A flight attendant from Phoenix was one of the four individuals who were stabbed during a violent two-day incident in Denver, Colorado.
71-year-old Celinda Levno, who was on a layover, tragically lost her life along with another individual in the incident.
Denver police have apprehended the suspect, 24-year-old Elijah Caudill, and he is now in custody. He was taken into custody following the fourth stabbing incident near the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver on Sunday.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas stated that officers in the vicinity were actively searching for the suspect when they spotted an individual running with a knife in hand. Swiftly and efficiently, they apprehended the person and brought them into custody.
Celinda Levno’s family is devastated by her untimely death, a loss that is beyond comprehension. They remember her as a gifted musician and a compassionate animal lover. In a conversation with Arizona’s Family, her loved ones shared that Celinda was the kind of person who easily won hearts.
The journey of her career started in 1989 when she became a flight attendant in her hometown of Phoenix. Over the course of their 40-year marriage, she and her husband shared a passion for creating music.
According to friends, she received training from one of the industry’s top flute players and had the chance to showcase her musical talents in Mexico and France.
On Saturday, she experienced a senseless crime during her layover in a bustling area of downtown Denver.
According to Shyam Shresthra, a long-time business owner in the area, he has observed an increase in criminal activities.
The store owner expressed his frustration, stating, “My store has been plagued with numerous unfortunate incidents. People break the door, and valuable jewelry gets stolen from here.”
“He witnessed a woman lying on the floor, injured and bleeding. Fear engulfed him as he immediately reached out to me, urgently exclaiming, ‘Brother, brother, there has been an accident!'”
On Sunday night, the police reported another stabbing incident, making it the fourth occurrence, with the second one resulting in a fatality. By utilizing surveillance footage, law enforcement was able to connect Caudill to these violent acts. Chief Thomas addressed Caudill’s criminal history, which was revealed through public records from Denver County, during a press conference on Monday night.
“He had his first encounter with law enforcement in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2018 that he had his initial contact with Denver law enforcement. Prior to that, he had already served some time in the Department of Corrections (DOC) for a felony conviction. He was released from DOC custody in 2023, but in January 2024, the Denver Police Department (DPD) apprehended him and placed him in detox. Unfortunately, during his time there, he committed an offense against one of the staff members, resulting in his transfer back to DOC custody. He remained in custody until November when he was finally released,” he explained.
Celinda’s family and friends are deeply devastated by her loss, but they strive to cherish her memory for her passion for photography, horses, and gardening.
Celinda’s friends have stated that she was the only one who supported herself financially. As a way to fund her funeral expenses, a GoFundMe page has been created.