A Judge Gave Him 80 Years: He Killed The Man Who Molested His Relative
He Killed The Man Who Molested His Relative. A Judge Gave Him 80 Years.
On June 24, 2025, around 1 a.m., officers responded to the Daylite Inn at 2820 Cassopolis Street in Elkhart, Indiana, following a reported shooting. Upon arrival, officers located a 35-year-old man inside room 251 suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The victim was identified as 35-year-old Allen Cogswell.
Investigators determined that Allen had been shot twice with a shotgun, suffering wounds to his head and chest. As the investigation progressed, authorities learned that he had previously been convicted of sexually molesting a young female relative of 36-year-old Nicholas Stanley.
In 2018, Allen pleaded guilty to molesting the child, who was reportedly around 7 years old at the time. He served a prison sentence and was released in May 2025, approximately one month before his murder.
Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from businesses near the motel, including Menards and Red Roof Inn. Recordings showed a maroon SUV arriving in the area around 12:31 a.m. A man was observed walking toward the motel, and around 12:53 a.m., someone was seen running back toward the vehicle. License plate recognition technology helped investigators identify Nicholas as a suspect.
During the investigation, Nicholas initially provided authorities with a false account of his whereabouts. He later acknowledged that he had gone to the motel intending to confront and physically assault Allen.
According to Nicholas’ testimony, he saw Allen through a motel room window before returning to his vehicle to retrieve a shotgun. He then approached the room, knocked on the door, and shot Allen in the head and chest.
After the shooting, Nicholas fled the area, disposed of the shotgun in a river, and changed his clothing.
In July 2025, Nicholas participated in a jailhouse interview during which he openly acknowledged killing Allen and expressed his belief that his actions were justified.
As the case moved toward trial, Nicholas’ defense argued that the killing occurred in sudden heat, seeking to have the jury consider voluntary manslaughter rather than murder. The defense maintained that his emotional response to the sexual abuse of his young relative was central to the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Prosecutors challenged that argument, including claims that Allen had attempted to contact or threaten Nicholas’ relative following his release from prison. The judge ultimately rejected the request for a voluntary manslaughter instruction, determining that Nicholas had sufficient opportunity to reflect on his actions after seeing Allen and returning to his vehicle for the shotgun.
On September 25, 2026, a jury found Nicholas guilty of murder. During the trial proceedings, he also admitted to a firearm enhancement connected to the killing.
On October 22, 2026, Nicholas appeared in court for sentencing. Allen’s mother addressed the court, while Nicholas thanked those who had supported him throughout the proceedings.
The judge sentenced Nicholas to 65 years for murder, including 10 years based on aggravating circumstances. He received another 15 years for the firearm enhancement, bringing his total sentence to 80 years in prison.
Following the sentencing, Nicholas’ attorney, Vincent Campiti, announced plans to appeal, particularly challenging the court’s decision not to allow the jury to consider the sudden-heat defense
