A La Mesa man who stabbed his husband 50 times was sentenced Jan. 11 to 16 years to life in state prison as family, friends, and co-workers of the victim looked on in a crowded courtroom.
Nearly everyone who knew Kevin Powell, 38, and who wrote letters to El Cajon Superior Court Judge Kathleen Lewis stated how they were deeply disturbed and/or traumatized upon learning how Powell was killed on Aug. 11, 2020.
Some of the letters were read in open court at the sentencing of Powell’s husband, Daniel Scott Jordan, 47, who said nothing. The letters are public record.
Detectives found Powell dead in bed with a knife embedded in his chest after Powell failed to show up for work in the city of Chula Vista where he worked in the human resources department. Powell lived with Jordan in the 4400 block of Carmen Drive in La Mesa.
Most of the letter writers said they had substantial sleep disturbances, with some choosing to keep lights on at night. Some consulted with therapists. One person wrote they no longer watch anything violent on television.
“Counseling helped me some in dealing with the stages of shock, disbelief, anger, rage, denial and frustration,” said the victim’s father, Randall Powell, in court.
“I remember getting the call and falling to my knees and began wailing uncontrollably,” said the victim’s mother, Diane Powell, in court.
“I have shed many tears with my family thinking about the loss of Kevin,” said his older brother, Kyle Powell.
Many letter writers said they found themselves wondering how long the attack lasted. “How long did Kevin suffer?” asked one co-worker.
“I think you should focus on his life and not on his death,” said the judge to the audience. “Our time in life is short. He would want you to do that.”
Powell had intended to divorce Jordan and that apparently was Jordan’s motive for the homicide, said the prosecutor.
Jordan pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and to using a deadly weapon, a knife, in the crime. Deputy District Attorney Eva Kilamyan said Jordan will have to serve 16 actual years before he could be eligible for parole.
Due to the horrific nature of the crime, Jordan may be never be granted parole.
Lewis ordered Jordan to pay $7,500 to the state victim compensation program for funeral expenses, and $1,060 for crime scene clean-up costs. She fined him $10,070.
The defendant stood in an entrance hallway mostly out of view of the audience. His attorney, Patrick Kline, said Jordan took his advice by pleading guilty and accepting responsibility without having a preliminary hearing.
Jordan declined to make a statement to the probation department when they prepared a sentencing report which will follow him to prison. He was given credit for already serving 875 days in jail.
Jordan had fled to Nevada in his black Tesla, and then attempted suicide. He was hospitalized in Reno and he was arrested there as authorities learned he was wanted in San Diego, where he later was extradited.
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