A North Carolina man will spend the rest of his life behind bars after being convicted of the “cold-blooded and calculated” murder of his ex-girlfriend in Virginia.
On Tuesday, 31-year-old Trenton Frye was sentenced to life in prison for the October 2022 killing of 28-year-old Katlyn Lyon Montgomery. A Bedford County jury had already found Frye guilty of first-degree murder in April, but Judge James Updike Jr. handed down a sentence far beyond typical state guidelines, calling the crime one of the most chilling cases he’d ever seen.
Montgomery was discovered unconscious in her Jefferson Forest Manor apartment on October 7, 2022. She was rushed to a Lynchburg hospital but died the next day. Investigators found phone charging cords hidden in a blanket on her bed — cords that matched the strangulation marks on her neck.
Frye, identified early on as a recent ex-boyfriend, initially lied to police, claiming he hadn’t been in Virginia. But digital evidence from his cell phone tower data placed him less than a mile from Montgomery’s home the night of her death. Prosecutors also revealed a series of angry and obsessive text messages Frye sent her leading up to the murder, showing his growing desperation and rage after their breakup.
In one text, Frye lashed out, calling Montgomery a “lowlife” and accusing her of “toxic” behavior. In another, he wrote, “karma is a b—,” hinting at retaliation. Investigators later discovered receipts, clothing, and personal items in Frye’s vehicle, as well as evidence he had searched for the floor plans of Montgomery’s apartment — a detail prosecutors said highlighted his stalking and obsession.
Despite his lies and attempts to evade responsibility, the mountain of digital evidence and forensic findings convinced jurors of Frye’s guilt. Prosecutors said the murder was premeditated and deliberate, describing Frye as “a man consumed by control and jealousy.”
Judge Updike said Frye’s actions showed “utter disregard for human life” and warranted a punishment beyond the norm.
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