TELLER COUNTY – An Idaho woman admitted her role in the disappearance of Kelsey Berreth, during a court appearance Friday–agreeing to testify against Patrick Frazee, as part of a plea deal.
32-year-old Krystal Kenney pleaded guilty to one count of tampering with physical evidence, a Class 6 felony.
She read a short statement to the judge, while visibly upset:
“I learned that Patrick Frazee had committed a homicide on approximately November 22nd, 2018 in Teller County. I knew that law enforcement would be investigating that crime. I moved the victim’s cell phone with the intent to impair the phone’s availability in the investigation. I had no right or authority to move the victim’s cell phone. That occurred between November 24th and November 25th, 2018, in Teller County.”
It marks the first public confession made in the Kelsey Berreth murder case.
Patrick Frazee, was formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in December, but both are related to the presumed death of his fiancee–Kelsey Berreth.
As part of the plea deal, Kenney agreed to testify against Frazee–and not talk to the media.
There’s no mandatory sentence for the charge, meaning she could avoid jail time all together.
“Ultimately it’s up to the judge in terms of what he wants to do,” said 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May.
“The sentence ranges anywhere from probation into the presumptive range of 18 months in prison–and the aggravated range of three years in prison,” he added.
May said he can’t comment on where the cell phone is, or if Kenney has agreed to help locate Berreth’s body as part of the plea deal.
For now, those details will remain sealed.
“Both parties in this case have agreed that document will be suppressed. It’s only available to the parties in this case–with the exception… and we put that on the record… that it will be provided to Patrick Frazee’s attorneys,” said May.
Kennie was not taken into custody. She will have to go through a court review later this year, but is allowed to do it over the phone–according to May.
Her sentencing will be postponed until the conclusion of all related cases.
