Candace Elaine Pickens, a 24-year-old African American woman, was tragically found dead on May 12, 2016, in Asheville, North Carolina. Her body was discovered by a jogger in Jones Park, near an elementary school. The autopsy report revealed that Candace had been shot twice in the head, with one of the gunshot wounds proving fatal. She was also in the first trimester of her pregnancy at the time of her death.
Additionally, her 3-year-old son, Zachaeus Waters, was found alive but critically injured, having been shot in the face. He was transported to the hospital and has since made a full recovery.
The investigation into Candace's death led to the arrest of Nathaniel Elijah Dixon, a 24-year-old African American man who was Candace's boyfriend at the time. Dixon was charged with first-degree murder, first-degree murder of an unborn child, first-degree attempted murder, and child abuse while inflicting serious injury. According to court documents, Dixon and Candace had been dating for about five to six months, and Candace had confided in a friend that she feared for her life after an argument with Dixon. She had mentioned that Dixon had threatened to kill her if she did not have an abortion.
The trial of Nathaniel Dixon was a lengthy and complex process. In July 2019, a Buncombe County jury found Dixon guilty of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder, and malicious maiming. He was acquitted of the charges of murder of an unborn child and child abuse while inflicting serious injury. Dixon was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, along with additional sentences for the attempted murder of Zachaeus and the malicious maiming charge. Dixon's trial saw the dismissal of several jurors, the killing of a state witness, and the eventual dropping of a death penalty pursuit.
Following his conviction, Dixon filed an appeal, alleging racial discrimination during jury selection and claiming that the trial court had abused its discretion by denying his motions for mistrial. However, the North Carolina Court of Appeals upheld Dixon's conviction, finding no error in the trial. The case was originally heard in the Court of Appeals on September 20, 2022, and the opinion was filed on December 5, 2023.
Candace Elaine Pickens' death was a tragic loss for her family and community. Her mother, Keesha Martinez, and other family members expressed their grief and anger during Dixon's sentencing hearing, emphasizing the impact of his actions on their lives. Candace's son, Zachaeus, who survived the attack, continues to be a living reminder of the tragedy that befell their family.
