US: After Killing His Wife, Husband Uses Her Life Insurance To Buy Sex Doll

It all began on a fateful day in 2019 when Colby Trickle, a resident of Hays, Kansas, made a distressing call to 911, reporting the apparent suicide of his 26-year-old wife, Kristen Trickle. The circumstances surrounding Kristen's death raised suspicions from the outset, prompting Sergeant Brandon Hauptman of the Hays Police Department to dig deeper into the matter. What followed was a sequence of events that would leave a chilling record of deceit, manipulation, and ultimately, justice served.

Suspicion and Investigation

Upon arrival at the scene, Sergeant Brandon Hauptman of the Hays Police Department found himself faced with perplexing anomalies. Despite Colby Trickle's assertions and the initial ruling of suicide by the coroner, Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, suspicions lingered. The timing and nature of Trickle's actions in the aftermath of Kristen's death raised eyebrows and led to further scrutiny.

Misuse of Life Insurance Payout

It was revealed that Trickle had cashed in on two life insurance policies totaling over $120,000 following Kristen's demise. Only two days after the terrible tragedy, Trickle went on a bizarre spending binge that included the purchase of a life-sized sex doll, among other goods, rather than using the money for legitimate purposes in memory of his late wife. Perhaps the most egregious expenditure among Trickle's reckless splurges was the purchase of a life-size sex doll, valued at $2,000. Detective Joshua "JB" Burkholder aptly voiced the collective concern: the haste and nature of these purchases seemed incongruous with the grieving process.

As investigators looked into Kristen's death more closely, they uncovered disturbing findings. Colby Trickle had lied about his military service, and his stories didn't add up, raising suspicions about him. Despite avoiding  legal consequences for almost two years, the truth finally caught up with Trickle thanks to a persistent investigation.

The Verdict

The jury wasn't convinced by Tina Kreutzer's explanation for buying the sex doll, hoping it would comfort her son, Colby Trickle, or by the grief of Kristen's family. Psychologists raised doubts about Kristen's supposed suicide, suggesting she might have been coerced or manipulated. Finally, in November 2023, justice prevailed. Trickle was found guilty of first-degree murder and obstruction of justice, landing him a life sentence without parole for 50 years.