Suspect in stabbing death of Paso Robles grad admitted killing, officer says

The Atascadero woman accused of stabbing a Paso Robles High School graduate to death in August reportedly told police while in jail “I killed him” and “I’m going to be in jail forever,” an officer testified in court Friday.

Judge John A. Trice ruled after the preliminary hearing that attorneys presented sufficient evidence to charge Kelsey Morasci with murder.

Morasci, 28, is accused of killing 21-year-old Everett Allen Quaid on Aug. 6 in an apartment in the 9300 block of Musselman Drive in Atascadero, investigators testified.

Quaid graduated from Paso Robles High School in 2006 and attended Lillian Larsen School in San Miguel.

Morasci broke down in tears after the ruling. She was escorted out of the courtroom by a bailiff and is being held without bail in County Jail.

Quaid’s parents were in the courtroom Friday and declined to comment.

Deputy District Attorney Lee Cunningham called to the stand four law enforcement officials to testify in the hearing.

Two steak knives and a Swiss army knife had blood on them when authorities arrived at the scene of the killing, according to crime scene technician Ryan Enfantino.

Atascadero Police Officer Kellye Diller said that Morasci admitted the crime after her arrest while in jail.

Diller responded to a report of her uncontrolled behavior in jail, she testified, and heard Morasci say that “it doesn’t matter” and “I killed him.”

Diller said Morasci also said, “He didn’t do anything to me” and “He didn’t touch me” and “I’m going to be in jail forever.” The officer said Morasci literally had blood on her hands when Diller saw her at the jail.

Defense attorney Tom McCormick asked Diller if Morasci was excited or distraught after her arrest and jailing. Diller described Morasci as “upset.”

Investigators didn’t specify the relationship between Kelsey and the others who were at the Atascadero apartment that night.

But friends of Morasci’s who don’t want to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the case have told The Tribune that Morasci’s ex-girlfriend began dating Quaid — which angered Morasci.

Atascadero Police Officer Keith Felarios testified that that the ex-girlfriend, who lived in the apartment, was standing about 10 feet away from Quaid when the officer arrived in the early morning hours of Aug. 6.

Felarios said that when he arrived, Quaid was lying on the ground and Morasci was elevating his head from his reclined position.

Police have not officially declared a motive for the murder.

Morasci’s next court appearance is Nov. 17, when she’s scheduled to be arraigned on the murder charge.

Prosecutors have not specified whether Morasci will be charged with first- or second-degree murder. She pleaded not guilty to murder at an initial arraignment in August.