'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kristen Trickle's murder has captured the attention of many. She was found dead in her house in Hays, Kansas. While it initially seemed like suicide, a darker truth came to be known later. She was murdered by her husband, Colby Trickle, who was eventually convicted of the crime.
The case of Kristen’s murder was featured on CBS’s 48 Hours in an episode titled Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind. Here are five key aspects of this tragic case, which delve into the complexity and horror of what befell Kristen Trickle.
5 shocking details about Kristen Trickle's murder
1) The crime scene
When police visited the Trickle residence, Kristen was wearing only her undergarments and had a gunshot wound under her chin. For the investigators, this was peculiar for a suicide case in women as they don't often opt for a violent way of committing such an act. Furthermore, the used gun was too big for Kristen to hold so comfortably.
Trending
Such inconsistencies immediately aroused the suspicion of investigators. Her body position plus the lack of defensive wounds suggested that she was potentially disabled before that shot that killed her. Blood spatter analysis further established that it was shot from a distance, thus violating the initial suicide theory.
2) Psychological autopsy
One of the most distinct features of this case is the use of a psychological autopsy. This is the approach used to try to understand Kristen's mindset before she died. It involved carrying out several interviews with friends, family members, and colleagues in an attempt to rebuild her mindset.
The results showed the opposite of the confirmed suicide verdict, which meant that Kristen Trickle was never suicidal at all. Her friends and family were informed that Kristen was a cheerful, optimistic person with no history of depression or suicidal tendencies.
3) Motive of money
Colby Trickle's financial dealings post Kristen's death were suspiciously high. Within weeks of Kristen Trickle's death, he received the two life insurance policies worth around $120,000 in total. He used this to finance his expenditures including a life-size sex doll, gaming systems, and musical equipment. All of this seemed to indicate that he had a motive for the murder.
Further study of the books of Colby revealed that he had amassed a huge debt. He had utilized all his credit cards fully and was falling behind in mortgage payments. The life insurance pay-out saved him for the time, but the reckless spending indicated his lack of long-term planning and perhaps even motive for committing such a murder.
4) Physical evidence
Forensic examination has been the frontline tool for the ascertainment of truth. The gunshot wound trajectory did not favor a self-inflicted injury. There were no residues of gunpowder on Kristen Trickle's hands which are usually apparent when the shooter has fired the gun herself. All these findings pointed towards the crime and the possibility that it was indeed a foul play and not a suicide case.
Also, some traces of a sedative were found in Kristen Trickle's body that indicated there was a possibility of her having been tranquilized before she was killed. This suggested that it was possible that she was incapacitated and could not help herself. This sedative combined with the absence of gunpowder particles inferred that another person had fired the fatal shot from the gun.
5) Colby’s behavior
Another indication of foul play was Colby's questionable behavior after Kristen Trickle's death. He appeared to be mourning, yet his behavior was inconsistent. In the initial stages, he was cooperative with the police but later portrayed himself as guilty and nervous. His sudden spending of the insurance money and efforts at starting a new life led to further investigation on him.
Witnesses reported that Colby seemed unusually calm and detached during Kristen’s funeral. He also reportedly made some inappropriate remarks about his need to move on and start anew. These acts, combined with the financial evidence and forensic findings, had portrayed Colby in a highly damning light regarding his role in Kristen's death.
The episode Kristen Trickle: Autopsy of the Mind re-aired on October 6, 2024, on the Investigation Discovery (ID) channel.
