A Virginia jury has convicted Trenton Frye of first-degree murder in the 2022 killing of 28-year-old Katlyn Lyon Montgomery, bringing a close to a case that prosecutors said involved stalking, obsession, and a calculated late-night attack inside the victim’s apartment.
Frye was sentenced to life in prison after jurors deliberated for just over an hour, accepting the prosecution’s argument that he strangled Montgomery with charging cords while her young daughter slept in the same bed. Authorities said the killing followed weeks of escalating behavior after Montgomery ended their relationship.
From Medical Emergency to Homicide Investigation
Montgomery was found unresponsive in her Bedford County apartment on October 7, 2022. First responders initially suspected a drug overdose, but doctors later identified injuries to her neck and head that pointed to strangulation. Investigators said no drugs were found at the scene, shifting the case to a homicide investigation within hours.
She was declared brain-dead the following day.
