American Mother Loses Fight Against US Extradition
An American mother, accused of the drug-facilitated murder of two of her children before fleeing to London, has been unsuccessful in her latest legal attempt to avoid extradition. Kimberlee Singler, 36, is wanted by authorities in Colorado Springs to face charges for the first-degree murders of her nine-year-old daughter, Elianna, and her seven-year-old son, Aden. The alleged crimes occurred on December 19, 2023.
She also faces an attempted murder charge relating to her third child, who was eleven years old at the time. The case took a dramatic turn when Singler fled thousands of miles to the United Kingdom, leading to an international manhunt.
The Night of the Tragedy and a 'Burglary' That Wasn't
Police were initially called to a report of a burglary at an apartment in northeast Colorado Springs in the early hours of the morning. Upon arrival, around 12:30 am, officers discovered a harrowing scene. Singler and her surviving daughter were found lying next to the bodies of the two younger children.
However, the investigation quickly unravelled the initial account. Law enforcement later determined that the burglary report and the associated 911 call were 'unfounded'. Further scrutiny revealed that there were no footprints in the snow leading to the patio door that Singler claimed an intruder had used.
Singler, who was in the midst of a contentious divorce and custody battle with her ex-husband, Kevin Wentz, had superficial knife wounds and was initially treated as a victim. This changed after her surviving daughter, who had initially corroborated the intruder story, later stated that her mother had tried to kill her.
Flight to London and Arrest
After initially cooperating with police, Singler vanished, triggering a nationwide search in the United States. She managed to travel approximately 5,000 miles to Britain, where she remained at large for several days. Her time on the run ended on December 30, 2023, when she was arrested by the National Crime Agency (NCA) in the Kensington area of West London.
At a court hearing in January 2024, a judge remarked that Singler had flown to the UK ‘knowing exactly what was going to happen’ and ordered her to be held in custody due to being a significant flight risk. The court also heard that she has no substantial ties to the UK.
Legal Battle and High Court Ruling
Singler launched an appeal against her extradition, arguing that if convicted in Colorado, she could face a life sentence without the possibility of parole. Her legal team contended that this would be a potential breach of her European human rights.
Her lawyer also claimed there were 'flaws' in the Colorado Springs Police investigation, alleging that the witness statement from her surviving daughter was 'non-voluntary'. Singler has consistently denied harming her children, instead alleging that her ex-husband either carried out the killings or hired a hitman.
However, in the latest development, a High Court judge ruled on Thursday that she should be extradited to the United States to stand trial. The judge upheld the decision for her return, dismissing the arguments presented by her defence. It remains unclear when she will be sent back to the US.
The case has raised serious questions about how an individual wanted on such serious charges was able to leave the United States and enter the United Kingdom.
