By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
A Hays man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing his wife and trying to cover it up as a suicide.
Colby Alan Trickle, 29, was found guilty by a jury in September of first degree premeditated murder and interference with law enforcement.
On the morning of Oct. 31, 2019, 26-year-old Kristen Trickle was found dead of a gunshot wound to the head at her home. The 911 caller reported the incident as a suicide.
But according to Assistant Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham, investigators worked through the evidence and determined that Kristen was murdered, and they identified her husband, Colby, as the main suspect.
In front of a standing room only courtroom, at Monday’s hearing in Ellis County District Court, Cunningham said investigators determined that 10 days before Kristen was found dead, Colby Trickle searched the internet for information on how to collect on her life insurance policy.
Trickle was also engaged in an online affair at the time, according to investigators.
Investigators also learned that Colby collected on Kristen’s life insurance policies, and he spent all of the money in just a few months after her death.
Cunningham said during Monday’s sentencing that Colby, “murdered his wife for insurance money and then wasted it.”
During his allocution Colby apologized for being a bad husband and son but continued to claim that he did not shoot his wife and that he was being “wrongfully persecuted.”
Chief Judge of the 23rd Judicial District Court, Glenn Braun oversaw the trial and Monday’s sentencing and said that Colby, Trickle’s mother, who testified on his behalf, and two family members of Kristen’s who spoke on her behalf all talked about family.
But there is only one person that won’t be involved with her family again and that is Kristen.
Braun added there was clear evidence her murder was connected to money.
“There is clear evidence that this crime was committed for financial gain,” Braun said. And that Trickle has, “refused to take one iota of responsibility.”
Cunningham applauded the work of all those involved in the prosecution, including the investigators with he Hays Police Department and Kansas Bureau of Investigation, court and the county attorney’s staff and Kristen’s family.
He also apologized for a nearly year and a half delay in the case.
According to County Attorney Robert Anderson, Kristen’s case was among dozens that were caught in a backlog at the county attorney’s office when he took office.
Anderson said that investigators urged his office to take another look at the case and that Cunningham was eager to take the lead in the case and bring justice for Kristen and her family.
Monday, just three days before his 30th birthday, Colby was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for 50 years for first degree, premeditated murder.
Braun also sentenced Colby to six months for interfering with law enforcement.
Kristen’s remains are still in the possession of Colby’s mother and the county attorney’s office filed a motion to get her ashes back for her family.
The defense argued the motion should go before a civil court judge to determine what is ultimately done with her ashes.
County Attorney Robert Anderson asked that while the case moves forward in civil court, that the Hays Police Department be allowed to house them for safe keeping.
Colby refused.
Braun ordered Colby’s mother to hand over the remains to the police when they ask while the civil case is decided.
Colby was remanded to the care of the Ellis County Sheriff’s department and will be transported to Kansas Department of Corrections custody.