Month: November 2019

Kelsey’s Brother Clint Testifies and NINE other witnesses – PATRICK FRAZEE TRIAL DAY 2

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On Trial Day 2 Frazee is in court neatly dressed in a crisp, blue-striped shirt. In criminal cases appearances matter. Impressions count just as they do for those wishing to get away with murder.

Before Kelsey’s brother Clint testifies, Cheryl finishes her testimony. She mentions financial troubles. Another parallel with the Watts case.

She mentions a strained relationship with her future in-laws. Another parallel.

And the winter sunlight streaming into the condo gleamed silver over what appeared to be wipe-trails.

The Judge continues to enforce strict protocols. Only the media may cover the trial in court.

When Clint testifies, he refers to finding blood in the bathroom.

 

Like his mother, Clint’s testimony regarding his sister is emotional, in stark contrast to the defendant.

Clint also remarks on financial rumblings, including a squabble over his [Frazee’s] father’s inheritance.

One thing Clint noticed that stood out – that didn’t look right – was a broom on Kelsey’s bed. The equivalent of the sheets stripped off the bed, or thrown in the trash, in the Watts case.

After Clint’s testimony, Kelsey’s work supervisor is called to the stand.

What was Frazee doing with Kelsey’s gun? Meanwhile, like Chris Watts, Frazee told others of relationship problems, whereas Kelsey Berreth hadn’t mentioned this to anyone.

The Woodland cop on the stand is Corporal Dena Currin. A 15 minute body camera recording is played in court. According to the Denver Post:

“We basically had a heart to heart that this wasn’t working out, that she wanted to go our separate ways,” Frazee told Corporal Dena Currin on Dec. 2.

Many people following the Chris Watts case have wondered how he thought he could get away with it, and carry on with his life as usual. The Patrick Frazee case provides a possible scenario for how one might act, or pretend, following a crime.

The defense will do their damnedest to argue a botched investigation, contamination and a compromised crime scene.

The trial is expected to last 3 weeks.

Intertextualities with the Watts Case:

1. Both cases involve plea deals.

2. Neighbor’s surveillance data while not conclusive, nevertheless compelling and damning.

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Differences with the Watts Case:

1. Friends knew about the plot to murder Kelsey – not only Krystal Kenney, who was in on the plot allegedly for three months or more, but also Michelle Stein who knew about the plot for a month, and did not come forward during this time, nor immediately following Kelsey’s disappearance.

2. Motive had likely more to do with issues of child custody than alimony [see below].

Further reading:

December 5th:

Bank manager: Patrick Frazee asked for surveillance video of himself from day Kelsey Berreth was last seen – 9News

December 11th:

Woodland Park Verizon store employee describes interaction with Frazee on Dec. 11 – KOAA

Kelsey Berreth’s mother, brother testify of finding blood, other clues – The Gazette

Kelsey Berreth murder case: Officer says Patrick Frazee’s seeming lack of concern for missing fiancée stood out – Denver Post

Kelsey Berreth Murder Trial: Patrick Frazee Showed Lack of Concern for Missing Fiancée, Officer Testifies – The Daily BeastCHILD-CUSTODY

Kelsey Berreth’s parents maintain physical custody of murder suspect Patrick Frazee’s 1-year-old daughter – Denver Post

Killer fiance Patrick Frazee almost lost custody of daughter after delivery-room tirade – Daily Mail

Kelsey’s Mother Cheryl Describes “Growing Panic” as days passed with no sign of her daughter – PATRICK FRAZEE TRIAL DAY 1

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The criminal trial of Patrick Frazee, ex-fiance of 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth, finally kicked off on Friday November 1st, 2019. It has taken 11 long months to get this case to trial after Kelsey was last seen [at a grocery store with her daughter] on November 22nd, 2018.

The jury [excluding alternates] comprises 7 women and 5 men. Interestingly, 1 out of 14 people in Teller county received a summons for this particular trial.

https://twitter.com/JamieTexasChick/status/1190402603265470469

Bizarrely, the control over the coverage of this case has been extreme to say the least.

The prosecution came out swinging, using emotion and arguably their strongest evidence – surveillance stills and cell phone data – to sketch Frazee as a deceitful dissembler, and worse.

The opening statements of the Frazee trial zeroed in on Frazee’s mistress Krystal Kenney. Small blood spots “left behind by Kenney” at the crime scene are highlighted.

“This face, this man, is a murderer.”

After an hour of openings, the first witness called by the prosecution was Cheryl Berreth, Kelsey’s mother.

More: “She was a great mom” – 9News

Cheryl Berreth’s testimony is emotional. She points out Patrick Frazee in court. He meets her eyes, staring blankly back at Kelsey’s mother.

On the morning of the alleged murder, Kelsey made cinnamon rolls “hard as rocks”. But something didn’t look right about the homely scene. On second thoughts, a lot of things didn’t feel right.

Cheryl felt a growing panic after days passed with no word from her daughter. This prompted her to head to the Woodland park Condo herself to investigate.

Additional Information:

1. Prosecutor:  Jennifer Viehman

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2. Defense attorneys:

Ashley Porter

Adam Stiegerwald

Murder suspect Patrick Frazee to get new attorney – KRDO

Early parallels to the Watts case:

1. Alleged involvement of a mistress.

2. Incongruous luggage, and the idea of someone leaving, while leaving their luggage behind.

3. Cheryl arriving at scene analogous to Nickole Atkinson’s investigation – but critically delayed by 11 days.

4. Kelsey Berreth’s cars were both in the driveway [just as Shan’ann’s vehicle was in the garage]. Kelsey Berreth’s keys were missing, however. [Shan’ann’s keys were left on the center console].

5. Poor relationship between Kelsey and Frazee family [echoes Shan’ann’s relationship, or lack of with the Watts in-laws].

6. Period of physical separation predating murder.

7. Kelsey started working less after her daughter developed mineral deficiency.

8. Frazee claimed he’d broken up with Kelsey on the day she disappeared. Chris Watts also claimed he and Shan’ann were in the process of separating on the day Shan’ann disappeared.

Differences:

1. Frazee “painted a picture” of Kelsey as a bad mom, abusive and an alcoholic. We can’t be certain what sort of picture Watts painted to Kessinger about Shan’ann, but Kessinger knew Shan’ann was a spendthrift and a controlling figure.

He said SHANANN spends most of the money. He was frustrated SHANANN had bad spending habits. – Discovery Documents, page 571

2. Frazee allegedly asked his mistress to assist in the murder and/or clean-up.

3. Kelsey allegedly killed violently, sadistically in the day.

4. “What they did not tell you is that Krystal did not go to police voluntarily. They had to track her down.” – Ashley Porter, referring to Frazee’s mistress

5. No human remains found in the Frazee case.

Further reading:

Attorney explains Patrick Frazee’s planned defense for murder trial – KOAA

Patrick Frazee’s attorneys to shift blame to ex-girlfriend in Kelsey Berreth’s killing, filing says – The Denver Channel

Berreths seek justice; Frazee supporters optimistic ahead of trial – KOAA

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