WOODLAND PARK, Colorado — It's been a year since the small mountain town of Woodland Park was rocked by a horrific murder. Kelsey Berreth disappeared after going shopping for Thanksgiving. The missing persons investigation eventually led to the arrest of the father of Berreth's child, Patrick Frazee. A Teller County jury convicted Frazee of murder on Monday.
On Saturday, several members of the Woodland Park community filled the Seventh-day Adventist Church where Kelsey attended services for public memorial in her honor.
"A lot of the people in the community just want to show support for Kelsey's family," said resident Sandra Wickham.
"I still feel like we're all a family and want to celebrate her life," added Jennifer Hunt, a member of the church.
"She was somebody that deserves to be celebrated and remembered, even by people who didn't know her."
The search for Kelsey and subsequent trial of Frazee put the community in the national spotlight. Earlier this month, prosecutors presented evidence and witnesses gave testimony suggesting that Frazee beat Berreth to death inside of her townhouse and then burned her body on his property near Florrisant.
The violence of it all startled many.
"Nothing like this could happen, or has anything like this ever happened before," said Barbara Morris. "We feel protected up here I think."
The crime has also motivated some, like Hunt, to reach out more to those around her.
"I think it might make us more aware of our neighbors in our community, to open our ears and our eyes, you know, be more available."
The Berreth family returned to Idaho and wasn't in attendance for the service. They are seeking to legally adopt Kelsey's daughter Kaylee. They're also asking the court for a no-contact order for the Frazee family.
