The Unseen Truth: 5 Chilling Facts And 2025 Updates On Kelsey Berreth's Murder Case

The tragic story of Kelsey Berreth, the 29-year-old Colorado flight instructor who vanished on Thanksgiving Day 2018, continues to haunt the nation, with new legal developments keeping the case in the public eye. As of December 2025, the focus has shifted from the initial shocking details of her disappearance and the subsequent murder conviction of her fiancé, Patrick Frazee, to the complex legal battles surrounding his life sentence. This article delves into the full timeline of the case and the most recent, pivotal 2025 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court.

The case serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers in domestic relationships, revealing a calculated plot involving Frazee and his mistress, Krystal Lee Kenney. While the primary conviction brought a measure of justice for Kelsey's family, the ongoing legal appeals ensure that the names of the victim, the perpetrator, and the accomplice remain subjects of intense scrutiny and national conversation.

Kelsey Berreth: A Detailed Biography

Kelsey Berreth was a devoted mother, a skilled professional, and a beloved daughter whose life was tragically cut short. Her story is one of a promising career and a quiet life in the Rocky Mountains that ended in unthinkable violence.

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• Full Name: Kelsey Hope Berreth
• Date of Disappearance: November 22, 2018 (Thanksgiving Day)
• Age at Disappearance: 29
• Hometown: Woodland Park, Colorado
• Occupation: Flight Instructor. She trained future Air Force pilots, having previously attended pilot school in Washington.
• Family: Daughter of Cheryl Berreth and a mother to a young daughter, Kaylee.
• Partner: Patrick Frazee (fiancé, father of her daughter, convicted murderer)
• Last Known Sighting: A Safeway grocery store in Woodland Park, Colorado.
• Cause of Death: Blunt force trauma (determined during the trial, though her body was never found).

The Chilling Timeline of Disappearance and Deception

Kelsey Berreth was last seen alive on Thanksgiving Day 2018. The timeline of events that followed revealed a cold-blooded murder plot and a frantic attempt to cover up the crime by her fiancé, Patrick Frazee, with the crucial assistance of his mistress, Krystal Lee Kenney.

The Final Days and Initial Search

Kelsey was last seen on surveillance footage at the Safeway in Woodland Park. She was picking up groceries with her daughter. Later that day, she exchanged text messages with Frazee. Her mother, Cheryl Berreth, officially reported her missing on December 2, 2018, after not hearing from her for several days. This delay was a critical factor in the initial investigation.

Investigators quickly discovered that Kelsey’s phone had pinged off a tower near Gooding, Idaho, hundreds of miles away, on November 25, three days after her disappearance. This detail was a major turning point, leading police to Krystal Lee Kenney, a nurse from Twin Falls, Idaho, who had been in an on-again, off-again relationship with Frazee for years.

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Krystal Lee Kenney: The Accomplice's Role

Krystal Lee Kenney became the prosecution's star witness after agreeing to a plea deal. She admitted that Frazee had solicited her to murder Kelsey multiple times, which she refused. Ultimately, she confessed to helping him clean up the gruesome crime scene at Kelsey’s Woodland Park townhouse. Kenney testified that Frazee had beaten Kelsey to death with a baseball bat on Thanksgiving Day 2018.

Kenney's testimony was instrumental. She detailed how she drove from Idaho to Colorado, cleaned up the blood-splattered home, and then transported Kelsey’s personal belongings, including her phone and purse, back to Idaho. She claimed to have burned the evidence on Frazee's property in Teller County, a rural area near Woodland Park.

The Trial and Conviction of Patrick Frazee

Patrick Frazee, a farrier and rancher, was arrested on December 21, 2018, on charges of first-degree murder and solicitation for murder. The trial, held in Teller County, relied heavily on Krystal Lee Kenney's testimony, even without the discovery of Kelsey's body. The prosecution presented significant evidence, including cell phone pings, text messages, and the meticulous details of the cleanup.

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In November 2019, a jury found Frazee guilty of all charges. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus 156 years for the additional crimes, including three counts of solicitation to commit murder and tampering with a deceased human body. Frazee is currently serving his sentence at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility.

The Latest 2025 Legal Battle: Frazee v. The People

Despite his conviction, Patrick Frazee has continued to pursue appeals, challenging the legal grounds of his trial. The most significant development in the case in recent years is the decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, which was handed down in early 2025.

The Colorado Supreme Court Ruling (2025): In the case of FRAZEE v. PEOPLE (2025 CO 7), decided on February 10, 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court addressed a pivotal issue raised by Frazee's legal team. The appeal focused on whether statements Frazee made to Department of Human Services (DHS) caseworkers, who were investigating the welfare of his daughter, should have been suppressed because he was not given a *Miranda Warning*.

Frazee's attorneys argued that the DHS caseworkers acted as agents of law enforcement, and therefore, his statements should have been inadmissible. The Supreme Court, however, ultimately denied this appeal, affirming the Court of Appeals' decision. The ruling clarified the boundaries between child protection investigations and criminal interrogations, maintaining that the DHS caseworkers were not acting as police agents when they spoke with Frazee.

This denial effectively upheld Frazee's conviction and sentence, marking a major legal victory for the prosecution and a final, painful chapter in the pursuit of justice for Kelsey Berreth and her family. The Colorado Supreme Court denying a second appeal reinforces the finality of the conviction for first-degree murder.

5 Chilling Facts That Defined the Kelsey Berreth Case

The details of the Kelsey Berreth murder are particularly shocking due to the calculated nature of the crime and the involvement of the victim's fiancé.

1. No Body, Still a Conviction: Patrick Frazee was convicted of murder without the discovery of Kelsey’s remains. The prosecution relied on overwhelming circumstantial evidence and the detailed testimony of Krystal Lee Kenney, proving the crime occurred beyond a reasonable doubt.
2. The Thanksgiving Day Plot: Kelsey was murdered on Thanksgiving Day 2018, a day meant for family and gratitude. Frazee committed the act while their infant daughter was reportedly in a separate room.
3. The Idaho Connection: The case spanned state lines, with Frazee's mistress, Krystal Lee Kenney, traveling from Idaho to Colorado to assist in the cleanup. She then transported evidence back to Idaho, where she attempted to burn it.
4. A Plea Deal for Cleaning: Krystal Lee Kenney received a three-year prison sentence in exchange for her cooperation and truthful testimony. Her sentence was for tampering with physical evidence, not for the murder itself. She was paroled in 2023, a move that drew public criticism.
5. Multiple Murder Attempts: Kenney testified that Frazee had tried to solicit her to kill Kelsey on at least three separate occasions, providing her with different methods, including a poisoned Starbucks drink. This demonstrated a pattern of premeditated violence.

The legacy of Kelsey Berreth lives on through her family and the memory of her life as a dedicated mother and professional. The 2025 Supreme Court decision brings a powerful sense of closure to the legal proceedings, confirming that Patrick Frazee will serve his life sentence for the brutal murder of his fiancée.