In the early hours of Halloween morning in 2019, Colby Trickle dialed 911 to report that his 26-year-old wife, Kristen Trickle, had shot herself in their Hays, Kansas home. Sergeant Brandon Hauptman of the Hays Police Department responded to the call. After examining the scene and speaking with Colby, Hauptman harbored suspicions about the circumstances surrounding Kristen’s death. However, three days later, the coroner, Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, ruled it a suicide, and Colby was cleared of any involvement.
Following Kristen’s death, Colby, who served in the Army Reserve, cashed in on two life insurance policies worth over $120,000. Investigators discovered that within two days of receiving the payout, he spent nearly $2,000 on a life-size sex doll.
Detective Joshua “JB” Burkholder, investigating the case, expressed concern about Colby’s actions, particularly his purchase of the doll shortly after his wife’s death. Burkholder emphasized the importance of a mourning period after losing a loved one, which he believed Colby had not respected.
The use of the insurance money drew strong criticism from Kristen’s family. Her aunt, Delynn Rice, was appalled, remarking that it felt like Colby had replaced Kristen with the doll using her own money.
Assistant Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham disclosed that Colby exhausted the entire insurance sum within eight months. In addition to the sex doll, he spent significant amounts on video games, debt repayment, and music equipment, with aspirations of becoming a performer.
As investigators continued to gather evidence over nearly two years, suspicions surrounding Colby’s account deepened. Sergeant Hauptman noted peculiarities at the scene, such as Kristen’s state of dress and the size of the firearm found nearby.
Further red flags arose from Kristen’s routine, including an alarm that continued to sound after her death. Detective Burkholder pointed out that Kristen had set the alarm for work, suggesting she had plans for the day, which contradicted typical suicide behavior.
Colby voluntarily spoke with investigators multiple times, sharing detailed stories about military service abroad that were later debunked by the military itself. His inconsistent statements and the scene’s anomalies heightened investigators’ suspicions.
After a lengthy investigation, Colby Trickle was charged with first-degree murder and interfering with law enforcement in July 2021. During his trial in September 2023, details of the sex doll purchase were presented to the jury.
At trial, Colby’s mother testified that the doll was for her son’s emotional support, not sexual purposes, claiming he suffered from nightmares and sleep disturbances after Kristen’s death.
Despite these assertions, jurors heard from a psychologist hired by the prosecution, Dr. Ashley Christiansen, who conducted a psychological autopsy of Kristen and concluded that suicide was unlikely.
In November 2023, over four years after Kristen’s death, Colby Trickle was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years.
