson Police received numerous 911 calls as the couple shouted for help. Karla Norris tried to call 911, but was unable to see the phone because of her wounds, police said. Police said she had been stabbed at least a dozen times when she was attacked while sleeping.

Neighbors Bob and Diana Davidson heard the couple's screams and called police.

"They were very private individuals," Bob Davidson said Monday night. "I didn't even know they had a kid. Usually, it's a very quiet neighborhood."

When police arrived at the couple's home, they found a diver's knife used in the attack, a pair of swim goggles, black pantyhose used as a mask and black gloves, one with a latex glove inside it.

After interviewing the couple at University Medical Center's Trauma Unit, police went to Robinson's home in the 900 block of Sir Winston Street. Officers said he had visible scratches on his arms and a bruise on his forehead.

Robinson said he had become drunk and had fallen down at a party on Ashbury Park. Police reports confirmed officers had broken up a party at the home on Friday, while the Norris couple were on vacation in Mexico.

About half an hour later, police went to a home in the 2100 block of Kantele where Donald was living. Police linked a phone call between Robinson and Donald about 4:30 a.m. Sunday, and detectives said Donald then confessed to the crime.

Donald told police that he had had recent problems with his mother and stepfather. He said he believed that if his parents were dead, he would inherit their home, police reports said.

Donald said that he gave the diver's knife to Robinson after getting it from Randy Norris' old Coast Guard life jacket, police reports said. The suspects purchased the goggles and clothing, police said.

Robinson said he had planned to burn the clothing he wore, but did not have time before police arrived, according to the arrest affidavit. Donald said he helped Robinson clean off some blood by pouring a pitcher of water over him, the police report said.

The party at the parents' home, Donald said, was a part of a ploy to make sure fingerprints were left at the crime scene, according to the report.

When police brought Robinson to the Henderson Police Department, officers said he was read his Miranda rights. He told police that Donald had offered him money to kill the couple, police said. He wore the swim goggles so police would not find eyelashes at the scene, according to police.