Campbellsville, Kentucky – A wrestling teammate is facing murder charges in the death of Kentucky theology student Josiah Kilman, who was found dead in his dorm room at Campbellsville University. Charles “Zeke” Escalera, 21, was arrested wearing bloodied clothing and confessed to killing Kilman during a court hearing at the Taylor County Courthouse.
According to Campbellsville Detective Jeremy Burton, Kilman’s cause of death was determined to be asphyxia by manual strangulation by the Kentucky State Medical Examiner’s Office. The motive behind the shocking killing has not been revealed by the Campbellsville Police Department.
Escalera, who lived in the same building as Kilman, was described as a “secluded person” who did not interact much with the wrestling team or dorm residents. Despite not having a known acrimonious relationship with Kilman, Escalera was arrested by state police after being found on a farmer’s property following Kilman’s death.
During interrogation, Escalera admitted to strangling Kilman, leading to his death. His attorney, Travis Bewley, raised concerns about Escalera’s behavior prior to the incident, mentioning a hospital visit for strange behavior at the school’s cafeteria. Escalera’s bail remains at $2 million, and his next court appearance will depend on the grand jury’s decision to indict him on murder charges.
Friends and family of the victim, a gifted athlete known for his Christian faith and loyalty, are struggling to make sense of the tragedy. Tyler Gilfry, Kilman’s childhood best friend, described him as a kind and humble individual, questioning what could have driven someone to commit such a heinous act. The community mourns the loss of Kilman, whose bright spirit and athletic prowess left a lasting impact on those around him.