Woman Rejects Deal, Will Face Murder Trial

A Ventura woman rejected a plea agreement Thursday in the 1998 slaying of teenager Nichole Hendrix, indicating she would rather stand trial on first-degree murder charges.

Bridget Callahan, 29, allegedly set up 17-year-old Hendrix and stood by while two skinhead gang members stabbed, kicked and beat her to death in a motel bathroom.

According to grand jury transcripts, Callahan hugged Hendrix moments before the killing and told her she could not stop it, then helped dump the girl’s body in the Ventura County back country.

Months later, Callahan told authorities about the slaying. She asked for immunity, according to court papers, but was charged with murder after prosecutors determined that she had played a role in Hendrix’s death.

Based on her cooperation, however, they offered to let her plead guilty to second-degree murder. Callahan rejected the offer at a court hearing Thursday.

Later, Senior Deputy Dist. Atty. Ron Bamieh said there would be no further negotiations. “It was a very generous offer,” he said. “Now we proceed to trial.”

In addition to Callahan, prosecutors have charged skinhead gang members Michael Bridgeford, 25, and David Ziesmer, 28, with first-degree murder and related charges. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against both men.

Bamieh said prosecutors were willing to deal with Callahan because she was “instrumental” in solving the homicide case. But, he said, they would not accept a plea of less than second-degree murder.

Callahan now faces murder charges punishable by life in prison without possibility of parole. All three suspects in the case are to stand trial early next year.

Callahan’s rejection of the plea offer Thursday surprised and upset Hendrix’s mother, Shelly Holland, who wanted one less defendant to face in court.