Man sentenced to life in prison for 2020 fatal stabbings in NE Portland

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — A man was sentenced to life in prison Friday for stabbing two people to death in Northeast Portland back in 2020.

Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Eric Dahlin sentenced 42-year-old Phillip Nelson to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 35 years, following an April 26 guilty verdict for both second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter.

The original incident happened in June 2020, when Nelson fatally stabbed both Cassy Leaton and Najad "Nate" Hobbs, following a dispute between the victims and Nelson. Leaton and Hobbs’ roommate told the Portland Police Bureau that the group believed they were renting an apartment on Northeast Davis Street from Nelson. However, the roommates changed the locks to their apartment when they discovered that Nelson was actually a squatter living in the building, court records state.

Nelson stabbed Leaton and Hobbs numerous times with a knife after they went into the basement of the building where the water control was located, according to court records. Leaton was taken to the hospital, where she later died. Hobbs died at the scene.

Nelson fled the scene of the stabbing and was arrested by PPB officers two days later.

Nelson’s trial was held in Multnomah County Circuit Court from April 8 to April 26.

Nelson is currently in custody in Multnomah County and will be taken to the Oregon Department of Corrections to serve his sentence.