The Case
Kelsey Berreth, a 29-year-old mother and pilot instructor in Colorado, made national headlines after she vanished on Thanksgiving Day. Her concerned mother, Cheryl Berreth, officially reported the disappearance on December 2, 2018, after she repeatedly failed to make contact with her daughter.
Three days later, Berreth’s cell phone sent two text messages: one to Berreth’s employer, stating that she would be away for a week, and one to Berreth’s fiancé, Patrick Frazee. Investigators were able to track the cell phone and found it in Gooding, Idaho. The Woodland Park Police Department began an exhaustive investigation of the case, and even joined forces with numerous law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and officials in Gooding.
The Arrests
Although Berreth’s body hasn’t been recovered, investigators believe that she was killed in her Woodland Park home. On December 21, 2018, Frazee was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder. His accomplice, Krystal Jean “Lee” Kenney, an Idaho nurse, was charged with one count of felony evidence tampering – a class 6 felony – on February 8, 2019. Investigators claim that Kenney is responsible for disposing of Berreth’s cell phone, which was discovered an hour away from Kenney’s home.
Pleading Guilty
Hanna Knutson, a reporter for KDRO, contacted me about this case after Kenney was arrested and charged. I explained to Knutson that Kenney’s best option is to accept a plea deal that would require her to testify against Frazee. In her article, “Nurse in Kelsey Berreth Case to Plead Guilty,” Knutson directly quoted my predictions: “Obviously she thinks if she goes to trial she will get convicted. It’s likely she’s doing just a straight guilty plea.” After all, this is the only way Kenney could possibly reduce the penalties associated with her charges.
My predictions rang true on February 8, 2019, when Kenney pleaded guilty after agreeing to testify against Frazee. At a press conference, 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May delivered Kenney’s official statement to the public, reciting, “I learned that Patrick Frazee had committed a homicide on approximately November 22 in Teller County. I knew that law enforcement would be investigating that crime. I moved the victim’s cell phone with the intent to impair the phone’s availability in the investigation. I had no right or authority to move the victim’s cell phone that occurred between November 24 and November 25, 2018 in Teller County.”
Need Experienced Legal Guidance? Contact Attorney Alexander Berry
If you’re facing criminal charges, it’s imperative that you call an experienced Colorado Springs criminal defense lawyer as quickly as possible. While investigators and prosecutors have the advantage of time, I can help you effectively navigate each step going forward. I have devoted my career to this field of law, so you can trust that I have the tenacity, skills, and legal resources to represent even the most complex criminal defense cases. By proactively investigating your case and evaluating your personal circumstances, I can develop a powerful defense strategy that aims to secure a charge reduction, case dismissal, or acquittal.
Retain insightful counsel and dependable legal services today. Contact Damascus Road Law Group at (719) 354-2052 to schedule a free consultation.