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A Case That Gripped the Nation
The story of kelsey berreth has haunted Colorado and the nation for more than six years. Her disappearance on Thanksgiving Day in 2018, followed by the shocking discovery of her brutal murder, left many searching for answers and justice. In February 2025, the case reached its final legal milestone when the Colorado Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Patrick Frazee, her fiancé and the man found guilty of orchestrating and carrying out her killing. For Berreth’s family, friends, and the public who have followed every detail, this ruling marked the end of a long and painful legal battle.
The Day She Disappeared
On Thanksgiving morning in 2018, Kelsey Berreth, a 29-year-old flight instructor and devoted mother, was seen shopping at a grocery store in Woodland Park, Colorado. She was captured on surveillance footage carrying her infant daughter, appearing calm and cheerful as she purchased holiday items. That would be the last public sighting of her alive.
When she failed to respond to family members in the days that followed, concern quickly grew. Her employer reported her absence, and her mother filed a missing-person report. Investigators soon discovered that Berreth’s phone had pinged in Idaho, hundreds of miles away, creating confusion about her whereabouts. What seemed at first like a disappearance soon unfolded into one of the most chilling murder cases in recent memory.
Patrick Frazee: The Fiancé Behind the Crime
At the center of the investigation was Patrick Frazee, Kelsey’s fiancé and the father of her child. Initially, Frazee played the role of a worried partner. But inconsistencies in his statements and mounting evidence quickly shifted suspicion toward him. As the investigation progressed, authorities revealed that Frazee had devised a plan to kill Berreth and had even attempted to manipulate someone else into carrying it out.
Frazee’s motive appeared rooted in a desire to gain sole custody of their daughter and remove Berreth from his life permanently. Prosecutors later revealed that Frazee showed no remorse and took calculated steps to conceal his crime.
The Role of ‘The Other Woman’
Perhaps one of the most disturbing elements of the case was the involvement of Krystal Lee Kenney, a former romantic partner of Frazee’s. Frazee had asked Kenney multiple times to murder Berreth on his behalf. He suggested different methods—from poisoning her coffee to attacking her with a weapon—but Kenney refused to follow through.
When Frazee ultimately killed Berreth himself using a baseball bat inside her home, he turned to Kenney afterward. She drove from Idaho to Colorado, entered Berreth’s residence, and helped clean the scene of the crime. Though her actions delayed justice, her eventual testimony became the linchpin in the prosecution’s case. By coming forward and admitting her role in concealing evidence, she gave investigators critical insight into Frazee’s planning and brutality.
The Brutal Details of the Murder
The truth revealed in court was horrifying. Frazee had lured Berreth to her own home under the guise of a normal holiday. While their infant daughter was nearby, he murdered Berreth with repeated blows from a bat. He then burned her remains on his property, erasing nearly all physical evidence of her body.
The cold, calculated nature of the crime shocked both investigators and the public. For Berreth’s family, the lack of a body meant they could never lay her fully to rest. Yet the overwhelming weight of testimony and circumstantial evidence made the case against Frazee airtight.
The Trial and Conviction
In late 2019, Patrick Frazee stood trial for first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, and evidence tampering. Jurors heard chilling testimony from Krystal Kenney, who admitted her role but described Frazee as the mastermind. They also listened to investigators detail the careful steps Frazee took to hide his crime, from staging phone activity to enlisting Kenney’s help.
The jury returned a swift and decisive verdict: guilty on all counts. Frazee was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 156 years, ensuring he would never walk free again. The sentencing was hailed as a victory for justice, but the legal process was far from over.
Appeals and Legal Challenges
Following his conviction, Frazee appealed, claiming that his rights had been violated during questioning. His attorneys argued that statements made to a Department of Human Services caseworker should have been inadmissible because he had not been read his Miranda rights. The defense attempted to portray the conversation as equivalent to a police interrogation.
For years, appeals slowly wound their way through the courts. Families often dread this stage, as convictions can sometimes be overturned on technical grounds. Yet prosecutors remained confident in the strength of their case.
The Supreme Court Ruling of 2025
On February 11, 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court issued its ruling: Patrick Frazee’s conviction was upheld in full. The court determined that the DHS caseworker was not acting as law enforcement when interviewing Frazee about custody matters, and therefore, his constitutional rights had not been violated. The ruling closed the door on Frazee’s legal options, leaving his life sentence intact.
For Berreth’s family, this decision represented the final confirmation of justice. After years of uncertainty, grief, and repeated court proceedings, they could finally move forward knowing Frazee would never escape accountability.
Where Are They Now?
- Patrick Frazee remains incarcerated at a state correctional facility, serving his life sentence without parole. His repeated attempts to challenge the conviction have ended in failure.
- Krystal Lee Kenney, once called “the other woman,” served approximately 18 months in prison for evidence tampering. She was released in 2021 and has since kept a low profile.
- Kelsey Berreth’s daughter is being raised by her maternal grandparents, who stepped in immediately after the crime to provide her with a stable, loving home.
Though the loss of her mother is immeasurable, the child is surrounded by the support and strength of family who have worked to shield her from the worst details of the case.
Lessons from the Case
The murder of Kelsey Berreth left behind more than a void in the lives of her loved ones. It sparked conversations about domestic violence, hidden abuse, and the dangers of manipulative relationships. To the outside world, Frazee appeared to be a partner and father. Behind closed doors, he was plotting a crime so violent that it stunned even seasoned investigators.
The cooperation of Krystal Kenney also raised difficult ethical questions. Was her testimony enough to balance the fact that she helped cover up the crime? Many debated whether her sentence was too lenient, but prosecutors defended the deal, arguing it was the only way to secure conviction in the absence of a body.
Timeline of Events
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Kelsey Berreth disappears on Thanksgiving Day. |
| 2019 | Patrick Frazee convicted of first-degree murder. |
| 2021 | Krystal Lee Kenney released after serving her sentence. |
| 2025 | Colorado Supreme Court upholds Frazee’s conviction. |
Why the Case Still Resonates
True crime stories often fade over time, but this case remains vivid in public memory. The reason is not only the brutality of the crime but also the humanity of the victim. Kelsey Berreth was a young mother, a professional pilot, and a woman whose life was stolen in her prime. Her murder reflects how intimate partner violence can hide in plain sight, even within seemingly normal relationships.
By the time of the Supreme Court ruling in 2025, the public had followed the case for more than six years. For many, the final verdict offered closure not only for Berreth’s family but also for a community shaken by the violence.
Moving Forward
The tragic story of Kelsey Berreth will forever stand as a reminder of resilience and justice. While no court ruling can undo the pain of her loss, the fact that her killer will spend his life behind bars ensures accountability. Her daughter, raised by loving family, carries forward her mother’s memory.
This chapter in Colorado’s history is now legally complete. For the family, closure does not mean forgetting—it means honoring Kelsey’s life by ensuring her story continues to inspire awareness, prevention, and compassion.
Key Takeaways
- Kelsey Berreth disappeared on Thanksgiving Day 2018 and was later found to have been murdered by her fiancé, Patrick Frazee.
- Frazee killed her with a baseball bat, disposed of her remains, and attempted to cover up the crime with the help of Krystal Lee Kenney.
- In 2019, Frazee was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole plus 156 years.
- Kenney served approximately 18 months in prison after pleading guilty to evidence tampering.
- In February 2025, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld Frazee’s conviction, ending his appeals.
- Berreth’s daughter is being raised by her maternal grandparents.