NEW DELHI: On the day of Halloween in 2019, Colby Trickle, a native of Hays, Kansas, called 911 to report that his wife, Kristen Trickle, aged 26, had shot herself in their house. Lieutenant Brandon Hauptman from the Hays Police Department arrived on the scene and spoke with Colby Trickle and examined the picture before becoming dubious of Colby’s presence in his wife’s death.
However, three days later, the prosecutor, Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, determined Kristen Trickle’s dying to be a murder, allowing Colby Trickle to proceed with his life. Despite this, CBS News reported that prosecutors persisted in their investigation into the situation.
Colby Trickle, a part of the Army Reserve, received payments from two life insurance policies for his family, totaling over$ 120, 000. Only two days after receiving the comprehensive money, researchers discovered that he spent almost$ 2, 000 on a life-size sex mannequin. Investigator Joshua “JB” Burkholder” expressed concern for “48 Hours” editor Erin Moriarty, saying,” There’s a mourning procedure that everyone needs to go through — should go through when a loved one dies, and to have him order this type of figurine just weeks after his wife’s death was concerning.”
Delynn Rice, Kristen Trickle’s uncle, was appalled upon learning about the sexual doll order, telling Moriarty,” I was really appalled that he would employ Kristen’s life insurance cash for a sex doll. He simply assumed that he had used her money to buy her a successor. In order to pursue his dreams of becoming a actor, Assistant Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham estimated that Colby Trickle spent the entire$ 120, 000 insurance payment on the life-size sexual doll as well as on video games, bill payment, and music equipment in less than eight months.
Colby Trickle remained unharmed for almost two years as a result of an investigation into his crimes. Sergeant Hauptman immediately made observations about Colby Trickle’s behavior after learning about Kristen Trickle’s self-inflicted gunshot wound. Although Colby appeared to be grieving, Hauptman noticed peculiar details of the scene, such as Kristen’s finding herself wearing only underwear and the gun she appeared to have used.
Hauptman also noted that while suicide can occur, it’s not uncommon for women to end their lives by inflicting facial injuries.
Kristen Trickle’s phone alarm, which kept going off at the scene that morning, was another suspicious detail for the police. Burkholder recalled silencing it, stating,” She had set an alarm to get up, to get ready for work, and had plans for that day. People who are contemplating suicide and actually commit suicide often do n’t have any day plans. They’re not setting alarms. It does n’t matter when they get up”.
Colby Trickle willingly shared detailed accounts of his alleged military intelligence work and trips to the Middle East and Central America with investigators on numerous occasions without legal counsel. However, when Colby Trickle was questioned by investigators with the military, they were informed that he had never been deployed abroad or outside the country. These lies, combined with the inconsistencies at the scene, heightened investigators ‘ suspicions about Colby Trickle’s version of events surrounding Kristen Trickle’s death.
On July 14, 2021, 21 months after Kristen Trickle’s death, Colby Trickle was charged with first- degree murder and interfering with law enforcement. During his trial in September 2023, the prosecution presented Colby Trickle’s sex doll sales to the jury with evidence.
As a defense witness, Tina Kreutzer, Colby Trickle’s mother, claimed that her son was having nightmares and sleeping difficulties after his wife’s passing and that the doll was meant to be comfort and warmth rather than for sexual purposes.
Brant Rice, Kristen Trickle’s uncle, expressed his disgust.
