Listen to the article
Colorado Mother Extradited from UK to Face Murder Charges in Children’s Deaths
A Colorado woman accused of killing two of her children during a bitter custody dispute returned to the United States Tuesday after fighting extradition from Britain for nearly two years.
Kimberlee Singler, 37, now faces multiple charges including two counts of first-degree murder in the December 2023 deaths of her 9-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son. Her 11-year-old daughter was injured but survived the attack in their Colorado Springs home.
“Today really is a significant milestone in this criminal investigation,” Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez said during a news conference announcing Singler’s return. “Singler is accused of committing an unthinkable act. I know these acts have deeply impacted this community, and our hearts remain with the victims.”
District Attorney Michael Allen confirmed Singler will be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing to determine if there’s sufficient evidence to proceed to trial. That hearing typically occurs within 30 days of an initial court appearance.
The surviving child, now 13, is expected to be a key witness in the case. According to court documents from the UK proceedings, the girl eventually told investigators that her mother claimed “God made her do it.”
The case began on December 19, 2023, when police responded to Singler’s apartment shortly after midnight. They discovered the bodies of the two children while Singler and her older daughter both had injuries. Singler initially told authorities an intruder had broken in and attacked the family. She had what police described as superficial knife wounds, and her surviving daughter initially backed up her story.
As investigators examined the scene, inconsistencies emerged. Police noted there were no footprints in the snow leading to the patio where Singler claimed the intruder had entered through an unlocked door. GPS records showed her ex-husband, whom she attempted to implicate, was driving a truck about 80 miles away at the time of the killings.
By December 26, police sought to arrest Singler after her surviving daughter reportedly changed her account of what happened. By then, Singler had disappeared. She was located four days later in London’s upscale Chelsea neighborhood and arrested by British authorities.
The timing of the killings coincided with a critical moment in Singler’s custody battle. Just one day before the children were found dead, a Colorado judge had ordered Singler to comply with a previous directive to allow the children’s father to take custody for the holidays. She was instructed to either transfer the children to her ex-husband or bring them to a court hearing scheduled for December 20.
Instead of appearing for that hearing, Singler filed a motion asking for a delay, citing the attack and deaths of two of her children. She requested time to “grieve and gain my bearings after this incident.”
Court documents from the UK proceedings revealed that Singler had been staying with her mother during the custody dispute, though her mother was away when the killings occurred. Singler allegedly told police that her ex-husband “had previously dreamt about killing his family, that the children’s father was always trying to ‘frame her’ and ‘get her arrested’ and to have the kids taken away from her,” according to Judge John Zani’s January ruling in Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Singler fought extradition vigorously, represented by Edward Fitzgerald, the same attorney who represented WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in his battle against extradition to the United States. Her legal team argued she should not be sent back to Colorado because if convicted of first-degree murder, she would face a mandatory sentence of life without parole—a punishment they claimed violated European human rights law.
After a UK judge rejected her challenge in January 2025 and denied her appeal in November, Singler was finally transported back to Colorado by FBI agents and local police.
In addition to the murder charges, Singler faces one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse, and one count of assault. Court records do not yet list an attorney representing her in the United States.
Fact Checker
Verify the accuracy of this article using The Disinformation Commission analysis and real-time sources.
10 Comments
This is a heartbreaking story. I hope the community can come together to support the surviving child and honor the memory of the two young victims.
This is a tragic and heartbreaking case. I hope the justice system can provide some closure for the family and community affected by this unthinkable act.
Agreed. The surviving child must be going through immense trauma. I hope they receive the support and care they need.
Custody disputes can bring out the worst in people, but murder is an unforgivable act. I hope the evidence is strong enough to convict the suspect.
Agreed. The legal system must ensure justice is served in this case, no matter how difficult the circumstances.
This case highlights the importance of mental health support and resources for families facing custody battles. Tragedies like this must be prevented.
Absolutely. Better access to counseling and mediation services could make a real difference in such sensitive situations.
Extraditing the suspect from the UK shows the seriousness with which the authorities are pursuing this case. Thorough investigations and a fair trial will be crucial.
Yes, it’s important that the legal process is followed diligently to ensure justice is served. The victims and their family deserve that much.
It’s distressing to hear about children being harmed in such a horrific way. My thoughts are with the family and community during this difficult time.