Sergeant Brandon Hauptman of the Hays Police Department arrived at Kristen Trickle’s home on a dark, cold Halloween morning and found her near death in bed with a revolver across her abdomen. Kristen was almost fully undressed, wearing only underwear. After showing signs of life, the sergeant quickly moved the firearm away from her and performed CPR. However, there was no saving Kristen, and she was pronounced dead at the scene. Kristen’s husband, Colby Trickle, claimed that he woke up to find his wife with a gunshot wound to her head.
Colby Trickle told investigators that he called 911 and attempted to check Kristen’s pulse before picking up the revolver. He admitted considering ending his own life but reconsidered when help was on the way. Kristen’s family and friends were shocked by the suicide ruling due to her happy demeanor and plans for the future. They raised concerns about Colby’s controlling behavior, and suspicions arose when inconsistencies in his statements surfaced. Despite these red flags, Colby was not arrested immediately after Kristen’s death.
As the investigation progressed, Colby was found to have exchanged flirtatious messages with another woman and Googled the life insurance policy payout for Kristen. He was ultimately charged with murder and interfering with law enforcement after almost two years. The trial revealed that Colby had collected insurance payouts and spent the money in a short period, including purchases of questionable items. Although his defense team claimed Kristen’s suicide was possible due to her depression, the prosecution argued that Colby shot her while she slept, leading to the guilty verdict.
Coroner Lyle Noordhoek initially ruled Kristen’s death a suicide but later amended the death certificate to homicide after additional evidence came to light. Colby did not testify at the trial and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for 50 years. Kristen’s family continues to mourn her loss and cherish her memory, remembering her as a loving and gentle person with a bright future ahead. The case serves as a somber reminder of the impact of domestic violence and the importance of seeking help in such situations.
