Kimberlee Singler.Photo:Colorado Springs Police Department
Colorado Springs Police Department
Before she was accused of killing two of her children and injuring a third, a Colorado mother laterarrested at a hotel in Londonwas engaged in a bitter custody battle with her ex-husband, multiple outlets report.
Officers investigating later said that reports of a burglary were unfounded and on Dec. 26 obtained an arrest warrant for Singler, who was last seen Dec. 23.
According to reports fromCBS News,The TimesandDenver 7, Singler and her ex-husband, Kevin Wentz, had been locked in a contentious custody battle since 2018. Singler reportedly had full custody.
On the day of the reported burglary, a judge had ordered police to locate Singler’s kids after she failed to drop them off with Wentz, who had visiting rights, for a pre-arranged visit three days before,The Timesreported.
Eliana, left, and Aden.GoFundMe
GoFundMe
Wentz’s lawyer released a statement, CBS reported, saying that in September 2023, Singler alleged that her ex-husband waved a knife at her and she moved to restrict parenting time. A court found her claims unsubstantiated, the attorneys said in the reported statement.
In 2021, Singler filed a motion to move the children to Florida, Denver 7 reported, citing court records. The request was debated for over a year, and in October 2022, Wentz reportedly filed a motion to “prevent abduction,” according to the outlet.
Singler is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault in the first-degree, police said.
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Days after she was charged, Singler was located in a London hotel and arrested. It is not immediately clear how she was able to get to London. She appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday for an extradition hearing and has been remanded in custody until Jan. 29, U.K. authorities said.The Timesreported that she did not consent to being taken back to the United States.
Police said Singler’s 11-year-old daughter “is recovering well and is safe and accounted for here in the Colorado Springs area.”
AGoFundMehas been started to raise money for the Wentz family in the wake of the tragedy. It has raised over $6,000.
source: people.com
