NEW DELHI: On the morning of Halloween in 2019, Colby Trickle, a resident of Hays, Kansas, referred to as 911 to report that his spouse, Kristen Trickle, aged 26, had shot herself of their house. Sergeant Brandon Hauptman from the Hays Police Division responded to the decision and, after talking with Colby Trickle and inspecting the scene, grew to become suspicious of Colby’s involvement in his spouse’s dying. Nonetheless, three days later, the coroner, Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, decided Kristen Trickle’s dying to be a suicide, permitting Colby Trickle to proceed together with his life. Regardless of this, investigators continued of their investigation of the case, reported CBS Information.Colby Trickle, a member of the Military Reserve, obtained payouts from two life insurance coverage insurance policies for his spouse, totaling over $120,000. Investigators found that he spent practically $2,000 on a life-size intercourse doll simply two days after receiving the insurance coverage cash. Detective Joshua “JB” Burkholder expressed his concern to ’48 Hours’ correspondent Erin Moriarty, saying, “There is a mourning course of that I feel everybody must undergo — ought to undergo when a cherished one dies and to have him ordering the sort of doll simply months after his spouse’s dying was regarding.”Delynn Rice, Kristen Trickle’s aunt, was appalled upon studying concerning the intercourse doll buy, telling Moriarty, “I used to be simply appalled that he would use Kristen’s life insurance coverage cash for a intercourse doll. It simply was like he purchased a alternative of her together with her cash.” In response to Assistant Ellis County Lawyer Aaron Cunningham, Colby Trickle spent your complete $120,000 insurance coverage payout inside roughly eight months, not solely on the life-size intercourse doll but in addition on video video games, debt reimbursement, and music gear to pursue his aspirations of changing into a performer.Colby Trickle remained free for practically two years as investigators constructed a case in opposition to him. Sergeant Hauptman shared his observations about Colby Trickle’s habits instantly after reporting Kristen Trickle’s self-inflicted gunshot wound. Though Colby gave the impression to be grieving, Hauptman famous uncommon features of the scene, comparable to Kristen being discovered sporting solely underwear and the gun seeming too giant for her to have used. Hauptman additionally talked about that whereas it does happen, it’s unusual for ladies to finish a suicide that ends in facial accidents.One other suspicious element for the police was Kristen Trickle’s cellphone alarm, which saved going off on the scene that morning. Burkholder recalled silencing it, stating, “She had set an alarm to rise up, to prepare for work, and had plans for that day. Lots of instances, people who’re fascinated about suicide and do commit suicide, they have no plans for the day. They don’t seem to be setting alarms. It does not matter after they rise up.” Colby Trickle willingly spoke with investigators on a number of events with out authorized illustration, sharing detailed accounts of his alleged navy intelligence work and deployments to the Center East and Central America. Nonetheless, when investigators inquired with the navy, they have been knowledgeable that Colby Trickle had by no means been deployed abroad or exterior the nation. These lies, mixed with the inconsistencies on the scene, heightened investigators’ suspicions about Colby Trickle’s model of occasions surrounding Kristen Trickle’s dying.On July 14, 2021, 21 months after Kristen Trickle’s dying, Colby Trickle was charged with first-degree homicide and interfering with legislation enforcement. Throughout his trial in September 2023, prosecutors offered proof of Colby Trickle’s intercourse doll buy to the jury. Tina Kreutzer, Colby Trickle’s mom, testified as a protection witness, claiming that her son was experiencing nightmares and sleep difficulties following his spouse’s dying and that the doll was supposed for heat and luxury somewhat than sexual functions.Brant Rice, Kristen Trickle’s uncle, expressed his disgust.
