Ex-Boyfriend Charged in Virginia Woman's Murder After She Discovered His Deception
When emergency services arrived at Katlyn Lyon Montgomery's apartment in Bedford County, Virginia, in October 2022, the initial assumption was an accidental overdose. Her roommate, Jacob Piercy, had made the frantic 911 call after Katlyn's young daughter, Milani, raised the alarm. However, as detailed in a forthcoming 48 Hours report, medical staff soon identified traumatic injuries to her head and neck, pivoting the case from a medical emergency to a homicide investigation.
Investigators from the Bedford County Sheriff's Office, led by Robbie Burnette, documented the injuries. At the scene, investigator Michelle Alderson discovered a potential weapon: a multi-charging cord adapter wrapped within the victim's comforter. With no signs of forced entry, suspicion initially fell on Piercy, the only other adult present. He was quickly cleared after corroborating his account and being heard on the 911 recording performing CPR.
The focus then shifted to Trenton Frye, Montgomery's recent ex-boyfriend. Interviews with family and friends painted a picture of a relationship built on deception. Frye had presented himself as a successful entrepreneur, discussing plans to move in together and relocate to North Carolina. "He seemed impressive," recalled her brother, Jake Lyon. The facade crumbled in September 2022 when Frye confessed he had no job, no credit, and was essentially living out of his mother's car.
"She realized he was a con artist," Lyon told 48 Hours correspondent Erin Moriarty. Montgomery cut off all contact, blocking Frye. Commonwealth's Attorney Wes Nance argues this rejection provided the motive. Cellphone data later placed Frye near her apartment on the night of the attack.
The prosecution's challenge was proving how Frye entered the second-story apartment without alerting Montgomery, her roommate, or their three dogs. Nance's theory involves a bench found discarded in weeds behind the building, which he posits Frye used to scale a 4-foot wall and access the balcony. Defense attorney Joseph Sanzone ridiculed the idea, stating, "Only Tom Cruise can do that as far as I know."
In a pivotal moment during trial, Frye himself provided a label that prosecutors seized upon. When asked about his physical capabilities, he referred to himself as a "ninja." Nance presented this as a telling admission, aligning with the theory of a stealthy, nocturnal assault. The case highlights the extreme dangers that can arise when intimate deception is violently unmasked.
Community Reaction
Linda Carter, Bedford County Resident: "This is every family's nightmare. It makes you question how well you can ever really know someone. The system has to ensure he's never free to do this again."
Marcus Thorne, Security Consultant: "The entry method, if proven, shows a frightening level of premeditation. It underscores the importance of perimeter security, even in seemingly safe apartments."
David Kline, Local Advocate for Domestic Violence Awareness: "This wasn't just a breakup. It was an exposure. The moment his fabricated world collapsed, her life was deemed forfeit. It's a pattern of coercive control ending in the ultimate act of power." [Emotional/Sharp] "And where's the outrage? If this was a random break-in, it'd be front-page for weeks. But because it's 'just' another woman killed by a man she knew, it becomes a true-crime segment before we even discuss the systemic failure to protect victims from known aggressors."
Professor Eleanor Shaw, Criminologist: "The 'ninja' self-characterization is significant. It points to a fantasy-driven self-image that may have fueled both the initial deception and the violent response to its collapse."