Western Ky. man indicted for killing fellow Campbellsville U. student

A western Kentucky man has been indicted for killing his fellow Campbellsville University student-athlete.

On the evening of February 24, 2024, Kentucky State Police arrested 21-year-old Charles “Zeke” Escalera, of Morganfield, for strangling to death 18-year-old Josiah M. Kilman, of Columbia Falls, Montana, who was found unresponsive in his dorm room at approximately 12:45 on the morning of February 24.

Kilman, a freshman, was on the school’s wrestling team.

Escalera has now been indicted by a Taylor County Grand Jury for murder, third-degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking.

Escalera was also a student at the school and won a wrestling state championship in 2017 while a student at Union County High School. He is listed on the 2021-2022 roster as being part of Campbellsville University’s wrestling team.

He is being held in the Taylor County Detention Center on a $1 million cash bond.

By Ken Howlett, News Director

Contact Ken at ken@k105.com