‘Hazel is finally free’ aunt says at sentencing for Bellingham toddler’s killer
Wearing shirts emblazoned with the words ‘Hazel warriors’ and pictures of the 3-year-old girl, family and friends described a toddler who was happy, deeply loved and gave big, warm hugs at the sentencing hearing Tuesday for the woman convicted of killing her.
Kamee Nicole Dixon, 30, was sentenced Aug. 2 in Whatcom County Superior Court to 34 years in prison, with three years probation. A jury found Dixon guilty June 30 of homicide by abuse for the Nov. 30, 2019, death of Hazel Journey Homan. Dixon was also charged with second-degree murder, but a mistrial was declared because the jury couldn’t reach a unanimous verdict. The murder charge was dismissed without prejudice at Dixon’s sentencing hearing on Tuesday.
Dixon was given an exceptional sentence above the standard range, with a little more than five years of prison time added on. Dixon’s standard range for her conviction was nearly 22 years to just shy of 29 years in prison, according to court records.
Both the prosecution and the defense attorneys sought exceptional sentences for Dixon.
Hazel’s death was ruled a homicide Jan. 23, 2020, by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. Dixon was not Hazel’s biological mother, but was Hazel’s primary caregiver and was in a relationship with Hazel’s biological father, Brandon Homan, at the time of the toddler’s death.
Dixon’s defense attorneys, Emily Beschen and Douglas Hyldahl, argued during trial that Hazel’s death was a “tragic accident” that occurred after Hazel choked on a breakfast sandwich and the lack of oxygen to the child’s brain resulted in her death.
But the prosecution argued that Dixon hit Hazel until the child suffered a traumatic brain injury that resulted in her death. Chief Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Erik Sigmar said during trial that over the last five months of her life, Hazel suffered repeated abuse at the hands of Dixon.
“On Aug. 2, 2022 the court sentenced Kamee Dixon to 34 years in prison for the aggravated homicide by abuse of a three-year-old child. The Whatcom County Prosecutor’s Office urged the court to impose 57 years in prison, based on the jury finding that the victim was particularly vulnerable and that the defendant abused a position of trust. We believe 57 years would have been a fair and just sentence, but we understand that sentencing is the court’s purview and respect the court’s authority,” a prepared statement by the prosecutor’s office sent Wednesday to The Bellingham Herald reads. “We are obviously saddened by this case, but thank all of those who keep the victim’s memory alive. In remembrance, we would ask the community to be vigilant and to immediately report suspected abuse of children.”
Never the same
At Tuesday’s hearing, Hazel’s grandfather, Jason Pederson, struggled to express how much Hazel’s death broke him.
Pederson described the loss of never being able to get another morning, a day in the grass or the ability to take his granddaughter to a playground.
He said the 57-year prison sentence prosecutors recommended for Dixon didn’t seem long enough, and that he would have gladly given the rest of his life to make sure Hazel had a good one.
“I show up every day and I’d hear about what was done to her and how much was known about it. My life will never be the same,” Pederson said. “There will never be another good day in my life. Every day I’m reminded that my granddaughter is dead.”
Hazel’s grandmother, Kerrie Patterson, appeared for the hearing via Zoom and had a statement read by a victim coordinator on her behalf. In her statement, Patterson said she’s been robbed of the chance of meeting her first and only grandchild in person.
Patterson said Hazel’s biological mother will no longer have a chance to see her child grow up or meet other family members. Hazel’s death has affected many parts of her life, Patterson said.
Asking for mercy
Homan, Hazel’s father, said what the jury heard was not the whole story and asked the court to show Dixon mercy.
He said it was a complicated situation, that he was disappointed in the jury’s findings and that they were not able to see or get to know Dixon as well as he does.
Homan said he loved his daughter “more than the world” and would never let anyone touch her or stand for something he didn’t believe in.
“I ask you not to add more tragedy to this tragic situation,” Homan said. “I have lost so much already, please don’t take any more from me.”
Casey Dixon, Kamee Dixon’s father, said that Hazel was in their family for a short period of time, but that they were close. He said the toddler was a “happy, teeny little thing that gave the biggest hugs.”
He said the picture that was painted, while horrible, was not the picture he saw while the child was alive. Casey Dixon said Hazel was precious and that he’s a better person for knowing her.
Other family and friends submitted letters to the court on Dixon’s behalf prior to Tuesday’s hearing.
Dixon declined to speak at her sentencing hearing.
Angry, hurt, heartbroken
Ashlee Barnes said that no matter what sentence Dixon received, it wouldn’t be enough, because Hazel will never come back.
Barnes, who is Hazel’s aunt, said she knew Hazel was special from the day she was born and that the two shared a special bond. Barnes said the day her niece was pronounced dead, her heart shattered “into a billion pieces.”
“Kamee Dixon stole the life and future of a pure, innocent, little girl who wanted nothing more than to be loved and nurtured,” Barnes said. “Her jealousy got the best of her, because no matter what she tried to do or say to dim her light, Hazel still managed to shine.”
Barnes said Hazel never had to question if any of her family loved her, and that it hurt to know Dixon took the toddler’s joy and happiness. Barnes said she has come to accept that Hazel’s family may never know what happened that morning in November 2019, but said that she feels like the family is “living a nightmare we can’t wake up from.”
Barnes said Hazel was able to use her one life to save the lives of three others, because some of Hazel’s organs were donated after her death.
Hazel would be 6 years old now and starting kindergarten this year, she said. Three years after her death, the waves of grief still cause her to catch her breath, Barnes said.
She expressed her gratitude to the prosecutors and the jury, and said she felt empathy for Dixon’s son and her family. Barnes said she thought the jury’s guilty verdict would bring her closure, but it hasn’t.
“It does not bring back her contagious smile, or her cute, little giggles, or her warm hugs that made you feel like you’re surrounded by sunshine. Even though she may have been able to physically take Hazel from all of us, it brings some sense of peace knowing Hazel is finally free,” Barnes said.
She said while it’s hard for her to say, she forgives Dixon because God said to do so for her own healing and because she believes Hazel wouldn’t want her aunt’s heart to be filled with hatred and bitterness.
Whatcom County Superior Court Judge David Freeman said Barnes’ statements were particularly moving and acknowledged the grief that everyone was feeling over the situation.
Freeman said the aggravating factors found by the jury were substantial and compelling reasons to sentence Dixon above the standard range. He sentenced her to 34 years in prison.
Beschen, Dixon’s defense attorney, said Dixon plans to appeal her conviction and sentence within 30 days.
Resources
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org
▪ Child Protective Services: Washington state hotline for reporting child abuse and neglect, 866-829-2153.
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Tl’ils Ta’á’altha Victims of Crime: 360-325-3310 or nooksacktribe.org/departments/youth-family-services/tlils-taaaltha-victims-of-crime-program/
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
This story was originally published August 4, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
