Kelsey Berreth Murder: Inmate Says Patrick Frazee Asked Him To Kill Krystal Lee

CRIPPLE CREEK, Colo. (CBS4/AP) -- A jail inmate says a Colorado man charged with beating the mother of his child to death asked him multiple times to kill the key witness in the case. Patrick Frazee is accused of beating 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth to death with a baseball bat and burning her body. Berreth was last seen nearly a year ago while shopping with the couple's 1-year-old daughter. Her body hasn't been found.

It was at the Teller County jail in Divide where messages were allegedly exchanged between the Frazee and the inmate. The District Attorney asked news organizations to refrain from using the inmate's name or showing his face, for his safety.

The jail inmate took the stand Friday, during the final day of testimony in Frazee's murder trial. While they were housed near each other in jail, the inmate said Frazee asked him to kill Frazee's on-again, off-again girlfriend, Krystal Lee.

The inmate also testified that Frazee wanted him to kill lead investigator Gregg Slater, and others. Slater said notes provided by the inmate appeared to be in Frazee's handwriting.

The inmate testified that Frazee wrote him messages on paper towels, including one that stated, "Help me please. My life and my little girl's life depends on you."

The inmate said Frazee wrote him another message stating "I'd really like to see Krystal with a bullet in her head."

Another gave a list of other possible witnesses in the trial with Frazee writing "could you make them all disappear" [until after the trial].

The inmate at this jail told Frazee he belonged to a prison gang that could possibly take care of his requests.

Frazee's lawyer questioned the inmate's credibility. He said the inmate was expected to testify in another case in which a defendant also asked him to kill a witness. Prosecutors say the inmate asked for cases against him to be resolved in one county in exchange for his testimony.

Lee testified that Frazee asked her to help clean up the murder scene -- and that she watched Frazee burn a plastic tote she believed contained Berreth's body.

Lee acknowledged taking Berreth's cellphone with her to Idaho at Frazee's request to try to deceive investigators about Berreth's whereabouts. She reached a plea deal with prosecutors for tampering with evidence and faces up to three years in prison. Frazee's lawyers have questioned her reliability. Frazee's lawyers used the deal to question how honest Lee was about what happened since she initially told authorities she did not know who Berreth was.

Prosecutors have not given a motive for the killing. Berreth's parents, who have custody of the couple's daughter, argue in a wrongful-death lawsuit that they believe Frazee wanted full custody of the girl.

On Monday, each side will have 90 minutes for closing arguments before the case goes to the jury.

(© Copyright 2019 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)