Missing on Thanksgiving: The Murder of Kelsey Berreth

Posted by Trin | Case Files | Missing Persons | Colorado | November 2018

Introduction

Thanksgiving is supposed to be a time of warmth, gratitude, and family. But for 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth, it was the last day anyone saw her alive. She vanished after a trip to the grocery store—her baby girl still in her care, her car in her driveway, her purse at home.

What followed was a chilling unraveling: deceit, betrayal, and a murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by someone she should’ve been able to trust—her fiancé, Patrick Frazee.

Kelsey’s case is a haunting example of how intimate partner violence can be hidden behind polite smiles and everyday errands. And how a mother’s life can be stolen in silence.

Case Background

Kelsey Berreth was a young flight instructor living in Woodland Park, Colorado. She was a devoted mother to a one-year-old daughter and engaged to Patrick Frazee, the baby’s father. To outsiders, their relationship appeared stable—split custody, separate homes, cooperative parenting.

But in reality, their relationship was crumbling. Frazee had a controlling streak, a short temper, and another woman—Krystal Lee Kenney, a nurse from Idaho he had been secretly involved with. Kelsey, ever composed and soft-spoken, kept her private life to herself. But those close to her saw red flags. He limited her autonomy, questioned her decisions, and played mind games masked as parenting disputes.

As Kelsey tried to navigate co-parenting, Frazee was making other plans. Dangerous ones. Plans that would end with her death.

Timeline of Key Events

  • November 22, 2018 (Thanksgiving): Kelsey is last seen at a Safeway grocery store with her daughter. Surveillance footage confirms this. Frazee claims he saw her later that day when they exchanged the baby.
  • November 25: Kelsey's phone pings in Idaho, where Krystal Kenney lives. Her employer receives a strange text saying she won’t be in. Her family grows suspicious and reports her missing.
  • December 2: Police search her townhome. Her purse, makeup, and belongings are all there. Her car is parked outside. There are no signs of forced entry—but blood is later found under bathroom floorboards and on a mop.
  • December 21: Patrick Frazee is arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He never reports her missing. Never helps search. Never shows concern.
  • 2019–2020: Krystal Kenney admits to cleaning up the murder scene at Frazee’s direction. She testifies that he beat Kelsey to death with a baseball bat while their daughter was nearby and then burned her body on his ranch.
  • November 2019: Frazee is convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Red Flags & Missed Opportunities

  • Frazee was known for being manipulative and possessive—but few people saw the full extent.
  • Kenney said he had tried to get her to kill Kelsey multiple times before doing it himself.
  • There was no formal custody arrangement or legal documentation to alert courts to potential risk.
  • Kelsey didn’t have protective orders in place—she may not have realized she needed them.

Why didn’t more people see it? Could anyone have stopped him? How does someone plan a murder while smiling across a custody exchange?

Media & Documentary Coverage

  • 48 Hours: “Justice for Kelsey Berreth” – This episode walks through the investigation, with interviews from law enforcement and Kelsey’s loved ones. It’s especially heartbreaking to hear from her mother.
  • Dateline NBC – Their coverage focused on Krystal’s disturbing role and Frazee’s manipulation. The emotional disconnect in his behavior is chilling.
  • On the Case with Paula Zahn – The episode dives into the forensic trail—highlighting just how meticulously Frazee tried to erase what he’d done, and how science and persistence brought truth to light.

A Mom’s Reflection

This case strikes something raw. Because I’ve been that mom juggling groceries and a toddler on a holiday. That mom trying to make co-parenting work. That mom who puts on the brave face, keeps the peace, and just wants a safe life for her child.

Kelsey did everything “right.” She kept communication open. She didn’t rush into court battles. She tried to protect her daughter from drama. And she paid for it with her life.

As a mom, I can’t help but wonder—what if she’d told one more friend? Filed one more paper? Trusted one more instinct? But I also know the pressure we feel not to rock the boat. To be polite. To stay agreeable. Especially around holidays. Especially when kids are involved.

Lessons We Can’t Ignore

  • Control doesn’t always scream—it often whispers.
  • When someone downplays their concern, lean in. Don’t dismiss it.
  • “Being civil” in co-parenting doesn’t mean you’re safe.
  • More education and resources are needed for moms navigating custody without court intervention.

Final Words

Kelsey Berreth was more than a victim. She was a daughter, a mother, a pilot, a woman building her life. Her name deserves to be remembered not for how it ended—but for who she was and the awareness her case still brings.

We honor her by listening to other women. Believing their instincts. And fighting for systems that don’t wait until it’s too late.

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