First-Degree Murder Acquittal in Granite Bay Stabbing

A Placer County jury acquitted Caleb John Madsen today of first-degree murder in the 2005 stabbing death of his friend, 23-year-old Christopher Worth of Granite Bay, and was unable to break a 6-6 deadlock on whether to convict him on a charge of second-degree murder.

It was the third time that Madsen, now 28, had stood trial for the murder. In 2008, a jury deadlocked at 7-5 in favor of guilty of first-degree murder. Earlier this year, a jury was unable to break a 10-2 vote that favored conviction.

Senior Deputy District Attorney Jeff Wilson, a co-prosecutor in the latest trial, said his office will review the case and make a decision next Monday on whether to pursue it further.

Placer County Superior Court Judge Robert P. McElhany, who presided over the two-month trial, set a hearing for Monday.