A preliminary hearing for Ehren Dragt, who is accused of killing his partner in the Escondido residence they shared, has been set for June 25 in Vista Superior Court.
Dragt, 35, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Michael Leon Campbell, 44, who was stabbed to death April 25. Escondido Police found his body in a bedroom of their residence in the 2000 block of Lee Avenue.
Dragt appeared before a Vista Superior Court judge May 7, and his attorney asked that the May 12 preliminary hearing be moved to June 25. The judge granted the request.
Deputy District Attorney Benjamin Barlow said the cause of death was multiple stab wounds with a knife. One of the knife wounds punctured his heart.
The couple had been together for 15 years. Dragt worked for a Goodwill Industries store in La Mesa and Campbell was the former owner of Campbell’s Pool and Patio. They met in Oregon.
Police were alerted by someone from out of state, saying an act of domestic violence may have occurred. Dragt was found despondent, sitting outside on the steps and reportedly crying.
“I want to apologize for anyone I have wronged,” wrote Dragt on his Facebook account at 2:27 a.m. April 25, without explanation.
Four people responded to what he wrote, asking what was wrong, but by then Dragt was under arrest. Several wrote they were praying for him.
Dragt remains in the Vista Detention Facility on $1.5 million bail.
