Brookfield police. Brookfield police. Holy [laughter] >> Christie. Christie, I will soon attack. >> I'm [ __ ] terrified. >> Show your hands. on your face. On your face, on November 7th, 2023, [music] 43-year-old Crystal Steel Krug sat across from Detective Andrew Martinez [music] to talk about something so serious she couldn't breathe without looking over her shoulder. She was being stalked by her ex-boyfriend Anthony from high school and it was getting dangerous. >> Okay. Hi. Yes, I know. Yes, it's been a little herring, [music] I got to say. Um, for the most part, you know, like anything that I I had interactions before. I have never dealt with like this kind of level in like a online version. And I think to myself of like advice that I give to my kids, I'm like, "Watch out for online people." And I'm like, "This is exhausting. This is really like I can't believe like any kids would be [music] dealing with stuff like this that comes from all directions at any time, >> you know? It's just it's a lot and it has definitely made me like paranoid everywhere I go, unfortunately. So, >> yeah. No, I can completely understand that. >> Yeah. Oh, and I keep trying to remind myself this is intending to be terrifying. This is intending to scare me. Oh, like I'm like, >> yeah, the intention to make your life miserable and cause disruption and >> some sort of emotional turmoil is exactly what he's going for. >> Yes. >> Detective Martinez was all ears, but he also wanted Castile to be aware of how slow the law can be when getting to someone like Anthony. >> Generally speaking, when there's a lot of computer [music] stuff, >> that's a lot of additional like legal paperwork that I need to submit. [music] um mostly through search warrants to be served to like Google, different cell phone carriers, stuff like that, just to try to collect all of that >> online data. Um >> I will [snorts] tell you for every court order I write, >> oh I don't want to give you false hope on the timeline, but >> it's like four or six weeks before I get any bit of return information. So the process goes I type it up and that is very quick >> and then it has to get reviewed by the district attorney's office and then it has to get reviewed by a judge and then I submit it to whatever company or corporation it goes to. >> Sure. >> And they by Colorado law they have 14 days to respond however they kind of do whatever the heck they want. >> Sure. So, usually we get a result and records returned in about 30 to 35 days on average, but it's not outside of the scope to be 6 8 weeks. >> Little did they know Christile wouldn't have that much time. >> And who lives in the home with you? >> Um, my husband and my three children. Crystal worked from home as a project manager while her husband, [music] 44year-old Daniel Krug, worked for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, so she was home for most of the day, [music] putting her security at risk. But even when Christ was being targeted, [music] she was prepared. >> All right. And so I'm just going to kind of let you start from the beginning of when you first met, kind of go [music] all the way through and >> you're going to get the engineering project manager. So, I had to lay this out. >> This makes it so much simpler. I'm telling you. >> Okay. I did a timeline for you. >> Okay. And in this timeline, we dated summer of 99. >> Okay. >> Very briefly like there was a breakup somewhere here like in the fall. So, I did this kind of like also, but you can see like way over there. Um, last contact I ever had with him where he tried to reach out to me personally, saw me in person would have been like in the spring of 2001. Everything here you're going to see in question marks because I'm like uh about um I'm just trying to remember like where I was living um and where I had kids at the time. So I put everything in green where there were like just like little teeny things was like oh hey how you doing um found me on old information. So it's public information technically I can't say that like he found me in a special way. Um, but it was years later, right, that he came back with a quick email trying to check in. And these events here last maybe like within a period of a couple weeks. Usually it's a handful of email messages. Usually it's just like light easy like what's going on. Yeah. Like trying to like Yeah. Just kind of start a conversation, but it's all light cordial whatever. Um, and and every single time he would contact me, I know is about here. Now, this is where things get like maybe plus or minus like a year. Um, that that one could have been where it became alarming. And again, I'm trying to remember where I was um cuz it was via a Facebook Messenger app. So, like this isn't these are both emails, old emails. This is like um a Facebook Messenger app. And then this one's also a Facebook Messenger app. This one got really weirdly weirdly obsessive. So, same kind of thing where like common little teeny little messages and then after just a period of few messages, he's like, "Oh, my family's so happy we're talking again." I'm like, "What? >> This is not a relationship." And then like he'd send me snippets of like saying he thought our relationship was like the notebook and then we'd always end up together. I'm like, "Whoa, this is getting really weird, right? >> Get married." Um, oh, so I, so like I met my husband all the way um here in the summer of 2001 and then I got um we were together all the way through college. Um, and then I got married in 2007 and still married since. >> Okay. All right. I'm just trying to get as to >> Yeah, no problem. >> Would he have known that? >> Yeah. >> Oh, yeah. He did. Like here, you know, he says, um, let's get together. I'm like, um, no. um here he says um let's get together and I'm like I have a I have a serious boyfriend like we were living together at this time and and he's like screw your boyfriend and then yeah I got married in 2007 he's reaching out to me he can see I have a kid this is my profile picture of like my kid um and I'm like I have a family um no um and then again where I'm like I'm married with children >> um all the way here so >> first born right >> um uh first born is 2009 >> oh first born >> that's right >> yeah That's I was kind of like I know he contacted me around there cuz he saw pictures of when I had a little baby. I had a really cute dog at the time. Um and we had conversations about that. >> Yeah. I'm just trying to correlate big life events that might be on the internet that you see to like >> like gauge that. Yeah. >> What um is important is that it was period it started October 2nd and 3rd. Um let's see these things. Unfortunately, I apologize this one. This is going to get really graphic. >> Um, but this was the first day um of contacting me. Again, this was the type of message that I always got before. >> Okay. >> Um, the only thing that was really alarming about this one was I was like, "What do you mean you looked me up?" And I immediately got a sense of this something is on. Especially after this last interaction where I'm like, >> you're pretty delusional and you're coming out again of the woodworks and now going above and beyond to really find me. Um, and then when I didn't respond and you'll see, so this is on Monday at 1. And when I don't respond, then immediately the next day it just keeps going. >> Yeah. >> Right. Um, and then Okay. So, I get alarmed and you'll see it in the text message. All I did was I was like, "Oh, we're going to create a stalker log. We're going to monitor this. I'm going to go see what information I can have." >> I don't [clears throat] know. I I just always heard document everything. >> Yes. Because >> a lot of times we have to I have to sit down with people and recreate this. So, I really appreciate that. So, you're on top of it cuz a lot of times people don't think of it and organize it in such an easy way. So, I really appreciate this. >> Yeah. This is a fake number though. this this is not registered to anybody and it's a total fake number. Um, so anyway, that's that that made me go, is this his number? Where is he right now? What kind of car is he like? Like this was alarming. He's never said this kind of stuff to me before, so whatever. Um, and the fact that it went so emotional, I was like, something's really wrong here. [snorts] >> Um, then, um, things go dark, right? And this is when I then contact you guys because this now is escalating. This is not just threats against me, it's threats against my husband. He contacts me um and you'll see in my little log that this is now this is an email address he contacts me now from more fre like he actually reuses it. >> Um but he is now showing that picture that day. There's snow on the ground. My husband had only gone into work on that Tuesday um for [music] Halloween. Fortunately, even though my husband has a camera in his car, he did not see anybody. >> Um, and then unfortunately lost all the video cuz he didn't save it. So, >> this is the point when Anthony went past just stalking Crystal to threatening her husband's life if she didn't reciprocate his advances. That's what made her finally contact the police. Her stalker was planning something. But there was something strange about the photos Cele like from a distance. It could look It looks like similar build like what he used to have um >> from when he was >> Yeah, this I feel like this has got to be an old like Facebook p. So both this pic and the other pic um had no metadata. It's all like scrubbed. >> Um and they're all they're both really super small files. Um so versus like the one original one that he sent me was like a full-blown like 2meg level file, right? Um yeah, sorry. This one um that was clearly like an original. Those none of those are original or they've been totally totally scrubbed here. Um I did get the full-blown report from the PI. I just printed the whole thing. I do have this um electronic as well if you want it. But um this is a full-blown thing from this guy called Trailfinders um that did the full search. The one good thing with this um is that this is definitely registered to him for a mobile number um and like confirmed recently. So he's marking it down as like 100% that that is his real phone number. Um the problem and you'll see this in this report. There are tons of phone numbers associated with him. There are tons of addresses. He moves everywhere and between like three different states. >> And this [music] is my copy. >> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, >> this is the type of detailed report detectives usually have to put together on their own, but in this case, Christile did all of it for them. On a personal level, she was in the process of getting a registered gun. She had taken several steps to ensure her and her family safety. Um I have notified my employer um just to be aware that I have a situation that's unfolding right now like I need to take some time off work just so like for me personally um I have a because my I'm running my kids everywhere all the time >> [snorts] >> um especially because my oldest is in nut in the Boulder Ballet Nutcracker and I'm there volunteering so there's late at night and we're out at the dairy center so I do have a buddy system now a few of the parents there know what's going on and making sure I've got a buddy system. stuff. >> Perfect. >> Again, it's like I have to go all the way back to the college days and like do all the things that I used to do back then. So, >> absolutely. And then, you know, like share your location, stuff like that. Like >> just the little things. >> Okay. >> Um the one thing I'll tell you is uh two books I always recommend for folks that are kind of in these situations um that give a lot of um insight and some comfort. And there I [snorts] try to go back and read these books at least once a year just to kind of refresh my memory. But um one is the gift of fear by Gavin Debecker. He very much talks a lot about um stalker ideology and um psychology behind it. Um and then one is when violence is the answer um by Tim Lin. Again, these both of these guys have huge experience in stalking and, you know, like when to defend yourself. Um, and it it frames all of these kind of topics in a way to where it's not to make you overly paranoid and hypervigilant, but just enough to build your mindset. Um, and one thing I always import when you feel that if you need to defend yourself, you want to maximize injury, escape, and call 911. Like those are the biggest things that you want to do if you're ever in that position. >> Um, like I said, >> from law enforcement, that's different cuz we try to minimize injury when we're trying to deal with people, but from a private person, you want to hurt them [clears throat] >> like and run. Christile walked out of that interview room feeling a little lighter, but she didn't know she just put a timer on her own life. Detective Martinez spoke to Christile's husband, Daniel, and told him to take measures to keep the home as safe as possible. >> My brother, Matthew, is a cop. Uh, so I have a uh retractable ASP uh steel baton. >> Yeah. Uh, as I said, not right now, but otherwise it's on me all the time. I sleep with it next to me. >> Um, uh, pepper gel spray. Uh, always in this pocket as focus in this one. Uh, I've bought some additional security cameras for the house. Uh, I'm trying to figure out where to put them up because we have multiple blind spots and it's just tough to figure out the right place. Uh, but those arrived last night. I hope to get them up. If not tonight, tomorrow. >> Yeah. >> Um, uh, and largely I've been focused on her and the kids since Monday in particular. Um, uh, I think it was you who sent the Glendale police to my office. >> Um, and then I just, as soon as they had finished talking to me and looked around, I just got the hell out of there, uh, and I've been holed up at the house. >> Yeah. >> I went to the grocery store briefly on Tuesday. And someone behind me dropped can panicked. No. So what am I doing? I'm panicking and I'm doing a job of protecting my wife. So I'm not I'm not doing good. I don't see that. >> This situation was taking a toll on the family as a whole. And this was before any physical contact was made. All that changed a few days later when the stalker tried to break into the Krug residence. >> I'm Officer Chanty. >> I'm Dan. >> Nice to meet you, >> John. Nice to meet you. >> So, it sounds like like 450 is what dispatch. >> Yeah. [music] So, I was uh I ran out at 4:15 420ish. So, I [music] left. I watched the garage door closing. Okay. Not necessarily closed. >> Okay. >> Uh my my wife drove that point home on me. Uh ran up to the store. I'm uh came back about 450 455. >> Uh as I came down, the door was open. >> The bigger one or the third? >> The double bay door. >> Okay. Uh, so as I pulled in, uh, I saw someone I I think it was a guy, but it was it was so fast. Yeah. >> Uh, blue jeans, gray shirt, >> run out, >> jump over my gate. Okay. >> And take off that way. >> Got it. Okay. >> Uh, I cared less about following him than getting inside and checking on my kids. >> Yeah, absolutely. >> Uh, my daughter is adamant no one came in the house. She never heard the garage door open. Uh she was in the living room right next to it. Uh my wife and I tested her and I opened and closed the garage door and she couldn't hear it over the TV anyway. >> Okay, got it. >> Uh I don't know if uh whoever [music] it was opened the door or not to go in. >> She was right there. It would have been loud inside. >> She would have heard. Uh, >> I didn't think to call you until my my wife got home recently and we realized the spare key that we keep in the garage isn't there. >> Okay. Where was that kept at? >> Uh, toolbox. >> Got it. Okay. Um, did you notice any tools or anything missing? That's a pretty common item. No. >> No. Uh, it's all all basic tools anyway. Nothing fancy. >> Sure. >> Uh, no tools missing. Uh, the bikes are all hanging on the wall still. None. None of those are gone. >> Got it. >> Uh skis are in there. Health gloves. >> Everything [music] seems to be there. >> Okay. >> Except a spare key. >> The house key. Okay. >> Their cameras caught nothing, but Crystal got a text confirming it was the stalker. This incident made them a lot more concerned, but nothing could have prepared their family for what was going to happen on December 14th, 2023. [music] >> Dispatches meeting. >> Uh hi there. Uh my name is Dan Krug. I don't think [music] this is an emergency, but but this feels really weird. Uh my [music] wife isn't responding uh to text messages or phone calls. >> Okay. >> Uh we've had um we've had threats against us. She was supposed to meet with Detective Martinez today, but I I can't get a hold of him. Can I get a either someone in in the house to to check in with Martinez, [music] or maybe both, maybe a wellness check at the house? The first responding officer, Officer O'Hare, got there within minutes of the call, hoping to find Crystal Steel busy on a work call. Unable to hear anything but their dog barking from inside, Officer O'Hare moved his car to be able to peek through the [music] garage, but he had no idea of the severity of what he was about to find. >> 151 send medical and 110. I need a force sentry. I got a female down in the garage. [snorts] [music] Roel police. Roofdale police. [snorts] Oh, [sighs] holy. [sighs] The officer found Christile, but she was unconscious. >> [sighs] >> What the hell? Christie, [music] Christie, Christie. >> 151. >> Female has some sort of head wound. She is warm. I'm on CPR. Copy. Eastern 29th. >> 151. Let me know when the next unit is closed and I'll open the garage door. Particularly medical. >> 151. >> 151. Go ahead and uh send the next unit emergent, please. I need to clear this house. I'm not sure what this head wound is right now. >> Copy. I have three units coming your way. >> Inbay. Copy. Emerging for one at least. [laughter] Garage is open now. Hello, ma'am. I need you to stay out, please. >> Next unit to interrupt this uh apparent relative that's on scene, please. [sighs] [gasps] >> I need to tag out, man. She's got a head wound. I don't know if it's from falling or something else, but probably falling, but I don't know, man. It's a good one. Husband said there was a stalker threatening to kidnap her. So, I don't know. >> No, she's unresponsive. [music] >> Decent head. >> I'll be right back, guys. I'm just going to the car here. Okay. >> RP husband was in route. So, you could just run interference out there, please. We're going to clear the house. Medics [music] are in the garage. >> Entering the front door. >> Good. We got you. >> Brookfield Police. Anybody inside? Break yourself out. >> One coming in the front door. We [music] got you, man. >> Police. Anybody inside? >> Brookfield Police. Third and final warning. Anybody inside? All >> [music] >> right. You got the stairs. >> All right. [music] >> I got a couple rooms to the left over here. Only know when you're coming around. >> The RFP said there was a stalker threatening kidnapping. So, just heads up on that. [music] You got my left. Police. >> Clear here. Coming out. I don't know where that other door is. closet. [music] >> Springfield police coming back out. [music] CPR being done in the garage. He's got a good head wound. I think it's from falling down, but I'm going to reevaluate that right now. I don't know the history. I just saw the call notes. So, we'll talk later. All right. [music] You guys good if I close that or do you want it open for now? [music] >> Just for looking loose. I got her up here, man. [music] We had a old lady. I don't know if it's her mom or what. [music] >> Hey, man. You guys just uh run interference one or two out front. Decide if we could clear one or two. >> Oh, I didn't see you. All right, my bad. >> All right, guys. Okay, keep going. >> Guys, you see anything other than a a fall type of wound? Look at this. What's that? [clears throat] [music] >> Yeah, that's a stab. >> There was no sign of an attacker in the house. Christile had a significant head wound and a stab wound to her chest. She also had her gun on her, but it hadn't been used. The medics were still working on her. And while Daniel was on his way, Christile's mother, Linda, was already on the scene. >> Ma'am. Ma'am. Baba, I need you to come over here for a minute, okay? So, we can work. I understand. I need you to come on over here, okay? >> Okay. >> I know. I know. You're doing me a favor. Do you live nearby? 15 minutes away. >> About 2015. Where is your car? >> It's right there. >> Okay. Do me a favor. Go and sit inside so we can work on her. Okay. So, we can try to get her to help. Okay. What's your name? >> Linda. >> Linda. Okay. My name's Officer Zamora. Okay. I'll come out here and I'll give you some news as soon as I can. >> He told me she's okay. I I have no idea just yet, but I I know that they're working on her. The officer in there has been working CPR on her, and I think she's doing okay. Okay. [laughter] >> He did. He's the one that called us and let us know. Okay. >> Do go ahead. Take a seat for a minute. I'll be right back here. Okay. I need to move my car. >> Crystal's father, Lars Grimsrode, arrived at the house along with the rest of the family. None of them could believe that the stalking would take such a violent turn. Hey, uh, this guy said, "What did he do to her?" So, >> but it wasn't until Daniel got there that the family finally received the news about Christile. She'd succumbed to her injuries. No. [laughter] You guys should I can't Thanks. And then questions right now answers for you know what you want to do right now integrity [music] investigation right now. Okay. So long lines. >> I mean, I know it seems like a long time, but it's no time like searching our investigation. >> Yes. Go. Go. >> Do you understand why I'm asking you? >> No. But go What happened? What happened? together. [laughter] [snorts] [music] Thank you. looking outside. Leave me [music] over there. Give me a little car over there. Oh, yes. I'm going to take care of the kids. [snorts] I don't like [music] [music] fire with a fire extinguisher. There are no flames after that. 111. [music] Can you break and cover? This is reversal. light. >> She has to go in his first. I didn't protect her. >> I was in the closer. I protected her. I let them know how long he says anything. >> We don't This is a family. [music] >> Daniel was beside himself, so Christile's sister-in-law had to step in to pick up the three crew children from school and give them the news before they heard it from someone else. If I were in your shoes, I I would because we're going to call uh their school resource officer is here. >> Okay. >> Uh because they responded to this call because they're close. Um I would go and see if you can just get them out of school. >> Okay. >> And then >> figure out what to tell them. >> Yeah. I'm sorry. You have to think about that. >> Trying to be the strong one of the family at the moment. >> Um We can >> try to comfort my >> Sure. We We can We can have an officer go with you if that helps or hurts because unfortunately we we we have more practice. So we we can do the talking. You can do the comforting. >> Well, however, I mean, we're we're here to help any way that we can. I know it's ridiculously impossible right now, but >> Back at the crime scene, the officers noticed something alarming. The first thing I noticed, I pulled my car around to the garage just to see if her car was in the garage, and I immediately saw her at the base of the stairs, blood smear on the wall, and I came around and booted the front door. Turns out it wasn't locked. There's also a piece of masking tape over the ring camera, almost like somebody approached from the side and taped it. >> Okay. >> And then maybe she opened the door for somebody. Um, so first thing I noticed was an obvious head wound. I don't know if that's from a weapon or from the fall. >> Okay. >> Started CPR. She's still warm. They noticed after tearing the shirt and everything off. She got a good stab wound right [music] right there. So that's what we got. Not only that, but a thorough search of the house showed that the cameras Daniel told Detective Martinez he was going to install were there. But somehow most of them were not turned on at the time of the attack. Just like the first break-in, the trespasser took nothing this time [music] either. He was only there to hurt Castile. With no active cameras in the area and Anony's current location and phone number untraceable, the detectives were back to square one. The only ones who could give any insight into what could have happened here were the people closest to Christile. Detective Martinez spoke to everyone, starting with Dan. >> We just now need to talk [music] about your rights so we can proceed with getting the answers that we both want. >> Yeah. I I have two different voices going through my head right now. I have my brother Matthew. Yeah, I've mentioned him. He's uh the sheriff's lieutenant and I have his voice saying [snorts] uh talk to the police and in typical fashion he married prosecutor. [laughter] So I had Lynn's voice in my head going get a lawyer. I just want this to be done. This is not a slow process and I certainly appreciate that. All we're trying to do is get the full picture of um everything that has happened. Um and you know, our our our job is to seek the truth and that's all we're trying to do and we appreciate and need your help in doing that 100%. Um one of the things that I would like to kind of go over, if you don't mind, is just the 24 hours before you left for work. this morning. God, 24 hours before I left for work. >> So, >> so your last 25 or 24 hours with um is it Christile? That's >> Crystal. >> Mhm. >> Like when you woke up Tuesday morning. >> Uh I guess Wednesday morning. Sorry, we're all confused. >> Mornings are very routine in the house. Uh most of us have our alarms. We get up at about the same time. Yesterday was Wednesday. So on Wednesdays doesn't take the bus. She uh rides with either uh me or Christia. So, okay. I got up at my usual time somewhere between 5:40 and 6. Uh, got myself ready like I always do, shower, get dressed. I had a uh uh an advisory council meeting that I was facilitating at work. So uh once a month on Wednesdays it's my early early day. So I got up Wednesday, got myself ready. [snorts] Uh and then Christ and I split up responsibilities. Uh, she packs lunches while I get the kids breakfast and dressed. Um, so get clothes for get breakfast. Uh, gets herself ready and then I have food for her downstairs. Every day, same routine. She packs the lunches. I do water bottles and snacks. I pack the backpacks while she gets herself uh showered or dressed and then we all leave within usually a few minutes of each other. Thursday, regular school schedule. [snorts] Uh so got up about the same time that I always do. Same routine. I feed um and then I get them dressed. Uh, I prep food for while Christ still packs lunches. I pack the backpacks while she gets ready. Uh, then uh I took to the bus stop today because it was cold. Uh, then I went home. uh helped uh get their coats on, got them in Christ's car. She left to take them up. Uh I got the dog and we came off the dawn. There's a dog in a kennel. I have no idea how many hours he's been in there. Okay. I came out After Christile had come home, I was pulling on my coat while she was in the kitchen. We had a brief interaction about I told her Pixel was in the kettle. [snorts] Uh she asked why I was still there if I was working from home today. I said, "No, I was just running late." And uh she she was telling me that that I had to get going, which is weird. She doesn't usually care what time I leave. Cares what time I come home. Uh so she was in the kitchen with some some energy drink. Uh, I said goodbye and I left. I drove into the office. Uh, while I was driving, uh, my my phone dinged uh cuz I left late. Uh, phone dinged with that that message that I already sent you her asking me to get. Uh, I couldn't read it right away because I was driving. Uh, I don't remember if I responded at a traffic light or when I parked. >> Yeah. When I responded, I parked at the office. I went inside. Uh, chatted with a couple of co-workers. I had my meeting with the analyst Riley about a project we're working on. Gave him a whole bunch of to-do items. Uh, and before and after that meeting is when I uh tried texting Christile because I remembered her [snorts] saying to sorry the the message that she sent me asked if I could pick I said something to the effect of yes I said something else I don't remember what Uh, and so I think it was before my meeting with Riley. I texted her asking what time I had to pick up cuz it it it wasn't the usual school time, which would have been 3:10. She had dress rehearsal at 4 and she didn't answer. Big whoop. I didn't know if she was meeting with you or if she had another meeting. uh for work. Uh I finished my meeting with Riley and I still didn't have an answer. So I contacted her again and I realized I didn't have any read receipts and that that was weird. She didn't confirm anything about [snorts] the read receipts weren't uh weren't on and that's when I uh tried contacting you again. Uh and I I started getting really antsy at that point. Uh and that's when I called the uh the non-emergency line. Well, I tried calling Christ at home. I tried calling the house phone. Nothing. That's when I got antsy and I called you first. You didn't answer. I called the non-emergency line. I I babbled a lot. I feel sorry for your dispatcher. Uh, after I hung up with your dispatcher, [snorts] I was still feeling really antsy. I was trying to finish finish an email so I could get out of the office. I called Linda and asked Linda to swing by the house because she lives much closer than where I work. Uh, she went. I fired off what I needed to. I got in the car and she called while I was driving saying that uh the uh somebody I don't know she said the the officers or the EMTs were doing CPR. Uh the rest of my drive is is kind of a blur. I just remember I was driving really really fast. I told her I wanted counseling. She said no. Uh >> and when was that? Oh >> sort of ultimatum. Long time ago. >> Well, >> okay. >> Um we we live together. We have joint finances. We obviously co-parent the kids. We do maintain separate bedrooms. Uh that that's kind of where we are in the eb and flow of a relationship. >> Okay. >> Um >> so that it's tough enough to say this. Just let me get it out. >> Sure. Uh, so other than talking about the kids, there's there hasn't been a lot of dialogue for a little while. I I can't put a time in front of it. Um, it it hurt me that [clears throat] she didn't tell me about the stalker when it started, but she brought me in right away once he sent her a picture of me. Uh I think that I think that was the uh Thanksgiving Halloween. >> Okay. >> Uh so she told me the next day and I was definitely hurt and angry that she was keeping that as a secret. Uh she said that she had been confiding in uh her brother Lars. Uh, and so >> did she ever tell you why she didn't tell you that? >> Because she and I were >> okay. Not in a good and healthy place. Um, well, another phrase I should say. Uh, so she was confiding more in him. uh as you know once she told me uh I wanted access to her logs. I wanted to know what the conversations were with uh Martinez. Uh and at that point she she brought me fully up to speed and I saw the the horrible messages. I saw the the ad. uh all that crap. Uh and that's when she and I started working on game plans. Uh again, you know, what do we do to protect family, to protect the kids, you know, define your threat level? Uh so that we we had a clear plan of attack. We could just say we're at nuclear. That's a full lockdown. Here's what it means. where I read here's what that means. Uh >> and the kids were kind of involved in that too cuz you kind of shared a little bit with that the kids were somewhat aware of what was going on but >> they they had to know enough >> to be cautious. >> Daniel was still in shock, but the detectives noticed something odd in his story. I mean, it felt like it sounds like you you you feel like you were completely, I don't know, written off by her or that you she had zero care for you anymore. >> I don't want a divorce. >> Okay. I have loved her for 20 years. Mhm. I was hurting when I said that. And what I wanted was her to say she cared about me. She didn't. And she was ready for divorce. So, we talked about how do you divy up the assets? We we own two houses. On his face, that should be easy. Uh we're on we're both on both mortgages. That's op. [clears throat] Um so, we were talking through how do you start to how do you start to do that? And so I would say it was as amicable as it could be for two people who may or may not have really wanted it. >> Okay. But you were just in talking stages. There wasn't any paperwork. There wasn't any um anything going on. You know, what about and I don't want to, you know, open an even bigger wound, but um do you think there was any infidelity going on either on either side? Were you um seeing someone else? Was she seeing someone else? Indeed, >> absolutely not. Uh no, I have remained completely faithful to her since our very first summer together. This gave them enough insight into Dan's mind, but there was still one more avenue they needed to cover. >> So, what um can I just ask, what do you think happened today with [snorts] Christ? What What do you think? What What's your theory? >> I don't know. >> Well, you got to have one. I mean, I'm sure a million different thoughts have run through your mind. What do you think happened? >> I left. She was in the kitchen. She would have had whatever meetings that she had and then she said she was meeting with you, but you know nothing about that. So I have no idea what the that is. What's his name? The the other detective uh said that the cameras were turned off. That shouldn't happen. [laughter] The only way that the cameras can be turned off is through the app. One of us has to hit the button. Um, internet outage will will cause something that that doesn't turn them off. It just interrupts the feed for a couple minutes. Uh, he said they were turned off and one of them looks like it has something on it. So, in my brain, I'm thinking someone made a move against her. I don't know where the dog is. He's somewhere in the house. Uh [snorts] really jumpy, skittish dog. Uh she has a gun that she carries around. It's always in one of three places. Well, I guess four. It's either on her. Uh she has like I think three different holsters now. Uh it's either on her if she's in her office. It's on the filing cabinet directly behind her. If she's anywhere else on the first floor, it's on here, the high counter next to the plants always. It's either here, here, or if she's upstairs, it is uh sitting next to the headboard. So, in my brain, someone came to the door. It's Christmas time. my Amazon packages being delivered every damn day. Uh, someone came to the door. She doesn't usually answer the door, but she must have because she she must have. Ah, so in my brain, the story that I have is someone came to the door. Maybe she went outside to get a package and they must have come in and she's she's a fighter. She's she's strong. She would have fought. [snorts] That's why I I I I warned them when [snorts] I was at the house and I asked, "Did she get any shots off?" She has a gun. She just went through the concealed carry class. She has an appointment to get her license. She had to have been surprised, but without a doubt, she fought. But if she was just answering the door for a package, you think she would have been packing answering the door? I mean, does she do that all the time? >> Well, the the Amazon drivers just drop something and go, >> right? >> So, with and without a gun, she's a fighter. >> Okay. And why do you say that? Do you have you guys fought before or you just know? >> No. >> Okay. Uh, I know her. Okay. She She refuses to be a victim. I don't gun. No gun. She will fight. Okay. I don't know. So, you think either she was taken off guard or it was somebody familiar to her? I don't know who who familiar would have been if she had to have been taken off guard because the familiar would be people don't just swing by the house. It just doesn't happen. I was at work. I assume [snorts] Lars was at work. Uh her parents are retired, but nobody just swings by. Uh especially during work days. Uh she she doesn't like being interrupted uh during work. So people know not to just stop by, which is why it had to have been a surprise. [snorts] And the the fact that the cameras were turned off, does that include your um [clears throat] your Ring doorbell or the doorbell camera or what's up with that? >> Uh from what? >> Thank you. >> From what weight said or he he had my phone and was asking why they were off and I said they shouldn't be. It looked like all of them were off. The the [clears throat] doorbell had something on it. And how do you know that? >> Because I saw it on the on the camera. >> Okay. And then so the point of the the the Google Home app [clears throat] is I can share it so that Christ has it, I have it, Ella has it, Lauraai has it. Everyone can pull up the cameras from anywhere. >> Mhm. >> I [snorts] mean, who who who do you think who who do you think killed her? I think it's kicking me. I think it's happening. Okay. I'm sorry. That's the first time somebody said that sentence. I'm sorry. Well, that that's what happened and that's why we're taking this so seriously. >> I think it was Kickman. Anthony, I'm sorry. Um If not him, I have I have no other security. >> Daniel was convinced Anthony had to be the attacker. But Crystal Steel's family brought information that flipped this entire case around, especially Christile's mother and brother. >> So she, if I understand correctly, they were having troubles in their marriage and she um >> Dan was in denial. >> She was going to end the marriage but stay. She wanted to end the marriage, but she said she felt that she couldn't because Dan was too violent with the kids. And if they split custody, she worried about the kids with Dan. >> Okay. >> Cuz Dan could be more violent. >> Did she ever like describe what that violence looked like? >> I saw it a couple times where he would grab and pull and I don't know. I never saw him hit. Although my granddaughter told me my told me he did hit because I just remember one time telling her that that's not normal and she was shocked to think that wasn't normal. But you know some parents do that, right? They say that's okay. I don't in this day and age. I thought they don't do that anymore, but I guess it's But anyway, and then there was one time where he'd get so angry, you know, he'd jerk. He's pretty scary when he gets angry. I don't know the whole story and I don't want to paint it as horrible cuz I don't know. I still have go back and forth with about Dan. >> But you're a mom and you have maternal instincts and >> I have this just just a gut. can't shake him. >> What's that feeling telling you? >> I just I can't I can't shake this question. Is he the one that's been doing this with Anthony? >> So, yeah. I mean, she said her uh like their marriage they had separated. >> She was expressed like her frustrations with marriage and like frustration with Dan. >> Yeah. like just grieving to me about, oh, he doesn't think he can just do the dishes and call it good, you know, just like >> um [clears throat] and I had asked her if she over text if she had um she believed that it was Anthony >> because my friend who's a school teacher, you know, we obviously gossip about the whole situation because it's a very tragic thing, you know, my sister being tormented for 3 months and now into today it's Um but he you know he works in the schools. He's like you know some people just get on Facebook and they just torment people like that's what they like to do cuz they're people are just right. >> Absolutely. Um, so I, you know, pass that pose that question to my sister as well. And so she was like, well, whenever I get the text or whatever, he'd always say, "This is Anthony from the beginning." And his email, they had been like the same way he'd contact her throughout because it sounds like he had been periodically contacting her for over some time now. >> Okay. >> Um, so she justified it that way and that just like the way he talks. And then she was like, "So, um, you know, if Dan was if it was Dan, then he's like, I don't know. I can pull my text and see what she said exactly." >> Yeah. >> Um, but she didn't believe at the time that I was asking her that it was anybody but Anthony. She was fully convinced that it was Anthony. >> Okay. Um, and she had no reason to suspect that it wasn't Anthony. And I don't know, my mom my mom has always been like suspicious and I just like don't know where that comes from. >> Okay. >> Um, >> can you elaborate on that? Like suspicious how or >> my mom? >> Yeah. >> Suspicious. I don't know. Cuz she like the difficulty finding Anthony like why is it so hard to find Anthony? why can't there you know cell phone records or IP stuff or so my mom is very frustrated with the the inability to locate one person who is so frequently contacting my sister like why is that such a difficult thing to do um so my mom had that frustration and so I think her mind starts to wander towards like conspiracy type things right of like oh maybe it's the husband or maybe is Dan. And And I I don't know. I don't see it there just because I don't know. Dan just seems so incapable of doing something like that to me. >> Okay. >> Um why do you see that? Just >> I don't know. I talked to him. So, a birthday party and him and I just hung out and talked for like 2 hours. >> Mhm. >> And he was like very concerned about like getting his family together and talking about um being vigilant but not paranoid. >> And um he was saying like, "Yeah, our marriage has been rocky, but you know, I still you know, she's still my wife and and everything." So, um, >> so it didn't seem like he was coming from like a place of like annoyance or frustration with the whole >> Okay. >> And I never bought into my mom. And I don't know if Donna has that same conspiracy or something either. Maybe my dad does too. I have no idea. But >> but for me, I don't I try to take things at wholesale. And >> I don't I just didn't see that perspective. And I and at the time I was asking Christ that I think um she didn't think that also. So you telling me that Donna got information from Crystal directly saying that she can't rule him out. I don't know if that's like a feedback loop of my mom constantly picking that scab. >> Okay. And like putting that in her head. Okay. >> Cuz at a point she was [music] not of that mindset. Okay. From everything the police had gathered, this seemed really far-fetched. Anthony was still nowhere to be found, and Linda was just looking for answers. Anyone she could hold responsible for her daughter's death. But then came Christile's father. After having a few days to process the loss, he was focused, ready to give any and all information he possibly could to bring justice to his daughter. So, um there were um three things that uh came to mind and then uh pointed out a fourth thing to me which I'll mention to you, but obviously I can't testify too cuz it it'd be uh hearsay because she's the one who has the information and [music] you know and and other people heard it but u so on the the three things that I just wanted to mention not knowing if I had already talked about it or not because when I came in for the initial interview on the day of the murder u I I can remember saying you know I just don't know anything you know I I don't know what I can contribute so I remember >> very overwhelming yeah >> so but um uh so the first item was and I don't remember exact dates obviously but it was in the basic time frame of end of October beginning of November >> okay >> that's when Christile called me and said uh can I stop by and talk to you because I I need to talk to you and she came over and she was just visibly upset and uh we sat down in the kitchen and she said, "Uh, I don't know how to tell you this, but uh, I'm being stalked." And, um, and the reason I'm bringing this up is that I have a feeling that part of the defense is going to be she either participated with the stalker or created the stalking situation or that she was involved with a sex ad and things like that. But she came over and told me, you know, and like I said, just visibly shaken and said, "I'm being stalked." And at first I go, "Well, what what's that mean? Someone just hanging out out in front of your house or whatever." And then she got into a little bit and says that and and it's vicious, nasty, perverted stuff I'm I'm I'm getting. And uh and uh I'm actually afraid uh this guy's going to hurt me. And uh um so it was obviously not something that she was participating in. And so uh I said, "I'm trying to get more information." She goes, "I I think it's uh this guy Anthony that uh I knew when I was 18." And I go, "Yeah, I remember Anthony." Couple pictures of Anthony when he was over to the house. >> Yeah. >> And um and uh he's uh he's wanting to get back together and he's doing his stuff and now he's sending me these really pornographic nasty messages. I go, "Well, have you have you told the police about this?" She says, "Yes, I have filed a police report and they're taking it seriously, but I wanted you to know about it, too." So, uh, because, uh, I I, you know, I I I'm I'm afraid and I don't know what to do. And I go, well, if, uh, if that's the case, we need to get you some protection and I'll, uh, you know, set we'll we'll set you up with, uh, being able to use a firearm and, uh, >> and, uh, and do some things like that so that you at least feel like you can protect yourself. And so uh you know that so so that was kind of the the gist of that conversation was and my point was that she was visibly upset about it. She clearly was not participating in this and was clearly a victim of it >> and had no uh you know and actually thought that >> Anthony >> Yeah. was stalking her and she was afraid of him. >> Yeah. And uh when I told her, "Well, we'll uh I'll let you use uh my little u 22 sig hour for for right now, but then let's get you some uh some range training and everything." That's when start going to the range with that one. >> So you guys were going frequently. >> Yeah, she went sever several times and the 22 obviously doesn't have a whole lot of stopping power. um uh Chief Basher who's the chief police in Lafayette, he's a good friend of mine and he came over and talked [clears throat] to her a little bit and he goes, "You need a 9 mm." So uh he says, "Get a 6 hour 9 and get the reflector site and stuff." That's when she went out with her and they bought that. >> Anyway, so that was the first conversation I had with her when I became aware of how afraid she was and that there was a stalking situation. And then the third that was on Thanksgiving. Uh [snorts] she came over for Thanksgiving. You guys uh I guess had recommended that to her and Dan split up or whatever or somebody had recommended that to her. So she came over and Dan went over to Peggy's house or something, I think. And uh uh after dinner was when she told me, she goes uh and I I think I pretty much decided uh I am going to proceed with a divorce from Dan. I go, "Oh, okay." She goes, "Uh, so one of the things that really bothers me," she said, "Is uh he uh he just doesn't take this stocking thing seriously. It doesn't seem to bother him at all. I I'm telling him that I'm afraid and and it [clears throat] he he's just blowing it off and he uh it's not bothering him. Even though it appears that he's been threatened by this stalker, too, it doesn't even face him and it uh it doesn't bother him that I'm upset about it. So, and she said, you know, he uh you know, we had marriage vows. He's supposed to be the one I can go to to to get help and everything. And uh he's just blowing this off like it's uh like it's no big deal. And they were talking about what the situation was with this Anthony stocking. And uh Christile said to them, so I didn't hear it, but uh Donna was there and her sister was there and Steve West was there. They all heard her say this that she said uh that at this point uh I don't rule out that it's Dan. I'm afraid that Dan could have something to do with it. And I think I think Anthony could be Dan. So she had the inclination that Dan was in fact the stalker and that there was no Anthony. And that was two days before her death. >> Just when the questions were piling up from all directions, the detectives managed to track down Anthony. And what he had to say proved that everything Crystal thought to be true in her final days was nothing but an elaborate lie. >> Hello. >> Hello, Anthony. >> Yes. >> How's it going? I'm Detective Martinez with the Broomfield Police. How are you today? >> I'm doing all right. How are you doing today? >> Doing all right. So, have you >> So, I I know you've been uh trying to reach out to Sergeant Fezan over here in Broomfield. What uh what has he filled you in on? >> Pretty much nothing. just that I'm not in trouble and I don't have to worry about but see I just want to know how this all happened because I haven't like I I know a little bit something about her still and her husband and uh stalking charge and I haven't been to Colorado since 2016 so it's like I don't I don't know how that could be possible and that's all I know. >> Yeah. So, there was again, you're not in any sort of trouble, but we're just trying to piece this together [music] cuz your name's been thrown around as somebody who had been here recently. So, we're just trying to show that in fact, you've been in Utah this whole time. >> I've been in Idaho. I've been in Idaho the whole time um since. And then I just moved to Utah in February. >> Okay. And you moved to Utah in February of this year. >> Uh, yeah. >> When's the last time you saw Christile? >> Last time I saw her was like 2001. 2000. 2000 when we broke up. >> All right. Um, so at some point um either myself or one of my partners will probably come out there and just chat with you just to completely uh follow up with you. But again, you're not in trouble or anything. Unfortunately, your name got thrown around as a potential suspect in this stalking [music] case that we're working and investigating. Um, but I don't believe it's you. >> Thank you. Cuz I It's not me. I swear. >> Yeah. >> I mean, I haven't I I She was my very first girlfriend, so I think about her sometimes, but I've never I have no idea where she lives. I never even tried to find where she lived. >> Sure. >> We talked a little bit. We talked a little bit in 2014 >> and that was it. >> Okay. How did you guys have that talk? >> We found each other on Facebook and and that was the last time I talked to her and last and but I haven't seen her since 2000. >> Okay. >> When we broke up. So, yeah. I I have no idea what I was so scared when the cops were at my house and said they were going to arrest me. >> Yeah. >> Cuz man, I I have nobody to get me from Broomfield. >> Yeah. I I understand. Daniel was still in the interview room, unaware of the detective's findings. >> What if I told you that we had already spoken with Anthony and there's no way that he was in town today? I have nothing. And I'm terrified to bring my children home. What are you terrified of? If it wasn't him, was it? I replaced all of our locks after the the garage intruder. I'll do it again. Uh, I got the cameras and I don't know who else. So there there's a lot of moving parts to this investigation. There's a lot of things that we're doing and working on and a lot of I mean our entire investigations unit I would say um fairly um is working on this right because like I said we take this very seriously. This doesn't happen very often in Broomfield. >> Um and for a long time >> we take all crime very seriously especially crime like this. So, um, one of the things that, um, we really started looking into today in in effort in effort to find Anthony is, um, what is it? The Gmail, um, what was the other >> text now number, >> the text now numbers and things like that. And >> I don't know what text, >> it's like an app that you can get fake phone numbers and contact people through Wi-Fi. Yeah, it's like a Wi-Fi only. >> Oh, spoofing. Gotcha. >> Kind of. >> Yeah. Not really spoofing, but like if I wanted to text somebody, let's say I was buying something on Craigslist and I didn't want them to know my real phone number cuz I don't want them coming back to me or whatever, I would just get a text now account and it would almost like [snorts] a Google voice, whatever. Okay. So, um, the really weird part about looking into some of that stuff because, um, we have what we call exigent circumstances right now. You understand what that means? Like, so for us and our legal mumbo jumbo, that means that, um, someone died and we're looking into it very seriously. And so, there's an urg sense of urgency in getting that information. Got. >> Okay. So companies are more likely to um cooperate with us if we're investigating that versus a harassment or a stalking or remember how we talked when I said my legal paperwork it takes a while. >> But because somebody was murdered today, we we have the ability to tell them that and they will generally provide us with information immediately. That's what ex circumstances means. >> Okay? >> Because we're trying to find the killer. >> So, some of that information that we've been able to receive today um is uh a little bit I don't know concerning, [snorts] I guess. um the Gmail account that um and you can speak more specifically >> and that text now number we were talking about the number that he initially texted Christ from >> the Gmail account, the Kickman account that you guys initially received with the photo of you in it. >> Uhhuh. >> And the the phone number, those originated through their IP addresses uh at your office. Doesn't make any sense. >> Well, he took the photo of me at my office, >> right? But both of those accounts originated from IP addresses that was back to your office. >> I don't know what to do with that. >> Well, tell us about the IP address. Do you know anything about the network or anything? the network or anything at your at your work or >> I do I do money. >> Yeah, I know. But like here I I believe me, I know nothing about tech stuff. That's why I keep looking to him to explain this crap is um I still know there >> there are wifi access throughout the facility for employees and there's public Wi-Fi access throughout the entire facility. >> Okay. >> Uh CPH guest I think is what it is. And we literally post the passwords in every single meeting room. Okay. I the the board meeting I was running yesterday, I can literally pull up the video because I have to record it and on a table in the back of the room, giant paper that says what the Wi-Fi is and what the password is. Okay. What's the IP address on your computer on your desk? >> I couldn't tell you. >> Okay. It's It's managed by the state. I have no idea. >> Gotcha. Cuz I hear we all have our own individual IP addresses to our individual computers, right? Mine's one address, hers is another address, and every other person has their individual addresses. So, I I have no idea if we have uh person specific or across the board. So, I'd say whichever one is cheaper we have. >> Okay. Because right now we're working with the director to get all of the IP information to see what devices were using that uh what devices were using that specific address during that time. So, >> okay. Because I guess the biggest concern is just the timing of everything that it just doesn't quite make sense to have somebody create an account, take a photo, and then immediately send it off and then the account is no longer being used. [snorts] None of this makes any sense. I've explained this to words. my family when that ex scatter to see my children. Are we done here? Well, that that's up to you. I mean, I I I think we still have a lot of unanswered questions, but I mean, I I'd like to know what happened this this morning. I'd like to know um >> what what caused what caused you to get so upset to hurt your wife cuz I believe that's what happened. I believe that you've been um [clears throat] because there there's no other logical explanation. >> I want to know what happened to her. Did she fight? Did she get shot? Where was she in the house? I have Linda who said they were doing CPR in the garage. That's all I know. So tell me, did she fight? Did she get shots off? Where did she get my We haven't been there to know. And there's only one person in this room that can tell us. [snorts] Detective King Solman and I have been here with you. I think you know the answer to all those questions. And I think if um I think that [snorts] the evidence will will show us that, but we're not there to look at it cuz we're hopeful that you're going to tell us the truth about what happened. and and finally show show your show [clears throat] your wife that you truly do love her by coming clean on all this stuff. >> There has to be someone else. There has to be. You ask me like I can't even count how many times is there a boyfriend? Why would the boyfriend kill her though? Cuz if the boyfriend wanted to be with her, I don't know. I've seen a lot of crime drama. I know you don't, but um if the boyfriend wanted to be with her, he would want to eliminate you. And I don't think they can mistaken you for him >> or her. I mean, I don't think you guys look alike. So, I mean, why would a why would a boyfriend who is um spending time with, let's just use your theory, um probably having sex with probably good sex cuz it's a fair sex. Um [clears throat] you know, probably um hearing her talk about how she wants to divorce you and is making plans to divorce you. Why in God's name would that boyfriend then come over to her house and kill her? Please let me know when I can return to my house. I need to figure out what the heck to do for a dog. I need to take care of my children. You have your theory. It is wrong. Please find the right Please have my phone. The last thing that we're going to do before before we get to that point is we need to process you for physical evidence. Okay. And is this the point where all that checklist is I say that's fine. But the last thing that we're going to do is we're going to process you for physical evidence at let me explain. Okay. But you're trying to rush out of here and we still have about 15 minutes together so we can take care of all of that stuff. Okay. So we need to collect your clothes. We need to take the vehicle swab sample that we talked about earlier. And before we get out of here, we need to take over all photos and collect the clothes. >> Because of the lack of concrete evidence, Daniel couldn't be arrested. He was processed for physical evidence, but he was free to go home. But that freedom was short-lived. Within the next 72 hours, detectives received irrefutable proof that all the emails, the text accounts, and everything originated from Daniel's office. From his computer and phone. Christile never had a stalker. It was always Daniel. >> Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go. >> Show us your hands. Show us your hands. Hands on your face. Hands on your face. Your hands on your face. >> You caught that. Yeah. Oh, here we got your truck. Hey Dan, do you want me to tell your kids that you killed their mother or do you want somebody else to? >> Okay. [music] All right. Good luck. >> Daniel Krug pleaded not guilty to all charges. maintaining his innocence throughout the investigation and trial. Despite his denial, a jury in Broomfield County found him guilty on all counts after evidence showed he posed as his wife's ex-boyfriend to harass and terrorize her before killing her in their garage. [music] He thought he could scare Chris Steel from the stalker and push her to love him again, but it didn't work and he couldn't bear the thought of Chris Steel leaving him. [music] From reading the books Detective Martinez recommended to getting a weapon and cameras, Crystal did everything she could to not be the victim. But Daniel still got to her. On April 18th, 2025, Daniel Krug was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, [music] plus an additional 9 and 1/2 years for the stalking and impersonation charges. [music] He will spend the rest of his life behind bars.