A Holiday Turned Horror

Woodland Park, Colorado, Thanksgiving Day, 2018. The scent of cinnamon, pumpkin spice, and sweet potatoes wafted through Kelsey Barth’s cozy townhouse. Her one-year-old daughter, Kaye, giggled in the background as Kelsey prepared a quiet family dinner. It should have been a day of warmth, gratitude, and laughter—a day frozen in time as a perfect snapshot of motherhood.

But by evening, everything changed. Behind those closed doors, the unimaginable unfolded. A simple holiday game, a trusted figure, and a sudden act of unthinkable violence turned what should have been a joyful celebration into a nightmare that would grip an entire nation.

What really happened that Thanksgiving night? And how could someone so young, devoted, and full of life vanish without a trace?

Kelsey Barth: Life Before the Storm

Born on September 15, 1989, in Washington State, Kelsey grew up in Moses Lake, surrounded by open fields and endless skies. The eldest of two siblings, she thrived on responsibility and independence. Life on her family’s farm instilled in her a strong work ethic and resilience.

Kelsey’s passion was flying. From a young age, she dreamed of soaring above the fields she knew so well. After high school, she pursued that dream, enrolling in a local aviation program and eventually becoming a flight instructor. Her students admired her patience and calm demeanor—qualities that made her not only skilled in the air but also a trusted mentor on the ground.

In May 2016, Kelsey moved to Colorado to start a new chapter. By July 2017, she joined Doss Aviation in Pueblo, quickly earning a reputation for professionalism, warmth, and dedication. Colorado’s mountains and quiet small-town life suited her perfectly.

But life had more in store. In 2016, through an online dating site, she met Patrick Frzy, a 32-year-old cowboy from Florisonant, Colorado, whose family ran a 35-acre ranch. Patrick appeared charming, responsible, and rooted in the rustic life Kelsey found intriguing. Within months, they were engaged, and by October 2017, they welcomed baby Kaye, a symbol of hope and family.

Tensions Beneath the Surface

Though Kelsey moved near Patrick’s ranch in Woodland Park, tensions quickly surfaced. Patrick’s mother, Sheila Frezy, lived on the property, and Kelsey didn’t feel comfortable staying there. Determined to build a safe, independent space for her daughter, she rented a townhouse 20 meters from the ranch—a cozy haven she filled with love and warmth.

Despite her efforts to maintain normalcy, Patrick’s detachment began to strain their relationship. Kelsey hoped for a stable family life, but Patrick’s unwillingness to commit created a silent rift. Frustration, sadness, and growing tension crept into Kelsey’s otherwise vibrant life. She remained patient, believing things could improve—for her sake and for Kaye’s.

Thanksgiving Day: Ordinary Becomes Ominous

November 22, 2018. Kelsey woke with joy, baking cinnamon rolls and sweet potatoes for dinner, the aroma filling her home. She played with Kaye, enjoying the calm before the holiday festivities. Patrick was invited for a small dinner, a gesture of goodwill. At 12:41 p.m., Kelsey sent a text to Patrick:

“I bought some sweet potatoes in case you wanted sweet potato casserole, but I forgot pecans. If you want some, get some.”

In hindsight, this seemingly ordinary message would become one of the last traces of her life.

Days passed, and when Kelsey didn’t contact her mother, Cheryl Barth, concern escalated. On December 2, Cheryl requested a welfare check at Kelsey’s townhouse. Officers arrived to find a home frozen in time. Cinnamon rolls sat half-finished, her purse and keys were gone, and most chillingly, Kelsey herself was missing.

Her phones and Kaye’s diaper bag were gone. Yet her cars remained parked outside. No forced entry, no struggle—nothing suggested why she had disappeared. Her absence would mark the beginning of one of Colorado’s most haunting missing-person cases.

The Investigation Begins

Police quickly treated Kelsey’s disappearance as suspicious. Her last confirmed communication had been a cheerful, ordinary text about Thanksgiving. All planes from her job as a flight instructor were accounted for, ruling out sudden travel. Kelsey had no reason to vanish. She was responsible, loving, and devoted to her daughter.

Her mother and brother, Clint Barth, launched a public plea via the “Missing Mother Kelsey Barth” Facebook page. They asked for tips, but also for discretion—urging the community to avoid speculation while authorities worked tirelessly to uncover the truth.

Patrick Frzy, surprisingly, did not attend early press briefings, though police confirmed he was cooperating. He claimed he and Kelsey had broken up the day before Thanksgiving and that their meeting on the 22nd was merely a brief handoff of their daughter. His story conflicted with witness accounts and the cheerful demeanor Kelsey had shown that morning.

Even more concerning, Kelsey’s phone pinged near Gooding, Idaho, on November 25—nearly 800 miles away from her home. How could it travel so far while her car, personal belongings, and child remained behind?

The Turning Point: A Dark Discovery

On December 6, Cheryl and Clint returned to Kelsey’s townhouse. Searching for any clue, Clint noticed a dark stain under the toilet. Blood. Forensic tests confirmed it was Kelsey Barth’s. The case officially shifted from a missing person investigation to a homicide inquiry.

All eyes turned to Patrick. His behavior, already cold and detached, became even more suspicious. Surveillance footage revealed that on Thanksgiving, Patrick arrived at Kelsey’s townhouse with her and Kaye but left alone hours later—a direct contradiction to his public statements.

The Hidden Conspiracy

Investigators discovered Patrick had been in frequent contact with Crystal, a nurse and single mother in Idaho. Crystal had a long history with Patrick from the rodeo circuit, and their relationship had reignited without Kelsey’s knowledge.

Patrick painted Kelsey as unstable, claiming she had addiction issues and mental health struggles—an attempt to justify her disappearance. Crystal, believing she was helping the man she loved, became complicit in Patrick’s deadly plan.

Several failed murder attempts preceded Thanksgiving:

September 2018: Poisoned coffee, untouched by Kelsey.
Subsequent attempts included intimidation with a metal pipe and a baseball bat, all aborted due to fear or external interruptions.

Finally, on Thanksgiving, Patrick acted himself. Pretending normalcy, he joined Kelsey for dinner. During a candle-scent game, he struck Kelsey with a baseball bat until she was dead.

Hours later, Crystal arrived with cleaning supplies, bleach, gloves, and protective gear. She assisted in removing evidence—blood-covered toys, household items, even a Bible—burned in a barrel outside. Kelsey’s body was wrapped in plastic and set ablaze with gasoline and motor oil. Patrick’s mother, Sheila, briefly witnessed the fire but did not intervene.

Aftermath and Justice

Patrick instructed Crystal to send text messages from Kelsey’s phone, creating the illusion that she was alive. Weeks of meticulous investigation, phone data, and forensic evidence eventually revealed the truth.

In 2019, Patrick Frzy was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, solicitation to commit murder, and desecration of a corpse. Crystal cooperated with authorities in exchange for a lighter sentence.

During the trial, testimonies and jailhouse communications confirmed Patrick’s premeditated actions. He also attempted to instruct others from jail to silence witnesses, including Cheryl Barth and Crystal herself.

The jury delivered a guilty verdict, sentencing Patrick to life without parole plus 156 additional years. Crystal served 18 months, released shortly after. Kaye was placed in the care of her maternal grandparents, Cheryl and Daryl Barth, ensuring she grew up in a safe and loving environment. Patrick’s mother’s attempts at custody were denied.

A Legacy of Love and Tragedy

Kelsey Barth’s story is one of devotion, love, and betrayal. A mother’s life stolen by someone she trusted implicitly, leaving a daughter, family, and community devastated. Her courage, warmth, and the small joys she cherished—like cinnamon rolls, sweet potatoes, and quiet family moments—remain her lasting legacy.

Even behind bars, Patrick Frzy maintains his innocence. But the evidence, witness testimony, and chilling details of the crime paint a clear picture: control, manipulation, and a desperate desire for power over his daughter’s future led to one of Colorado’s most tragic and shocking murders.

May Kelsey be remembered not for the cruelty of her final moments, but for the love she gave, the family she cherished, and the life she fought to protect.