Former Campbellsville sentenced to 40 years in prison for murder of fellow student

The former Campbellsville University student who killed a fellow student in his dorm room in February of 2024 will serve 40 years in prison.

During a sentencing hearing Thursday, 11th Judicial Circuit Judge Kaelin Reed sentenced Charles “Zeke” Escalera to 40 years in the Kentucky Department of Corrections after Escalera pleaded guilty to a Murder charge following mediation on June 28. Escalera was charged with the murder of 18-year-old Josiah M. Kilman.

Reed said the sentencing is in line with recommendations from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office following the mediation session. Under the terms of the sentencing, Escalera will get credit for time served and will be eligible for parole after 20 years.

Reed said during the sentencing hearing: “It’s my estimation, Mr. Escalera, that the events that occurred that gave rise to these charges occurred during what must have been a profound mental health crisis, and while that does not excuse your conduct it does provide some important context as to what happened here.” Reed noted that Escalera had no prior history of violent criminal conduct, and had accepted treatment and remained compliant with prescribed medication since his incarceration. The judge said the negotiated sentence fairly balances Escalera’s work towards rehabilitation with “the extraordinary seriousness of this offense.”

Prior to sentencing, Paul Brown read a victim’s impact statement submitted by Kilman’s father Joe. Kilman said his statement included letters and emails from family, friends, and community members to reflect “the depth of this loss and the enduring impact of a life that was violently taken from us.”

In his own statement prior to sentencing, Escalera said: “There are no words I can say to you and help comfort or give any ease to all the heartache. If I could trade him places, I would in the blink of an eye. If I could just go back to that oh-so-terrible day, and do things so differently. I ask God every day over and over to forgive me, and for help for all of Josiah’s good family to forgive me and to help ease their pain.”

Kilman was found unresponsive in his dorm room at around 12:43 a.m. on February 24, 2024, and was pronounced dead by the Taylor County Coroner’s Office after being transferred to Taylor Regional Hospital. An arrest warrant was issued for Escalera, who was located by police hiding in a barn in Green County at around 5:15 p.m. that day. Theft and Burglary charges that Escalera also faced were dropped as part of the mediation agreement.