Colorado Springs Mother Returned From UK in Double Murder Case
Mother Returned to Colorado in Children's Deaths Case
On Tuesday, officials announced that 37-year-old Kimberlee Singler, a Colorado mother accused of killing two of her three children, has been returned to Colorado and is in custody at the El Paso County Jail in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Authorities stated that Singler was arrested in the United Kingdom in December 2023 after the Colorado Springs Police Department obtained an arrest warrant alleging she murdered her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. Investigators identified the deceased children as Elianna “Ellie,” 9, and Aden, 7. A third child, Singler’s 11-year-old daughter, was injured but has not been publicly named by investigators.
Alleged Crimes and Timeline of Events
Police believe the killings of the two children and the attempted killing of the surviving 11-year-old occurred on December 18, 2023, in Colorado Springs. According to investigators, Singler called police the following day, on December 19, 2023. At that time, officers initially treated her as a victim because she appeared to have knife wounds.
Investigators said that when officers first responded, there was an initial report of a burglary. The surviving daughter initially told police she was attacked by an intruder. Police later stated that, as the investigation progressed, the initial burglary report was determined to be unfounded. Investigators said the surviving daughter later stated that it was her mother who attacked her and killed her siblings.
Custody Status and Charges
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office reported that Singler is being held at the El Paso County Jail. Court records list her bond at $10 million, but jail booking information indicates that her bond is pending review. Officials have said she will likely be held without bond because of the charges she faces.
Authorities have charged Singler with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree murder of a child under 12, one count of attempted first-degree murder, and one count of first-degree assault. Booking records show that she is due to appear in El Paso County Court on Wednesday, though the district attorney noted that this date could change and current court records do not show a confirmed court date.
Extradition from the United Kingdom
Officials said Singler had denied killing her children and had been fighting extradition from the United Kingdom since at least September 2024. Earlier this year, a London judge approved her extradition to the United States.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office and Colorado Springs Police Department stated that multiple agencies participated in locating, arresting, and extraditing Singler, including the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. State Department, several law enforcement agencies in the United Kingdom, and Interpol.
Investigative Findings and Context
Investigators said that at the time of the killings, Singler and her ex-husband were engaged in a contentious divorce and custody battle. Authorities believe Singler was able to leave for the United Kingdom because, during the early stages of the investigation, she was regarded as a victim due to the apparent knife wounds she had when police first contacted her.
Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vazquez stated at a news conference on Tuesday that the acts Singler is accused of have deeply affected the community, and he said that their thoughts remain with the victims. At the same news conference, 4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen said that Singler’s return to Colorado represents the first step in a longer process aimed at seeking justice for the victims.