Frazee accomplice Krystal Lee sentenced to 3 years in prison

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (KRDO) -- Krystal Lee has been sentenced to three years in prison plus one year of parole for her part in the murder of Kelsey Berreth.

She pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence in December 2018 and admitted to investigators that she cleaned up blood splatter from Berreth's apartment Thanksgiving weekend.

The plea deal came with the agreement that she wouldn't be sentenced until after Patrick Frazee's murder trial. In November, Judge Scott Sells sentenced him to life in prison for the murder of Berreth.

Lee's sentence came with a maximum penalty of 3 years in prison and a minimum of probation time.

As a part of her deal, she agreed to cooperate with the investigation and testify against Frazee.

Lee testified that Patrick Frazee told her he hit Berreth over the head with a baseball bat and later transported her body to a ranch he rented before burning her remains on his property in Florissant.

In court today. a video on Krystal Lee's behalf was presented to the judge.

It featured her family members, including her ex-husband Chad Lee and father, all of whom spoke in her favor. The video also featured an interview with Lee herself.

She said in the video, "my true punishment is not being on parole or prison, that would be hard. My punishment happens everyday."

Three witness went before Judge Sells asking them to consider the possibility of probation.

Following them was Darryl Berreth, Kelsey's father. He quickly asked the judge not to consider Lee a victim in this case, rather to punish her for her actions.

He said, "she chose to take Kelsey's belongings and destroy evidence. She knew what she what she was doing when she used bleach.

He planned to give his statement in letter read aloud by prosecutor Beth Reed written in partnership with his wife and Kelsey's mother, Cheryl Berreth.

Through tears, 4th Judicial District Attorney Dan May gave his final arguments to Judge Sells.

"The max sentence is what she deserves," he said.

After the hearing, May told the media, "do I think she should have gotten more time? You betcha. Do I feel bad she only got three years today? You betcha, but in the end we needed to solve this case."

A search for Kelsey Berreth's remain is not currently active, but Woodland Park Police Chief Mile De Young said they still have hope they can give some sort of closure to the Berreth family.