A Colorado mother allegedly murdered two of her children in a staged burglary to evade a custody order, fled to London, and fought extradition for nearly two years before U.S. justice prevailed in late 2025.
Story Highlights
- Kimberlee Singler, 37, extradited from UK to Colorado to face first-degree murder charges for killing her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son on Dec. 19, 2023.
- Incident occurred hours after judge ordered custody handover to father; Singler staged scene as home invasion with no forensic evidence of intruder.
- Surviving 11-year-old daughter initially backed mother’s story but later told investigators “God made [her mother] do it,” implicating Singler directly.
- Singler fled after arrest warrant, arrested in London’s Chelsea on Dec. 30, 2023; fought return citing European human rights objections to U.S. life sentences.
- DA Michael Allen hails her return as “momentous day” for justice; first court appearances imminent as case enters pre-trial phase.
The Horrific Crime Scene Unravels
Colorado Springs police responded to a 911 call just after midnight on December 19, 2023, at an apartment where Kimberlee Singler lived with her three children. Officers discovered the 9-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy dead from stab wounds. The 11-year-old daughter suffered grave injuries but survived. Singler reported superficial knife wounds and claimed an unknown male intruder entered through an unlocked patio door, attacked the family, and left her unconscious. Initially, both Singler and the surviving daughter supported this intruder narrative. The grandmother owned the home but was absent during the incident.
Custody Dispute Provides Chilling Motive
On December 18, 2023, an El Paso County judge ordered Singler to comply with a prior custody arrangement, granting the children’s father holiday parenting time or requiring her appearance with them at a December 20 hearing. This order preceded the killings by mere hours amid an ongoing bitter family court battle. Investigators later noted this timing as key context. Singler and ex-husband shared contentious custody in El Paso County, Colorado. The pressure of impending loss of control over the children aligns with patterns in custodial filicide cases, underscoring failures in high-conflict family court risk assessments.
Investigation Exposes Staged Burglary
Within days, evidence dismantled the home invasion claim. Snow around the patio showed no footprints matching Singler’s description of an intruder’s entry. GPS data placed the ex-husband’s vehicle 80 miles away, providing a solid alibi and ruling him out as suspect. The surviving daughter’s account shifted dramatically; she told investigators her mother attacked them and claimed “God made [her] do it.” Police issued an arrest warrant on December 26, 2023, but Singler had vanished. Colorado Springs Police processed the scene, coordinated with FBI for international pursuit, and reframed the case as intrafamilial homicide with a fabricated burglary.
Singler surfaced in London’s upscale Chelsea neighborhood, arrested December 30, 2023, by UK Metropolitan Police.
Extradition Battle Ends in U.S. Victory
Singler contested extradition for almost two years in UK courts. Her defense, led by Edward Fitzgerald, argued Colorado’s mandatory life-without-parole for first-degree murder violated Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights as inhuman punishment. UK judges ultimately rejected this, approving her return. FBI agents and Colorado Springs officers escorted her back. She faces two counts of first-degree murder, one attempted murder, three child abuse, and one assault charge. DA Michael Allen announced her custody, calling it a “momentous day” for pursuing justice.
Kimberlee Singler, who is accused of killing two of her children in December of 2023, has been extradited to Colorado Springs and has been booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center thanks to the collaborative work of CSPD, @FBIDenver, @FBI, @4thJudicialDA, @USAO_CO,… pic.twitter.com/HHFLougeRO
— Colorado Springs Police Department (@CSPDPIO) December 24, 2025
The surviving daughter, now about 13, remains the central witness despite her youth and trauma. Allen emphasized her role while limiting details due to the pending case. Singler’s first court appearances, including advisement of rights and arraignment, are set for coming days. This case highlights effective cross-border law enforcement cooperation and raises questions about family court safeguards in custody disputes.
Sources:
Kimberlee Singler, mom accused in children’s deaths, extradited to Colorado
Colorado woman suspected of killing 2 of her children is extradited from the UK (AP Video)
