An Olympic hopeful from Colorado is facing charges after she allegedly fatally stabbed an Uber driver 60 times with a kitchen knife inside his car.
Khayla Dawson claimed she was going for a “joy ride” when she scheduled an Uber pickup with driver Jeremy Campbell on October 26, 2025, according to an arrest affidavit filed by the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office and viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping.
Dawson, 27, claimed that she fell asleep in Campbell’s 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe and that he was trying to “sexually assault her” when she woke up. She went on to allege that she “defended herself by stabbing him,” according to the affidavit.
A preliminary hearing in the case took place on Friday, January 2, in which prosecutors and experts said that Dawson stabbed Campbell approximately 60 times before she dumped his body in a field and fled with his vehicle, according to The Gazette.
A police detective reportedly challenged Dawson’s claim that Campbell reached back to “assault” her, with the detective claiming that Campbell was partially paralyzed on his right side. The officer argued that Campbell being partially paralyzed made Dawson’s claim of being attacked by the driver implausible.
Meanwhile, Dawson’s defense attorney expressed concerns about her mental health and shared a past incident in which she acted irrationally during a meeting with a real estate agent.
Dawson’s attorney went on to argue that she may have felt uncomfortable about being alone in a car with a “strange man in the middle of the night,” per KKTV.
However, prosecutors accused Dawson of planning the attack and pointed out that she brought the kitchen knife and a pair of gloves with her before getting into Campbell’s vehicle.
“Khayla told [police] she ordered an Uber last night because she does not have a car of her own and ‘felt cooped up’ and ‘wanted to get out of the house,’” the affidavit stated. “She told [police] she fell asleep in the back seat of the car and awoke to feeling the driver reach back to touch her.”
After the affidavit noted that she allegedly defended herself, it stated that Campbell accelerated the car “through a barbed wire fence and ended up in a field with horses.”
Prosecutors said that Dawson stabbed Campbell all over his body, with wounds being found on the back of the head, his right shoulder, the right side of his face, his chin, his neck and his hands. Police added that the wounds appeared to be “defensive.”
Once the car stopped, Dawson allegedly got out and pulled Campbell out of the Hyundai. She then reportedly got in the driver’s seat and drove his car to her apartment.
After Campbell’s father reported him missing, authorities were able to track down his car and it was found in the parking lot of Dawson’s apartment building.
“[Deputies] advised there was blood spatter on the front passenger window, on the front passenger seat, on the dashboard, the center console, the driver’s seat, and steering wheel,” the affidavit said. “There was also a large puddle of blood on the floor directly behind the driver’s seat. Outside the driver door was a small puddle of blood possibly mixed with saliva.”
Authorities searched the area and found Campbell’s phone at the bottom of a stairwell, and they were able to determine that Dawson was his last ride of the night. Before long, police discovered that she lives in the apartment building where the car was parked.
Deputies then visited Dawson’s apartment to question her about what happened, which was when she shared her experience with the “attempted sexual assault,” according to the affidavit. Authorities executed a search warrant for Dawson’s residence, and they found Campbell’s car’s key fob inside a box of dryer sheets, as well as his wallet and Colorado driver’s license.
She was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, aggravated robbery and motor vehicle theft. She is currently being held without bond, according to online records viewed by Luxury Handbag Shopping.
Dawson is scheduled to return to court on March 6, while her trial will begin on April 13.
Prior to her arrest, Watson made headlines for competing at the 2024 USA Olympic Trials in Oregon in the shot put, according to KRDO.
