Kansas Man Murders Wife, Uses Life Insurance Payout to Buy Sex Doll: Report

After 21 months, Mr. Trickle was charged with murder for the death of Kristen Trickle. The incident had occurred in July 2021. Following her death, Mr. Trickle purchased a life-size sex doll valued at $2,000 just two days after receiving her insurance payout.

An official from the Hays Police Department, Sergeant Brandon Hauptman, suspected Mr. Trickle’s involvement in the death after speaking with him at the crime scene. Despite the initial ruling of suicide by Dr. Lyle Noordhoek, the coroner, further investigation was prompted by suspicions raised during the initial questioning. Mr. Trickle, being in the Army Reserve, was not detained at that time; however, the investigating officers continued to work on the case.

Years later, reports revealed that Mr. Trickle had cashed in on two life insurance policies for his wife, totaling over $120,000. This was in addition to the $2,000 spent on the life-size sex doll just days after receiving the insurance payout. Detective Joshua “JB” Burkholder expressed concerns about Mr. Trickle’s actions, stating, “There’s a mourning process that I think everyone needs to go through — should go through when a loved one dies — and to have him ordering this type of doll just months after his wife’s death was concerning.” Kristen Trickle’s aunt, Delynn Rice, also expressed shock and disapproval at Mr. Trickle’s use of her niece’s life insurance money for the sex doll, remarking that it felt like he had replaced her with her own money.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Mr. Trickle spent the entire $120,000 of the insurance money within eight months, on various purchases including video games, paying off debts, and music equipment in pursuit of becoming a performer. In a surprising turn of events during the trial, Mr. Trickle’s mother, Tina Kreutzer, testified that the doll was purchased for his warmth and comfort, as he was experiencing nightmares and trouble sleeping following his wife’s death. After the trial, which took place in September 2023, Mr. Trickle was found guilty of murder and interfering with law enforcement.

He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole for 50 years, more than four years after Kristen Trickle’s death.