Virginia woman strangled days after dumping her deceptive boyfriend
Updated on: January 31, 2026 / 9:31 AM EST / CBS News
TL;DR
- Katlyn Lyon Montgomery was found unconscious, initially suspected to be an overdose, but later revealed to be a murder.
- Investigator Robbie Burnette focused on injuries found on Montgomery's head and neck, and a charging cord adapter was found.
- Roommate Jacob Piercy was initially a suspect but was cleared.
- Montgomery's ex-boyfriend, Trenton Frye, became the prime suspect after it was revealed he was a con artist who lied about his financial status and businesses.
- Frye had offered to find an apartment for them in North Carolina, but confessed he couldn't due to his poor credit and lack of income.
- Montgomery discovered Frye's lies and blocked him.
- Cell phone data placed Frye near Montgomery's apartment on the night of the attack.
- Prosecutors theorized Frye used a bench to gain access to the second-story apartment's balcony.
- Frye's attorney argued there was no evidence placing him inside the apartment and that scaling the balcony unnoticed was impossible.