Justice Served: Trenton Frye Convicted of Katlyn Montgomery's Murder

Katlyn Lyon Montgomery, 28, died on October 8, 2022, after sustaining severe neck and head injuries. Her mother, Crystal Sale, and sisters, Sherry Cox and Tina Hopkins, initially learned that first responders suspected a drug overdose.

However, medical examinations revealed injuries consistent with strangulation.

Katlyn's family described her as independent and loving life, raising her daughter Milani while working full-time.

Investigation Unfolds

Lead investigator Robbie Burnette noted two distinct marks on Montgomery's neck, indicating a recent attack. Investigator Michelle Alderson, processing the crime scene at Montgomery's apartment, located a multiple charging cord adapter wrapped in a comforter, which was consistent with the neck injuries. Investigators faced challenges in collecting DNA or fingerprints due to the scene being disturbed by first responders and family cleaning efforts.

Jacob Piercy, Montgomery's roommate and the person who called 911, was initially considered the primary suspect. He denied involvement and cooperated fully. Milani, Montgomery's 4-year-old daughter, initially stated "my brother killed my mom," referring to Piercy by a nickname. However, investigators later determined she had witnessed Piercy performing CPR.

Focus Shifts to Ex-Boyfriend Trenton Frye

Investigators then focused on Montgomery's ex-boyfriend, Trenton Frye, after he checked himself into a mental health facility shortly after the incident and became unreachable.

Friends and family described Frye as initially appearing successful, claiming to own security and construction companies. However, Montgomery later discovered he had lied about his employment and financial stability, leading to their breakup 10 days before her death.

Mounting Evidence Against Frye

Cell phone records showed Frye's device pinging in the area of Montgomery's new apartment complex in Forest, Virginia, three days before the attack. Neighbors reported seeing an unfamiliar man, later identified as Frye, observing the apartment complex from an elevated vantage point on October 6. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station on the same day showed Frye wearing all black.

Text messages exchanged between Montgomery and Frye hours before the attack indicated anger and jealousy from Frye, who knew she was living with Piercy. He called her a "piece of s***" and stated "karma is a bitch." Montgomery expressed fear to Piercy and considered retrieving a self-defense weapon.

Investigators found that Frye's Google searches included "breaking news" and "arrest warrants" shortly after Montgomery's death.

A key piece of evidence was the automatic Bluetooth connection of Frye's phone to Montgomery's iPad at 4:15 AM on the morning of the attack, placing him within feet of her during the window of her injuries.

The prosecution suggested Frye used a neighbor's metal bench to access the second-floor balcony, whose lock was broken.

The Trial and Conviction

Trenton Frye was charged with first-degree murder. His defense attorney, Joseph Sanzone, argued there was no direct evidence placing Frye inside the apartment and suggested the death was an accident, or even that Jacob Piercy was responsible, alleging a consensual sex act gone wrong. Medical examiners found no evidence of sexual assault.

Frye testified, claiming he was outside the apartment, "watching and walking around," and denied ever being inside. He stated he had memory loss for the period around the attack and asserted it would be impossible to enter and leave without detection, especially from the dogs. The prosecutor, Wes Nance, countered that Frye dressing in black indicated "stealth mode" and highlighted Frye's inconsistent statements and memory lapses.

In March 2025, a jury deliberated for approximately one hour before finding Trenton Frye guilty of first-degree murder.

Four months later, Judge James Updike Jr. sentenced Frye to life in prison, emphasizing the terror inflicted upon Montgomery.

A Family's Enduring Strength

Montgomery's family, who had advocated for "Justice for Katlyn" through billboards and social media, expressed a mix of relief and ongoing grief. Her sister Sherry Cox became the guardian for Milani.

Crystal Sale now uses social media to raise awareness about domestic violence, aiming to help others avoid similar tragedies.

Jacob Piercy has been embraced by the family, who consider him a hero for his attempts to save Montgomery.