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Child Of Missing Colorado Woman Kelsey Berreth Will Stay With Maternal Grandparents
A judge continued the temporary custody arrangement during a closed hearing; the mother of murder suspect and Berreth's husband, Patrick Frazee, had previously filed for custody.
Colorado court officials say a girl will temporarily remain with her maternal grandparents as prosecutors pursue a murder charge against the 1-year-old's father in her mother's death.
A judge continued the temporary custody arrangement during a closed hearing on Thursday. A state courts spokesman says the next custody hearing is set for June 13.
The girl's father, 32-year-old Patrick Frazee, is charged with murdering 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth. He has not entered a plea yet.
On Dec. 21, the Teller County court granted temporary emergency custody of the 1-year-old, named Kaylee, to Berreth’s parents.
Frazee’s mother is also seeking custody of Kaylee, according to court records cited by CBS Denver. She previously filed a motion to intervene in the custody case.
Investigators testified during a Feb. 19 court hearing that Frazee's girlfriend, Krystal Lee Kenney, told police he used a baseball bat to fatally beat Berreth, then burned her body and planned to dump the remains in a landfill or river.
Berreth's body has not been found. She was last seen near her home near Colorado Springs on Nov. 22.
Colorado Bureau of Investigation Agent Gregg Slater said information he gleaned from Kenney indicates she watched as Frazee burned the woman’s remains. Kenney is now cooperating with investigators after pleading guilty to evidence tampering.
Kenney, a 32-year-old former nurse, also told police that Frazee claimed Berreth was abusing the couple’s daughter. Police said there is no evidence that the girl was abused by her mother or anyone else.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
