CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. – The preliminary hearing for Patrick Frazee, who is accused of killing his fiancée Kelsey Berreth, is set to begin Tuesday morning in a Teller County courtroom, where prosecutors will try to show the court they have enough probable cause to continue with the felony charges against him.
Frazee, 32, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of solicitation in the death of Berreth, 29, who disappeared on Thanksgiving Day and whose body has not been recovered despite authorities saying they no longer believe she is alive.
Berreth’s parents claim in a federal lawsuit that a brewing custody battle between Frazee and Berreth over their 1-year-old daughter led Frazee to kill Berreth. They are in a custody battle over the young girl with Frazee and his mother.
A court decided on Feb. 7 that the child will stay with the maternal grandparents. The next custody hearing is scheduled for April 4 at 8:30 a.m.
Krystal Jean Lee Kenney, 32, of Idaho pleaded guilty on Feb. 8 to tampering with physical evidence in the case. She admitted to moving Berreth’s cell phone with the intent to impair the investigation and told the court that she had learned Frazee “had committed a homicide.”
She is cooperating with the investigation and is required to testify against Frazee as part of her plea deal with prosecutors.
Prosecutors will have to prove at Tuesday’s hearing that the felony charges against Frazee should continue by showing they have enough evidence to try the case.
Frazee’s preliminary hearing is scheduled to being Tuesday at 9 a.m. in Teller County.