PHOENIX (AZFamily/Gray News) — A Phoenix flight attendant was among four people stabbed during a two-day rampage in Denver over the weekend.
Two people were killed, including a flight attendant, 71-year-old Celinda Levno, who was on a layover.
Denver police took the suspect, 24-year-old Elijah Caudill, into custody. He was arrested after the fourth stabbing near the 16th Street Mall in downtown Denver on Sunday.
“As officers were in the area looking for this suspect, they saw a subject running with a knife in hand. They were able to quickly take him into custody,” Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said.
Levno’s family says her death has been an unimaginable loss. They described her as a talented musician and someone who loved animals.
They spoke with AZFamily off camera and said to know Levno was to love her.
The Phoenix native began her career as a flight attendant in 1989. She and her husband were married for 40 years and created music together.
Friends say she was trained by one of the best flute players in the industry and had the opportunity to travel to Mexico and France as a musician.
But on Saturday, she was the victim of a senseless crime while on a layover in a popular area of downtown Denver.
Shyam Shresthra, who has owned a business in the area for decades, says he’s seen a rise in crime.
“So many bad things happen in my store. They break the door, they steal the jewelry here,” Shresthra said.
Three of the four stabbings happened Saturday within minutes of each other.
Shresthra’s cousin heard the commotion and found Levno.
“He saw one lady lying down on the floor and she was wounded. [Blood] was coming out, so he was scared and called me, ‘Brother, brother, this accident happened,’” Shresthra described.
On Sunday night, police say there was a fourth stabbing and second fatal attack. Police used surveillance video to tie Caudill to the crimes.
According to public records out of Denver County, Caudill has a criminal record; the police chief spoke about it during a press conference on Monday night.
“His first law enforcement contact was in 2016. His first [contact with] Denver law enforcement was in 2018. He did have a felony conviction for which he served some DOC time. He was discharged in 2023. In January 2024, DPD did pick him up and he was placed in detox, and he committed an offense against a staffer there. He was transferred over to DOC custody. He wasn’t released until November,” Thomas shared.
Levno‘s family and friends say losing her has been devastating, but they hope to remember her for her love of photography, horses and gardening.
According to Levno’s friends, she was the sole provider for her family. A GoFundMe is raising money for her funeral.
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