Police said Friday that more arrests are possible after the fiancé of astill-missing Colorado momwas arrested on accusations he solicited someone to kill the woman, who is presumed dead.
Patrick Frazee, 32, the fiancé of 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and solicitation to commit murder.
“Sadly, we do not believe Kelsey is still alive,” Woodland Park, Colorado, police Chief Mies De Young said at a news conferenceconfirming the arrest.
Berreth’s mother reported her daughter missing 10 days later, on Dec. 2.
Patrick Frazee, Kelsey Berreth and the couple’s infant.Facebook
The search for Berreth’s body continues, authorities said.
They withheld many details of the ongoing investigation, such as whether a hired killer actually carried out the alleged crime or where they believe the victim’s body might be found.
Asked if additional arrests may be coming, De Young said, “That’s an absolute possibility.”
He said “investigators have discovered a number of items that make us suspicious that the crime did occur at Kelsey’s residence.”
He said the couple’s daughter has been taken from Frazee and placed in protective custody, and “will be reunited with Kelsey’s family.”
He described a “methodical and time-consuming,” multi-state investigation involving several agencies including the FBI, and added, “while we have not found Kelsey at this time, information has been developed to help us narrow down our search.”
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On that same day, a text from Berreth’s phone was sent to her employer, Doss Aviation, saying she would not be at work the following week. Frazee also had told authorities he received a text that day from Berreth.
Last Friday, investigators searched the home and 35-acre property of Frazee, who lives in Florissant, about 15 miles west of Woodland Park.
Patrick Frazee.Woodland Park Police
At the time of that search, Frazee’s attorney, Jeremy Loew, said in a statement to PEOPLE: “Mr. Frazee hopes and prays for Ms. Berreth’s return.”
Loew did not immediately return PEOPLE’s call and email for comment following the arrest.
Frazee is being held in the Teller County jail. Formal charges against him likely will be entered in about 10 days, said District Attorney Dan May.
source: people.com
