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
2. Defense attorneys:
Ashley Porter
Adam Stiegerwald
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
True Crime Rocket Science II 