Police have ended a two-month search at a Colorado landfill for the remains of Kelsey Berreth, who has not been seen since Thanksgiving and is believed to be dead. Authorities began searching the Midway Landfill in Fountain Colorado (32 Miles SE of Woodland Park), on Feb. 26 for evidence or remains of the missing mother. The search was called off Wednesday.
"Her remains have not been found, nor has any evidence relating to her death," the Woodland Park Police Department said in a statement.
Berreth, Berreth, a longtime Warden resident who attended flight school at Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake was last seen on a neighbor's surveillance camera with her year-old daughter Kaylee, and her fiancé, Patrick Frazee outside of her home on Nov. 22, police stated. Earlier that day, she was seen shopping with her daughter at a Safeway in Woodland Park, Colorado. She wasn't reported missing until Dec. 2 by her mother.
Prosecutors believe Frazee, 32, beat Berreth to death with a base bat after failing to persuade the woman he was having an affair with to carry out the killing. Investigators say that after the murder, Frazee convinced his mistress, Krystal Jean Lee Kenney, to clean the crime scene before he burned Berreth's body. Kenney told police that Frazee planned to dump the remains in a landfill or a river.
Frazee, who is Kaylee's father, was areested and later charged in December with two counts of murder and three counts of solicitation to commit murder. In February, prosecutors announced additional charges including tampering with a deceased body.
Woodland Park Police will continue to investigate and are "committed to bringing justice to Kelsey's family," the department said.
Woodland Park Police Chief Miles De Young said Wednesday that not locating evidence or Berreth's remains at the landfill was not the "outcome that we hoped for."
Timeline of Kelsey Berreth murder case
Timeline of Kelsey Berreth murder case (By The Gazzet)
Nov. 22: Surveillance video shows Woodland Park resident Kelsey Berreth shopping at local Safeway with her year-old daughter, marking last known time she is seen publicly.
Dec. 2: Cheryl Berreth, Kelsey’s mother, reports her daughter as missing to Woodland Park Police, who do a welfare check on her townhome and find it empty. But her makeup bag, two vehicles, suitcases and other items, including baked cinnamon rolls in the kitchen, remain.
Dec. 10: At a press conference, police announce a nationwide search for Kelsey Berreth as a missing person. Authorities say Kelsey’s cell phone pinged a tower in Gooding, Idaho, on Nov. 25, and sent text messages to her employer, saying she would be gone the week after Thanksgiving, and an unknown message to Patrick Frazee, her fiancé.
Dec. 12: Lawyer for Frazee says he’s submitted DNA swabs and turned over his cell phone to police.
Dec. 13: Community candlelight vigil held in Woodland Park, praying for Kelsey’s safe return.
Dec. 14: Investigators search Frazee’s 35-acre ranch in Florissant, including using backhoes.
Dec. 21: Police arrest Frazee and book him without bond into the Teller County jail, on suspicion of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder, saying they believe Berreth was killed in her townhome but not releasing what evidence they have. Police reports and affidavits are sealed.
Dec. 31: Frazee is formally charged in court in Cripple Creek with five felonies: two first-degree murder counts alleging intent and after deliberation, and alleging death during a robbery. He also faces three counts of solicitation to commit murder.
Jan. 2: Authorities in Idaho say they are investigating the connection of a 32-year-old Hansen, Idaho, nurse in possibly disposing of Kelsey’s missing cell phone.
Jan. 3: Fourth Judicial District Court judge grants Kelsey’s parents temporary custody of the couple’s 1-year-old daughter, whom Frazee had been caring for before his arrest. Frazee’s mother also is fighting for custody.
Jan. 4: Kelsey’s parents file a wrongful death civil lawsuit against Frazee in U.S. District Court in Denver.
Jan. 8: A Twin Falls, Idaho, couple claim they spoke with the FBI about one of their employees telling them in October that a friend of hers was being threatened to take part in a murder plot, allegedly referring to Frazee.
Feb. 19: Frazee is due for a preliminary hearing at the Cripple Creek courthouse, when he’s expected to enter a plea.
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