>>> THERE'S DEFINITELY MYSTERIES
INVOLVED IN THIS CASE.
>> IT WAS A COLD MORNING.
EVEN SOME SNOW ON THE GROUND.
THE CALL CAME OUT AT 5:37 IN THE
MORNING.
>> MY WIFE SHOT HERSELF.
>> COLBY TRICKLE HAD CALLED OUR
DISPATCH.
ANY MENACE ON THE PORCH?
>> WHERE'S THE HOUSE?
>> THIS ONE.
THIS ONE THAT'S RED AND WHITE.
>> DID HE SEEM UPSET?
>> I MEAN, THERE WERE TEARS
COMING DOWN.
IT WAS HARD TO UNDERSTAND.
HE WAS CHOKED UP.
WE GO UP TO THE DOOR.
START MAKING ANNOUNCEMENTS
INSIDE.
>> POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> LOOKING TO MY LEFT IS WHEN I
FIRST SEE KRISTEN.
I COULD SEE THE MOVEMENT OF HER
JAW.
>> SO SHE WAS STILL ALIVE.
>> WE WERE HOPEFUL.
>> COULD SHE BE SAVED?
>> NO.
>> AFTER YOU DID YOUR AUTOPSY,
HOW DID YOU RULE ON KRISTEN
TRICKLE'S DEATH?
HOMICIDE OR SUICIDE?
>> SUICIDE.
>> THE VICTIM'S FAMILY IN THIS
RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE WAS JUST
ADAMANT THAT THIS WAS NOT A
SUICIDE.
>> THE SCENE WAS KIND OF
UNUSUAL.
WE HAD A FEMALE WITH A LARGE
WEAPON LAYING IN BED.
IT'S NOT COMMON TO SEE THAT.
>> YOU HAVE A REPLICA, A VERY
SIMILAR TYPE OF GUN.
CAN YOU SHOW IT TO ME?
>> SURE.
>> HOW LARGE -- OH.
>> IT'S PRETTY HEFTY, AS YOU CAN
TELL.
>> I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED.
>> IT'S AWKWARD TO MANEUVER.
NOT SOMETHING YOU WOULD EASILY
TURN ON YOURSELF.
>> WE HAD EVIDENCE THAT LED US
TO BELIEVE THAT COLBY TRICKLE
HAD KILLED HIS WIFE.
>> I DO NOT BELIEVE HE DID IT.
I WAS COLBY TRICKLE'S DEFENSE
ATTORNEY.
WHEN HE CALLED 911, SHE WAS
STILL SHOWING SIGNS OF LIFE.
HAD HE INTENDED TO MURDER HER,
IT SEEMS ODD THAT HE WOULD CALL
IMMEDIATELY.
I THINK IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT
KRISTEN TRICKLE PICKED UP A GUN
IN GREAT ANGUISH AND ENDED HER
LIFE.
>> A PROFESSIONAL CAME IN AND
LOOKED AT THE LIFE OF KRISTEN.
DUG INTO EVERY ASPECT OF HER
LIFE.
GOT INTO WHO KRISTEN WAS PRIOR
TO HER DEATH.
>> SO BASICALLY, THIS IS A
PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY TRYING TO
FIGURE OUT THE STATE OF MIND OF
A PERSON WHO DIED.
THAT'S DIFFICULT TO DO, ISN'T
IT?
>> YEAH.
>> AND HAD THIS EVER BEEN DONE
IN THE STATE OF KANSAS BEFORE?
>> NEVER IN A CRIMINAL CASE, NO.
*
>>> SERGEANT BRANDON HAUPTMAN OF
THE HAYS POLICE DEPARTMENT
VIVIDLY REMEMBERS THE DARK COLD
OF THE HALLOWEEN MORNING AS HE
ARRIVED AT KRISTEN TRICKLE'S
HOME.
>> THE BEDROOM SHE WAS IN WAS
THIS WINDOW ON THE LEFT.
>> OH, THE BEDROOM IS RIGHT
THERE.
>> THAT'S THE BEDROOM RIGHT
THERE.
>> AND THE MOMENT HE FOUND THE
26-YEAR-OLD NEAR DEATH IN BED.
>> I COULD SEE THE FIREARM.
FROM WHAT I COULD TELL
INITIALLY, A LARGE CALIBER
REVOLV
REVOLVER.
>> HOW WAS SHE DRESSED?
>> SHE WAS ALMOST FULLY
UNDRESSED.
SHE WAS JUST WEARING UNDERWEAR.
>> AFTER SHE SHOWED SIGNS OF
LIFE, HE QUICKLY MOVED THE
REVOLVER AWAY FROM HER AND
CARRIED HER INTO THE LIVING ROOM
FOR CPR.
>> THE ONLY INJURY THAT I COULD
SEE AT THAT POINT WAS THE
ENTRANCE WOUND.
>> WHERE WAS THAT ENTRANCE
WOUND?
>> UNDERNEATH HER CHIN HERE.
>> THERE WAS NOTHING THE FIRST
RESPONDERS COULD DO FOR KRISTEN.
>> I WENT OUT TO COLBY ON THE
PORCH AND TOLD HIM SHE HAD DIED.
>> HAUPTMAN'S BODY CAMERA WAS
ONLY RECORDING AUDIO THAT DAY.
>> SHE DIED.
I'M SO SORRY.
>> ARE YOU SURE?
>> SERGEANT HAUPTMAN SAID HE
ASKED KRISTEN'S HUSBAND COLBY TO
GO TO THE POLICE STATION SO HE
COULD TELL INVESTIGATORS WHAT
HAPPENED.
DID HE SEEM TO BE COOPERATIVE?
>> HE WAS.
WE GOT HIM SOME SHOES.
>> AT THE STATION COLBY SAID
HOURS EARLIER, KRISTEN HAD COME
HOME FROM WALMART WHERE SHE
WORKED IN THE GARDENING CENTER
AND THE TWO PLAYED VIDEO GAMES.
HE WENT TO WIFE BEFORE HIS WIFE,
HE SAID, AND WOKE UP TO HIS EARS
RINGING.
AND THEN FOUND KRISTEN LYING
NEXT TO HIM WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND
TO HER HEAD.
>> I RAN UP TO HER AND SHE WAS
JUST LOOKING AT ME.
>> THEN WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> I RAN OVER TO MY PHONE AND I
CALLED 911.
>> HE TOLD INVESTIGATORS WHILE
HE WAS ON THE PHONE WITH 911, HE
CHECKED KRISTEN'S PULSE BUT FELT
NOTHING.
THEN PICKED THE REVOLVER OFF HER
BODY.
>> WHERE WAS THE GUN?
>> IT WAS LAYING BY HER NECK.
I PULLED IT BACK.
>> FOR A MOMENT HE SAID HE
THOUGHT ABOUT TAKING HIS OWN
LIFE.
>> I STARTED TO PUT, PUT IT TO
MY HEAD.
BUT I WAS ON THE PHONE.
THEY SAID THEY WERE SENDING
PEOPLE.
I THOUGHT MAYBE THEY COULD HELP
HER.
>> WHILE COLBY TRICKLE WAS STILL
AT THE STATION, KRISTEN'S AUNLT
DELYNN AND UNCLE BRANT RICE, A
LOCAL PASTOR, FOUND OUT KRISTEN
HAD DIED.
>> I GOT A CALL FROM MY MOM AND,
THE WORST PHONE CALL EVER TO
GET.
SHE SAID KRISTEN IS DEAD.
SHE'S BEEN SHOT.
AND IT WAS JUST -- MOM, THAT
CAN'T BE RIGHT.
THAT CAN'T BE RIGHT.
THAT DOESN'T EVEN MAKE SENSE.
>> BUT MORE BAFFLING WAS THAT
COLBY HAD SAID KRISTEN' DEATH
WAS A SUICIDE.
>> WHAT DID YOU TELL
INVESTIGATORS INITIALLY?
WE JUST DON'T THINK SHE WOULD DO
THIS?
>> 100%.
THERE'S NO WAY OF ALL THE PEOPLE
I KNOW IN THIS WORLD, THE LAST
PERSON I WOULD EVER THINK WOULD
TAKE THEIR OWN LIFE WOULD BE
KRISTEN BECAUSE OF THE JOY SHE
HAS.
>> IT'S SO OUT OF CHARACTER TO
KRISTEN AND HOW SHE SOLVES
PROBLEMS.
SHE'S NOT A RUNNER FROM
PROBLEMS.
>> DELYNN AND BRANT RICE SAID
HER FAMILY AND HER TWO DOGS
MEANT THE WORLD TO HER.
>> THE THOUGHT OF HURTING
HERSELF IN ANY WAY --
>> OR ANYONE --
>> IS SO FOREIGN.
SHE WOULD NEVER TAKE HER LIFE
AND NOT TIE UP LOOSE ENDS WITH
HER FAMILY, MAKE SURE HER DOGS
HAD SOMEWHERE TO GO.
>> AND THEY BELIEVED THEY KNEW
HER BETTER THAN JUST ABOUT
ANYONE ELSE.
THEY HAD WATCHED HER GROW UP.
>> IT IS HARD TO FIND A
PHOTOGRAPH SHE IS NOT SMILING
JUST FULLY.
SHE HAD HAD THAT SMILE EVEN
THOUGH DELYNN AND BRANT SAY
KRISTEN HAD A TOUGH CHILDHOOD.
HER MOTHER LEFT HER AND HER
FATHER WHEN KRISTEN WAS 2 YEARS
OLD.
WHEN SHE WAS 17, KRISTEN MOVED
I WITH HER AUNT AND UNCLE AND
THEIR THREE KIDS.
DELYNN AND BRAND SAY SHE
THRIVED.
>> SHE LOVED BEING WITH OUR
FAMILY.
SHE LOVED THE PEACE IN OUR HOME.
>> CHLOE IS THEIR DAUGHTER.
>> SHE WAS MY OLDER SISTER
FIGURE IN MY LIFE AND I REALLY
LOOKED UP TO HER.
SHE WAS JUST LIKE ALWAYS THERE
TO MAKE ME FISMILE AND FEEL
IMPORTANT.
>> THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THEY
MET COLBY.
THEY WERE BOTH 18 YEARS OLD.
>> COLBY ATTENDED OUR CHURCH.
FOR A TIME HE WAS ON THE WORSHIP
TEAM AT OUR CHURCH.
THEY ARE THE BAND THAT PLAYS THE
WORSHIP MUSIC DURING OUR
SERVICES.
HE WOWED HER WITH HIS GUITAR
PLAYING ABILITIES, SONGS THAT HE
HAD WRITTEN.
*
>> BUT JUST FIVE YEARS LATER,
KRISTEN WAS DEAD AND COLBY WAS
SAYING SHE TOOK HER OWN LIFE.
CORONER LYLE NOORDHOEK EXAMINED
THE SCENE, AND LOOKING AT THE
WOUND, HE BELIEVED THE REVOLVER
WAS IN CLOSE RANGE TO HER CHIN
WHEN IT WAS FIRED.
IN NOORDHOEK'S EXPERIENCE, THAT
WAS NOT UNUSUAL FOR A
SELF-INFLICTED GUNSHOT WOUND.
HOW WOULD YOU BELIEVE THE
REVOLVER WAS BEING HELD?
>> CLOSE TO THE CHIN AND
PARALLEL TO THE BODY.
>> LIKE THIS.
>> YEAH.
>> BUT DETECTIVE JB BURKHOLDER
HAD ALSO BEEN CALLED TO THE
HOUSE.
>> WE RESPOND TO SUICIDES.
THEY HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES A
YEAR.
>> TO HIM THIS DIDN'T SEEM LIKE
SUICIDE.
>> HAVING A FEMALE WITH A
GUNSHOT WOUND, ESPECIALLY TO THE
HEAD, WAS UNUSUAL FOR US.
>> WHY IS THAT MORE UNUSUAL FOR
WOMEN?
>> FOR WOMEN, THEY'RE A LITTLE
MORE CONCERNED ABOUT LOOKS EVEN
AFTER DEATH, SO THEY HAD ABOUT
THAT.
>> AND THERE WAS SOMETHING ELSE.
>> WHEN I GOT THERE, I REMEMBER
AN ALARM GOING OFF.
>> KRISTEN'S CELL PHONE ALARM IS
HEARD REPEATEDLY ON AUDIO
RECORDED BY FIRST RESPONDERS.
>> I THINK I ACTUALLY SILENCED
IT.
SHE HAD SET AN ALARM TO GET UP,
GET READY FOR WORK, AND HAD
PLANS FOR THAT DAY.
A LOT OF TIMES INDIVIDUALS WHO
ARE THINKING ABOUT SUICIDE,
THEY'RE NOT SETTING ALARMS.
IT DOESN'T MATTER WHEN THEY GET
UP.
THERE WAS CANDY SET OUT IN THE
KITCHEN AREA.
SHE AND COLBY HAD PLANNED FOR
HALLOWEEN TO GO ALONG AS IT
NORMALLY WOULD WITH TRIG OR
TREATING.
>> AND NOTHING TROUBLED HIM MORE
THAN THAT WEAPON FOUND AT THE
SCENE.
DETECTIVE BURKHOLDER WASN'T SURE
KRISTEN WAS THE ONE WHO FIRED
IT.
>> IT WAS A FULL-SIZE .357
CALIB
CALIBER.
APPROXIMATELY 11 TO 12 INCHES.
IT CAN BE HARD TO HANDLE.
SO PLACING THAT UNDER YOUR
CLINTON AND DISCHARGE THAT
FIREARM DIDN'T SEEM VERY LIKELY
FOR A SMALLER FEMALE.
AND WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS A DARK
BEDROOM.
THIS WASN'T AN OPEN AND SHUT
SUICIDE CASE.
THERE WERE QUESTIONS.
>>> AFTER HIS WIFE KRISTEN DIED
IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON
HALLOWEEN, COLBY TRICKLE SPOKE
WITH INVESTIGATORS FOR MORE THAN
11 HOURS.
>> WHAT'S YOUR NAME?
>> COLBY.
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> I'M SO, SO SORRY.
>> HE WAS ASKED OVER AND OVER
AGAIN TO RECOUNT THE EVENTS OF
THE NIGHT BEFORE.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY FIGHTS,
ANYTHING LIKE THAT YESTERDAY?
>> NO.
>> COLBY TOLD INVESTIGATORS
ABOUT HIS JOB WITH THE U.S.
MILITARY AS PART OF HUMAN
INTELLIGENCE.
>> THERE IS SOME INTERESTING
PLACES THEY SEND YOU WITH BEING
IN INTEL.
BUT I GUESS THAT MAKES YOU, THEY
SENT ME TO THE MIDDLE EAST AND
THEY SENT ME DOWN TO CENTRAL
MANAGER.
>> THE FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF
COLBY TRICKLE WAS HE WAS A GUY
INTO MILITARY.
HE HAD A, I GUESS, A DECORATED
PAST OF OVERSEAS TOURS, AND THEN
ALSO COLBY TRICKLE WAS A GUY WHO
LOVED HIS WIFE.
>> BUT DETECTIVE J.B. BURKHOLDER
SAID HE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT THE
MORNING KRISTEN DIED.
AFTER FINDING HER, HE CALLED
911.
AND AS HE LATER TOLD POLICE, HE
PICKED UP THE GUN AND THOUGHT
ABOUT ENDING HIS LIFE.
WHAT TROUBLED BURKHOLDER IS
WHERE COLBY PUT THE GUN AFTER HE
CHANGED HIS MIND.
BACK ON KRISTEN'S STOMACH.
>> I PUT IT BACK DOWN AND RAN
OUTSIDE.
>> VERY ODD.
IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE I'M CALLING
RAIN IN 11, MY WIFE IS DYING ON
THE BED, I WOULD PLACE THE GUN
BACK DOWN ON HER BODY.
>> COLBY WAS ASKED IF THERE WAS
ANY LIFE INSURANCE ON KRISTEN.
>> I HAVE SOME ON ME FROM THE
MILITARY BUT THAT'S IT.
>> NO INSURANCE ON KRISTEN, EM.
AND THEN WAS ASKED IF HE HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH KRISTEN'S
DEATH.
>> DID YOU IN FACT KILL HER?
>> NO.
>> COLBY LEFT THE POLICE STATION
THAT DAY BUT FIRST RESPONDER
SERGEANT HAUPTMAN WAS
INCREASINGLY SUSPICIOUS ABOUT
COLBY'S ACTIONS AT THE SCENE.
HE WONDERED WHY COLBY DIDN'T
DEMAND TO BE BY KRISTEN'S SIDE
AS THEY TRIED TO SAVE HER LIFE.
>> YOUR WIFE IS INSIDE AND HERE
SHE IS BLEEDING OUT, DYING.
AND YOU'RE ON THE PORCH.
>> WHILE FIRST RESPONDERS WERE
ADMINISTERING CPR, COLBY WAS
CHATTING WITH OFFICERS ABOUT
VIDEO GAMES.
THAT CONVERSATION WAS REPORTED
BY A POLICE BODY CAM.
>> WHAT KIND OF GAMES DO YOU
LIKE TO PLAY?
>> EVERYTHING FROM CALL OF DUTY
TO MINECRAFT.
>> THAT DAY AS INVESTIGATORS GOT
A SEARCH WARRANT FOR COLBY'S
CELL PHONE, AN AUTOPSY FOR
KRISTEN TRICKLE WAS UNDERWAY.
AT THE SCENE, CORONER KYLE
NOORDHOEK WHO SUSPECTED SUICIDE
LOOKED FOR ANY EVIDENCE THAT
SOMEONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED LIKE
SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE.
>> WERE THERE ANY SIGNS OF
DEFENSIVE WOUNDS OR DEFENSIVE
SIGNS THAT SHE HAD FOUGHT WITH
ANYONE BEFORE SHE DIED?
THE CORONER SAID HE ALSO
EXAMINED KRISTEN'S BODY FOR
SIGNS OF PAST PHYSICAL ABUSE.
>> TYPICALLY IF THERE'S A SERIES
OF PROGRESSIVE INJURIES OVER A
PERIOD OF TIME, YOU CAN TELL
THEY'VE BEEN BEATING ON EACH
OTHER.
IN THIS CASE, I WASN'T REALLY
SEEING THAT.
SO I'M GOING, WELL, I HAVE TO
TAKE THE HUSBAND'S STATEMENT AT
WORD VALUE, THAT HE WAS THERE
AND THE GUN WENT OFF AND SHE IS
DEAD.
>> NOORDHOEK SAID THREE DAYS
AFTER KRISTEN'S DEATH, BASED ON
THE INFORMATION HE HAD AT THE
TIME, HE DETERMINED THAT THE
MANNER OF DEATH WAS A SUICIDE.
BUT KRISTEN'S AUNT AND UNCLE
SAID THE MORE THEY LEARNED ABOUT
THE FACTS OF THE CASE, THE MORE
QUESTIONS THEY HAD.
>> WHEN I HEARD THAT IT WAS A
GUN, THERE IS NO WAY.
WE KNEW KRISTEN WAS SCARED OF
GUNS.
KRISTEN WAS ALSO VERY, VERY
PRIVATE IN HER BODY.
VERY MODEST.
WHEN I FOUND OUT SHE WAS NOT
DRESSED, THAT WAS SHOCKING TO
ME.
>> REFLECTING ON KRISTEN'S
RELATIONSHIP WITH COLBY, THEY
SAID THEY WERE BOTHERED BY WHAT
THEY SAY WAS COLBY'S CONTROLLING
BEHAVIOR.
>> IF SHE DIDN'T IMMEDIATELY
RESPOND TO A TEXT OR WASN'T ABLE
TO ANSWER HER PHONE, HE WOULD
GET VERY FRUSTRATED WITH HER.
HE WANTED HER AT HIS BECK AND
CALL.
>> AT THE TIME, THE RICES SAY
THEY TOLD KRISTEN THEY HAD
SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT COLBY.
>> WE KNOW THAT SHE WAS NOT
HAPPY WITH US.
I BELIEVE THAT HE CONVINCED HER
THAT WE WERE AGAINST HER AND
THEREFORE SHE SEPARATED HERSELF
SOMEWHAT.
>> KRISTEN DECIDED TO MARRY
COLBY AND EVENTUALLY MOVED
ALMOST 300 MILES AWAY TO KANSAS
CITY.
BUT LIVE FOR THE COUPLE WAS
DIFFICULT, SAYS BRANT.
COLBY ENLISTED WITH THE ARMY
RESERVE AND WORKED ODD JOBS.
SHE WORKED AT A VET CLINIC.
MONEY WAS TIGHT.
IN EARLY 2019, THE COUPLE MOVED
BACK TO THE HAYS AREA, AND THE
RICES SAY KRISTEN WAS COMING TO
THEIR CHURCH AGAIN.
>> WE WERE THRILLE.
>> WE WERE SO THRILLED TO
RECONNECT WITH KRISTEN.
IT WAS JUST LIKE IT WAS WHEN SHE
LIVED IN OUR HOME.
>> IN THE MONTHS BEFORE HER
DEATH, THEY SAY SHE WAS MAKING
PLANS TO LAUNCH HER PET BOARDING
BUSINESS.
>> SHE HAD PICKED OUT A LITTLE
HOUSE THAT WAS SOUTH OF TOWN AND
HAS A LITTLE BARN BEHIND IT.
SHE WANTED TO TURN IT INTO THE
BOARDING AREA.
>> TO THE RICE FAMILY, KRISTEN
SEEMED HAPPY AND EXCITED FOR HER
FUTURE.
AFTER HER DEATH, BRANT AND
DELYNN WONDERED ABOUT COLBY.
WAS HE CAPABLE
>>> AS INVESTIGATORS BEGAN
DIGGING INTO COLBY'S STORY, THEY
POURED OVER THE DATA IN HIS CELL
PHONE.
>> THERE'S SEVERAL, I GUESS, TWO
BIG AHA MOMENTS.
>> THEY DISCOVERED COLBY HAD
BEEN AND CHANGING FLIRTACIOUS
SNAPCHAT MESSAGES WITH ANOTHER
WOMAN.
>> HE HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH HER
WHICH WOULD BE DESCRIBED AS A
SEXTING CONVERSATION.
>> ALSO ACCORDING TO JB
BURKHOLDER, THERE WAS EVIDENCE
THAT CONTRADICTED WHAT COLBY HAD
FIRST TOLD INVESTIGATORS WHEN
ASKED ABOUT LIFE INSURANCE ON
HIS WIFE.
>> I HAVE SOME ON ME FROM
MILITARY, BUT THAT'S IT.
>> CELL PHONE DATA REVEALED THAT
NOT ONLY WAS COLBY AWARE KRISTEN
WAS COVERED BY A LIFE INSURANCE
POLICY CALLED SGLI FOR SPOUSES
OF MILITARY MEMBERS, IN THE DAYS
BEFORE HER DEATH, THEY SAY HE
GOOGLED THE AMOUNT THE POLICY
WOULD PAY OUT.
>> DID HE GOIVE RIDGEWAY WAS
ABLE TO FIND I BELIEVE A SCREEN
SHOT OF A SEARCH THAT HE HAD
CONDUCTED TEN DAYS PRIOR TO
KRISTEN'S DEATH ASKING WHAT HIS
SPOUSE'S LIFE INSURANCE WOULD
BE.
>> ON NOVEMBER 4th, 2019,
INVESTIGATORS ASKED COLBY TO
RETURN FOR MORE QUESTIONING.
>> TEN DAYS AGO YOU LOOKED UP A
LIFE INSURANCE ISSUE.
>> WHEN?
WHEN?
I NEVER DID.
>> YOU DID.
>> I NEVER DID.
IF I DIED?
>> NO.
IF YOUR SPOUSE DIED.
>> COLBY WHO AGREED TO TALK
WITHOUT A LAWYER SUGGESTED THAT
KRISTEN MIGHT HAVE DONE THE
SEARCH HERSELF ON HIS PHONE.
>> WE ALWAYS GAVE EACH OTHER
ACCESS TO EACH OTHER'S PHONES
AND STUFF.
>> INVESTIGATORS ASKED COLBY
ABOUT HIS ONLINE RELATIONSHIP.
COLBY ADMITTED THAT IT HAD
STARTED A FEW MONTHS PRIOR TO
HIS WIFE'S DEATH AFTER HE MET
THE WOMAN ON A GROUP CHAT WHILE
PLAYING VIDEO GAMES.
>> DID KRISTEN FIND OUT ABOUT
THAT RELATIONSHIP?
>> COLBY TOLD THEM THE
RELATIONSHIP WAS A VIRTUAL ONE.
THAT HE HAD NEVER ACTUALLY MET
THE WOMAN.
BUT INVESTIGATORS DISCOVERED HE
HAD BEEN TEXTING WITH HER JUST
HOURS AFTER KRISTEN'S DEATH
WHILE HE WAS STILL AT THE POLICE
STATION.
>> I GUESS TO HIS CREDIT, HE
SAID THAT HE WAS BUSY AND
COULDN'T TALK RIGHT NOW.
BUT THEN HE SAID, I WISH I
COULD.
>> AARON CUNNINGHAM IS THE
ASSISTANT CUNNINGHAM ATTORNEY.
>> PROBABLY THE LAST THING YOU
SHOULD SAY TO A WOMAN YOU'RE
HAVING AN ONLINE AFFAIR WITH
WHEN YOU'RE BEING INVESTIGATED
ABOUT YOUR WIFE'S DEATH.
>> WHEN COLBY LEFT THE POLICE
STATION AFTER A SECOND
INTERVIEW, DETECTIVE BURK HOLDER
CHECKED OUT HIS CLAIM THAT
KRISTEN HAD USED HIS PHONE TO
RESEARCH LIFE INSURANCE
POLICIES.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO GET VIDEO,
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO FROM THE
WALMART STORE.
>> WHAT THEY DISCOVERED WAS THAT
KRISTIN WAS AT WORK AT WALMART
AT THE TIME THE CELL PHONE
SEARCH WAS MADE.
>> WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THAT SHE
DIDN'T HAVE ACCESS TO A PHONE.
>> THE INCONSISTENCIES IN
COLBY'S STATIONS KEPT PILING UP,
SAYS BURKHOLDER, LIKE THIS ONE.
>> SHE KEEPS ON IT HER SIDE.
>> HE SAID THAT SHE KEPT
THE .357 BY HER SIDE OF THE BED.
BUT THAT DIDN'T SEEM TO LINE UP
WITH WHAT BURKHOLDER SAW AT THE
SCENE.
>> WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE SCENE,
WE SAW MULTIPLE FIREARMS ON WHAT
WAS DESCRIBED AS COLBY'S SIDE OF
THE BED.
>> THERE WERE ALSO PHOTOS OF THE
BEDROOM ON COLBY'S PHONE.
>> THIS PICTURE WAS TAKEN, I
BELIEVE, A MONTH PRIOR TO
KRISTEN'S DEATH.
YOU SEE A LARGE FRAMED REVOLVER
ON THE BED WHERE COLBY TRICKLES
DESCRIBED BEING HIS.
>> DO YOU THINK THAT'S THE .357?
>> THAT'S THE ONLY .357 IN THE
HOUSE THAT WE FOUND.
THAT TELL ME THIS WAS COLBY'S
GUN.
>> STILL THE INVESTIGATION
STALLED.
YOU HAVE ALL THESE INVESTIGATORS
WHO ARE UNCOVERING MORE AND MORE
EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING
REALLY WRONG WITH THIS CASE.
YOU'VE GOT THE CORONER WHO CALLS
THIS A SUICIDE.
I MEAN, THAT'S A PROBLEM, ISN'T
IT?
>> IT IS AND IT ISN'T.
>> IT WAS INITIALLY, WASN'T IT?
>> SURE.
CERTAINLY AS FAR AS THEIR
ABILITY TO INVESTIGATE AS
EFFICIENTLY AS THEY NORMALLY
WOULD.
>> CUNNINGHAM SAYS THE CORONER'S
DETERMINATION THAT KRISTEN HAD
DIED BY SUICIDE LIMITED THE
INVESTIGATOR'S ABILITY TO OBTAIN
SEARCH WARRANTS.
>> THERE WERE STILL ELEMENTS OF
THE INVESTIGATION LAW
ENFORCEMENT WANTED TO FOLLOW UP
ON.
>> Reporter: IN THE WINTER OF
2020, COLBY BEGAN COLLECTING
PAYOUTS FROM TWO INSURANCE
POLICIES.
23,000 FROM WALMART, AND
$100,000 FROM THE U.S. MILITARY.
MEANWHILE, INVESTIGATORS
CONTINUED TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
HIS TIME IN THE MILITARY.
>> HE WAS A RESERVE OFFICER IN
THE MILITARY.
THAT WAS NEVER DEPLOYED.
>> WAIT.
WAIT A MINUTE.
SO HE WAS NEVER DEPLOYED TO
CENTRAL AMERICA?
>> HE HAD NO OVERSEAS
DEPLOYMENTS THAT WERE TOLD TO US
BY THE UNITED STATES MILITARY.
>> AND HE HAD NO EXPERIENCE
TALKING TO INFORMANTS AS PART OF
HIS JOB AS AN INTELLIGENCE
ANALYST.
>> RIGHT.
>> BUT EVEN WITH WHAT LOOKED
LIKE BLATANT LIES AND AN
APPARENT MOTIVE TO KILL HIS
WIFE, POLICE DIDN'T ARREST
COLBY.
SO IN THE YEAR AFTER KRISTEN'S
DEATH, AUTHORITIES WATCHED AS
COLBY TRICKLE WENT ON WITH HIS
LIFE.
>> IT IS VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME.
I WOULD RUN INTO HIM IN PUBLIC.
>> PLAYING MUSIC AT A RESTAURANT
IN TOWN.
>> IT MADE MY SKIN CRAWL.
>> WHATEVER STORM YOU'RE IN,
KEEP PUSHING FORWARD.
>> POSTING FACEBOOK SELF-HELP
VIDEOS.
>> GET TO THE OUTSIDE WHERE
YOU'RE FREE AND ENJOY LIFE.
>> BUT THEN NEARLY TWO YEARS
AFTER KRISTEN'S DEATH, A NEWLY
ELECTED COUNTY ATTORNEY DECIDED
TO TRY
>>> COUNTY ATTORNEY ROBERT
ANDERSON WAS JUST DAYS INTO HIS
NEW JOB WHEN THE ASSISTANT
ATTORNEY AND DETECTIVE JB
BURKHOLDER PULLED HIM ASIDE.
>> WE CORNERED HIM AND SAID THIS
IS SOMETHING THAT IS CLEARLY
HOMICIDE.
HELP US TO GET THE NAILS PUT IN
THIS COFFIN.
>> AFTER REVIEWING THE FILE,
ANDERSON BELIEVED THAT THE
CORONER GOT IT WRONG AND THAT
THIS WAS A HOMICIDE.
ON JULY 14th, 2021, HE CHARGED
COLBY TRICKLE WITH THE MURDER OF
HIS WIFE KRISTEN.
>> CERTAINLY THE INSURANCE MONEY
PROVIDES MOTIVE.
IN ADDITION BEING IN BED NEXT TO
YOUR HUSBAND NAKED, SHOOTING
ONE'S SELF IN THE FACE AFTER
HAVING SET ALARMS TO GET UP THE
NEXT DAY FOR WORK, AFTER SETTING
OUT CANDY FOR HALLOWEEN, THESE
CIRCUMSTANCES DON'T POINT TO A
WOMAN WHO WAS PLANNING A
SUICIDE.
>> STEP OUT OF THE CAR AND COME
TO THE BACK OF THE CAR WITH ME.
>> WHEN POLICE ARRESTED COLBY,
HE DIDN'T SEEM SURPRISED.
>> DETECTIVES HAVE SOME
QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
WOULD YOU TURN AROUND AND PUT
YOUR HANDS BEHIND YOUR BACK?
>> SURE.
>> AND DENIED KILLING KRISTEN.
>> I DIDN'T DO IT.
I KNOW MANY PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE
THAT AND I RESPECT THAT.
>> I BELIEVE HIM.
>> YOU DON'T BELIEVE THAT HE
WOULD SHOOT HIS WIFE.
>> I DO NOT.
>> CASSY ZEIGLER IS ONE OF COLBY
TRICKLE'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS.
>> HE CARES ABOUT HIS SPIRITUAL
LIFE.
HE'S A DEVOTED CHRISTIAN.
I DON'T SEE THAT IN HIM.
THIS ABILITY TO CONNIVE AND PLAN
ALL OF THIS.
>> SHE SAID KRISTEN HAD SUFFERED
FROM DEPRESSION SINCE CHILDHOOD.
>> I THINK THAT KRISTEN DEALT
WITH A LOT MORE PAIN IN HER LIFE
THAN PEOPLE ACKNOWLEDGED.
I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY WORSE
REJECTION IN LIFE THAN TO BE
REJECTED BY YOUR BIOLOGICAL
MOTHER.
AT AN EARLY AGE, THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT HAPPENED.
>> SHE FELT CONFIDENT GOING INTO
THE TRIAL THE CORONER WAS
STANDING BY HIS ASSESSMENT THAT
KRISTEN'S DEATH WAS A SUICIDE.
>> YOU HAD THE ABILITY, YOU HAD
THE POWER TO CHANGE THIS
DETERMINATION IF YOU WANTED TO
PRIOR TO TRIAL.
>> YES.
>> YOU COULD HAVE.
BUT YOU DIDN'T.
>> IF I MADE A DETERMINATION, AM
I GOING TO CHANGE IT TO HOMICIDE
BASED ON AN ACCUSATION BEFORE A
COURT PROCEEDING, NO.
>> SO COUNTY ATTORNEY ANDERSON
KNEW HE HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO
CONVINCE A JURY THAT KRISTEN
DIDN'T DIE BY SUICIDE.
THAT'S WHEN HE PURSUED A
DIFFERENT TYPE OF AUTOPSY.
A PSYCHOLOGICAL ONE.
AN AUTOPSY OF THE MIND.
AND TO CONDUCT IT, ANDERSON
HIRED A FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST,
DR. ASHLEY CHRISTIANSEN.
HER JOB, TO DETERMINE KRISTEN'S
STATE OF MIND LEADING UP TO HER
DEATH.
>>> BEING UNABLE TO SPEAK WITH
THEM BECAUSE THEY'RE, OF COURSE,
NO LONGER HERE, THEY HAVE TO
SPEAK WITH THEIR FAMILY, THEIR
FRIENDS, THEIR CO-WORKERS.
THEY REVIEW SOCIAL MEDIA,
DIARIES, JOURNALS, ANYTHING THEY
CAN.
>> CHRISTIANSEN'S CONCLUSIONS
WOULD EVENTUALLY TAKE CENTER
STAGE AT COLBY TRICKLE'S TRIAL.
IT WAS SEPTEMBER 2023.
AND PROSECUTORS CUNNINGHAM BEGAN
BY TELLING THE JURY THAT KRISTEN
TRICKLE WAS MURDERED FOR THE
OLDEST REASONS IN THE WORLD.
>> THIS CASE IS AS SIMPLE AS A,
B, C.
A, AN AFFAIR.
B, A BREAKDOWN IN CONTROL.
AND C, COLD HARD CASH.
>> COLBY'S ATTORNEY DISPUTED
THAT.
>> YOU MAY HAVE A SEAT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> CASSY ZEIGLER SAID COLBY'S
ALLEGED AFFAIR WAS REALLY JUST
AN ONLINE FLIRTATION.
>> I DON'T THINK THERE WAS A
PLAN TO HAVE THIS LONG-TERM
INTIMATE AFFAIR.
>> SHE ALSO DENIES THAT COLBY
PLOTTED TO KILL KRISTEN FOR
CASH.
AND ABOUT THE GOOGLE SEARCH INTO
THE LIFE INSURANCE PAYOUT?
SHE SAID COLBY DOESN'T REMEMBER
DOING THAT SEARCH.
BUT SHE ACKNOWLEDGES, HE HAD
BEEN FILLING OUT PAPERWORK
AROUND THAT TIME FOR HIS OWN
MILITARY LIFE INSURANCE.
AND IF HE DID DO IT, MAYBE
THAT'S WHY.
IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT
THIS IS HAPPENING DAYS BEFORE
HIS WIFE DIES?
>> UNFORTUNATELY SO.
YEAH.
BAD TIMING.
>> AT TRIAL, THE JURY LEARNED
THAT COLBY TRICKLE HAD NOT ONLY
COLLECTED MORE THAN $120,000
FROM TWO LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES
ON HIS WIFE, HE HAD ALREADY GONE
THROUGH IT.
>> I THINK HE HAD SPENT ALL THE
MONEY IN APPROXIMATELY EIGHT
MONTHS.
>> WHAT DID HE SPEND THE MONEY
ON?
WHEN DETECTIVE JB BURKHOLDER
TOOK THE STAND, HE WAS ASKED TO
DESCRIBE ONE EXPENDITURE IN
PARTICULAR.
>> $1,942 FOR TRUE TOUCH DOLLS.
WERE YOU ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT
THAT WAS?
>> THERE WAS A COMPANY THAT
MAKES AND MANUFACTURES AND
DISTRIBUTES LIFE-SIZE SEX DOLLS.
>> COLBY'S ATTORNEY SAID COLBY
WAS HAVING TROUBLE SLEEPING
ALONE AND WAS QUITE OPEN ABOUT
THE PURCHASE.
>> HE WENT AND TALKED TO HIS
MOTHER ABOUT IT.
IF YOU'RE GOING TO BUY A SEX
TOY, A GROWN MAN WON'T TALK TO
HIS MOTHER ABOUT THE SEX DOLL HE
WILL BUY.
>> WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION TOM?
>> DISGUSTED.
JUST DISGUSTED.
>> IT WAS DESCRIBED AT TRIAL
THAT HE NEEDED THIS DOLL FOR
COMFORT.
>> COMFORT AND WARMTH.
WE HAVE ELECTRIC BLANKETS THAT
WE USE FOR THAT.
>> WHEN BRAND RICE TOOK THE
STAND, HE WILL THE JURY THAT HIS
NIECE HAD BECOME MORE ASSERTIVE
IN HER RELATIONSHIP WITH HER
HUSBAND IN THE MONTHS BEFORE HER
DEATH.
>> SHE HAD REALLY BEGUN TO STAND
UP FOR HERSELF.
WE WERE PROUD OF HER FORM.
>> AND THERE WERE TEXTS AS
CUNNINGHAM THAT SEEMED TO
SUPPORT COLBY FEARED HE WAS
LOSING CONTROL OVER KRINGS.
ON APRIL 8th, 2019, WITH COLBY
TESTIFIED THAT SHE SEEMED
DIFFERENT AND PUSHY WITH THINGS,
SHE RESPONDED.
>> I'M JUST DECIDING TO STICK UP
FOR MYSELF JUST LIKE YOU, I'M
TAKING CONTROL OF THE SITUATION.
>> AND THEN PROSECUTORS CALLED
THEIR STAR WITNESS, DR. ASHLEY
CHRISTIANSEN.
>> AT THE TIME OF HER DEATH,
THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS
SUGGESTING THAT SHE HAD A LOT OF
HOPE.
>> IT WAS TESTIFIED THAT SHE
TALKED TO FAMILY MEMBERS ABOUT
FUTURE PLANS AND SEEMED
OPTIMISTIC.
>> SHE WANTED TO OPEN HER OWN
PET BOARDING OR DOG GROOMING
BUSINESS, AND DISCUSSED THE GOAL
OF OPENING THAT FOR BUSINESS.
>> SHE ALSO TESTIFIED THAT SHE
INTERVIEWED COLBY FOR THE REPORT
AND HE OFFERED WHAT SOUNDED LIKE
A REASON WHY KRISTEN MIGHT HAVE
BEEN STRESSED.
HE TOLD THE DOCTOR KRISTEN KNEW
ABOUT HIS ONLINE RELATIONSHIP
WITH THAT OTHER WOMAN.
>> HE REPORTED THAT THEY HAD
DISCUSSED THAT RELATIONSHIP THE
WEEK OF HER DEATH.
>> BUT REMEMBER, IN HIS POLICE
INTERVIEW, COLBY HAD TOLD
INVESTIGATORS THAT HE DIDN'T
THINK KRISTEN KNEW.
>> DID KRISTEN FIND OUT ABOUT
THAT RELATIONSHIP?
>> NOT THAT I KNOW OF.
>> DID SHE KNOW OR DIDN'T KNOW?
>> I BELIEVE SHE KNEW.
>> WHETHER OR NOT KRISTEN KNEW
DR. CHRISTIANSEN TOLD THE JURY,
SHE BELIEVED THAT AT THE TIME OF
HER DEATH, KRISTEN WAS AT A LOW
RISK FOR SUICIDE.
>> IT IS MY OPINION THAT IT IS
RELATIVELY LESS LIKELY THAT HER
DEATH WAS THE RESULT OF SUICIDE.
>> I LOVE THOSE WORDS.
RELATIVELY LESS LIKELY.
THAT DOESN'T TELL ME ANYTHING.
WE CAN'T KNOW THE MIND OF
SOMEONE WHO WILL END THEIR LIFE.
>> DEFENSE ATTORNEY ZEIGLER DOES
NOT THINK THE REPORT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN ALLOWED IN AS EVIDENCE.
SHE POINTS OUT THAT DR.
CHRISTIANSEN, WHO NEVER MET
KRISTEN TRICKLE, DID INTERVIEWS
AND PREPARED A REPORT NEARLY TWO
YEARS AFTER KRISTEN'S DEATH, AND
ZEIGLER BELIEVES PEOPLE'S
MEMORIES CHANGE OVER TIME.
>> THAT IS A LONG TIME TO GO
BACK AND TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT
KRISTEN.
>> BUT PROSECUTORS THOUGHT THERE
WAS ANOTHER PIECE OF EVIDENCE
THAT COULD BRING THEM A GUILTY
VERDICT.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE MOST
POWERFUL EVIDENCE AGAINST COLBY
TRICKLE?
CHAT NOW
>>> NEARLY FOUR YEARS HAVE
PASSED SINCE KRISTEN TRICKLE
DIALED FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO
HER HEAD.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE LAST
FOUR YEARS?
>> HELLISH.
>> ON SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2023, IT
WAS COLBY TRICKLE'S LAST CHANCE
TO CONVINCE A JURY THAT HE HAD
NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS WIFE'S
DEATH.
HE DECIDED NOT TO TESTIFY, BUT
HIS ATTORNEY CASSY ZEIGLER
CALLED HIS MOTHER TINA KREUTZER
TO THE STAND.
>> IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT
KRISTEN WAS PRETTY RESERVED WHEN
YOU MET HER?
>> YEAH.
VERY TO HERSELF.
>> SHE DESCRIBED HER
DAUGHTER-IN-LAW AS A WOMAN WHO
RARELY REVEALED HER FEELINGS.
>> COULDN'T READ HER.
VERY EMOTIONLESS.
>> IT'S A DRASTICALLY DIFFERENT
KRISTEN, SAYS ATTORNEY ZEIGLER,
THAN THE ONE HER FAMILY
DESCRIBES.
>> BY THEIR EXPLANATION, JUST
THE HAPPIEST, MOST JOYFUL
PERSON.
NEVER STOPS SMILING.
SHE IS ALMOST WALKING ON WATER.
WHEN THE REALITY IS WE HAVE NO
IDEA HOW SHE'S REALLY FEELING.
NOW YOU FIND OUT HE'S HAVING AN
EMOTIONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH
SOMEONE ELSE ONLINE.
I JUST, I CAN IMAGINE THAT BEING
THE LAST STRAW.
>> BUT IN HIS FINAL ARGUMENT TO
THE JURORS, PROSECUTOR AARON
CUNNINGHAM SHOWS THEM THE WEAPON
THAT KILLS KRISTEN AND SAYS, SHE
COULDN'T HAVE FIRED IT.
>> MEMBERS OF THE JURY, THIS
DOESN'T ADD UP.
THE STATE IS GOING TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT.
>> Reporter: PROSECUTOR
CUNNINGHAM SHOWED US WITH A
SIMILAR GUN.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE AUTOPSY
PHOTOS, YOU SEE A LITTLE DIVOT
AT THE 3:00 MARK WHICH IS
BELIEVED BY THE CORONER TO BE IS
SITE IMPRINT OF THE GUN.
>> I SEE THAT.
>> I KNEW KRISTEN WAS
RIGHT-HANDED.
THE NATURAL WAY A RIGHT-HANDED
PERSON WOULD HOLD A GUN TO THEIR
HEAD FOR SUICIDE WOULD BE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS OR MAYBE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
PUTTING THE SIGHT MARK SOMEWHERE
BETWEEN 9:00 AND 6:00.
SO FOR THE SIGHT MARK TO HAVE
WOUND UP :00 ANGLE WOULD BE
VERY UNNATURAL.
>> HE SHOWS US HOE HE BELIEVES
COLBY TRICKLE SHOT HIS WIFE
WHILE SHE SLEPT NEXT TO HIM.
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN CONSISTENT
WITH THE SIGHT MARK THAT HE
WOULD HAVE GRABBED THE GUN FROM
HIS NIGHT STAND, ROLLED OVER IN
GUN AND PLACED THE GUN JUST
UNDER HER CHIN AND PULLED THE
TRIGGER.
>> IF YOU KEEP IT HERE, THEN
THIS WOULD EXPLAIN WHAT APPEARS
ON HER NECK HERE.
>> AS THE CASE WENT TO THE JURY,
ZEIGLER HAD HOPED THAT THEY
WOULD STILL HAVE TOO MANY
DOUBTS.
HOW SIGNIFICANT IS IT, THE FACT
THAT THE CORONER WENT TO TRIAL
STILL SAYING IT WAS A SUICIDE
WHEN THE PROSECUTORS ARE SAYING
IT'S A HOMICIDE?
>> IT'S HUGE.
WE HAVE TO SHOW DOUBT THAT'S
REASONABLE.
AND I THINK THERE'S PLENTY OF
THAT.
>> THAT'S WHAT KRISTEN'S FAMILY
FEARED AS WELL.
>> ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS
CONVINCE ONE OF THOSE 12 THAT
THEY HAVE A REASONABLE DOUBT.
WHAT DO WE DO IF HE WALKS OUT A
FREE MAN?
>> THEY DON'T HAVE TO WAIT LONG.
LESS THAN TWO HOURS LATER, THERE
WAS A VERDICT.
>> COUNT ONE.
WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT
GUILTY OF PREMEDITATED MURDER IN
THE FIRST DEGREE OF KRISTEN
TRICKLE.
>> COLBY TRICKLE WAS FOUND
GUILTY FOR FIRST DEGREE
PREMEDITATED MURDER AND
INTERFERENCE WITH LAW
ENFORCEMENT, FALSELY REPORTING
INFORMATION.
>> WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER OF THE
VERDICT?
WHAT DID YOU HEAR?
>> JUST FEELING LIKE I COULD
BREATHE.
>> YEAH.
JUST THE FEELING OF BREATH.
>> THE RELIEF OF SAFETY FOR OUR
FAMILY.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE GOT OUR LIFE
BACK.
>> YEAH.
>> AFTER THE VERDICT WE SPOKE
WITH CORONER LYLE NOORDHOEK WHO
SAID HE PLANNED TO AMEND THE
DEATH CERTIFICATE TO NOW READ
"HOMICIDE."
HE ADMITTED HE HAD DECIDED ON
SUICIDE BEFORE TALKING TO ANYONE
IN KRISTEN'S FAMILY OR SEEING
THE WEAPON USED TO KILL HER.
>> I'M A LITTLE SURPRISED.
WOULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN
IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE SIZE OF
THE WEAPON TO MAKE YOUR DEATH
INVESTIGATION DETERMINATION?
>> THE POLICE SHOULD HAVE ALL
THAT INFORMATION.
AND IT IS USUALLY CORRELATED
WITH THE PATHOLOGIST BUT WASN'T
IN THIS CASE.
>> THE FACT THAT HE HAD DONE
RESEARCH ON INSURANCE.
WERE YOU AWARE OF THAT?
>> NO.
>> WERE YOU AWARE THAT THEY
FOUND EVIDENCE THAT HE WAS
HAVING AN ONLINE AFFAIR?
>> NO.
THEY DIDN'T SHARE THAT WITH ME
EITHER.
>> IF YOU HAD KNOWN THAT, WOULD
YOU HAVE LEFT THAT AS SUICIDE?
>> NO.
>> INVESTIGATORS ACKNOWLEDGE
THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE A BETTER
JOB KEEPING HIM INFORMED.
ON NOVEMBER 20th, 2023, COLBY
TRICKLE RETURNED TO COURT FOR
SENTENCING.
ADMITTING ONLY THAT HE COULD
HAVE BEEN A BETTER HUSBAND.
>> SOMETHING I CANNOT APOLOGIZE
FOR IS HARMING KRISTEN.
I CANNOT APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT I
DIDN'T DO.
REGARDLESS OF THAT FACT, I STILL
TAKE PARTIAL BLAME FOR THAT
MORNING.
I WILL ALWAYS WONDER IF SHE
WOULD STILL BE HERE IF I HAD
BEEN A BETTER HUSBAND.
>> THE JUDGE SENTENCED COLBY
TRICKLE.
>> THE COURT SENTENCES YOU TO
LIFE IN PRISON WITH NO
POSSIBILITY OF PAROLE FOR 50
YEARS.
>> WITH COLBY TRICKLE IN PRISON,
THE RICES SAY THEIR FAMILY IS
FINALLY BEGINNING TO GRIEVE THE
YOUNG WOMAN GONE WAY TOO SOON.
* SOMETIMES I THINK ABOUT -- *
>> KRISTEN'S COUSIN CHLOE WHO
GREW UP WITH KRISTEN WROTE A
SONG FOR HER.
* WE NEVER SAY GOODBYE *
>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK ABOUT
KRISTEN?
>> ALL THE TIME.
EVERY DAY.
>> EVERY DAY.
WE DRIVE BY THAT LITTLE HOUSE.
>> THE HOUSE WHERE KRISTEN ONE
DAY HOPED TO START HER DREAM
BUSINESS.
>> YOU CALL IT KRISTEN'S HOUSE,
DON'T YOU?
>> YEAH.
>> SHE HAD A FUTURE.
SHE HAD FOUND HER FAITH AGAIN.
>> WHEN YOU WERE WITH HER, YOU
FELT LOVED.
A BEAUTIFUL HEART.
A GENTLE, GENTLE SPIRIT.
SHE WAS JUST AN AMAZING GIRL.
>> I NEVER HAD THE CHANCE AND
NOW I'M TELLING YOU GOODBYE *
>>> A WELL-KNOWN RESPECTED
DETECTIVE, HIS WIFE WAS SHOT
DEAD.
>> HE'S A SUSPECT BUT THE
PROSECUTION HAS A PROBLEM.
>> THE FAMILY OF A VICTIM
STICKING UP FOR THE ACCUSED
MURDERER OF THEIR LOVED ONE.
>> HE COULDN'T HAVE KILLED HER.
COULD HE?