Suvechha Sarkar
The early hours of October 7, 2022, sent shockwaves through the community of Forest, Virginia, when 28-year-old Katlyn Elizabeth Montgomery was found unresponsive in her home. Unfortunately, the beloved daughter and dutiful mother passed away the following day from her injury, prompting a homicide investigation. The episode titled, ‘The Sneak Attack on Katlyn Lyon’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ sheds light on the investigation of the case, which helped officials catch the person responsible for her death. It also features emotional interviews with her loved ones and the law enforcement officials, who discussed the details that cracked the case.
Katlyn Lyon Montgomery Died One Day After She Was Rushed to the Hospital
David R. Lyon and Crystal Jamerson Sale welcomed their daughter, Katlyn Elizabeth Montgomery, into the world on May 22, 1994. Growing up, Katlyn was always close to her brothers, Jacob, Jordan, and Grayson Lyon. Unfortunately, the relationship between David and Crystal didn’t work out, and they parted ways. Eventually, Crystal got a second chance at love when she met Gary, and they soon tied the knot. It led Katlyn and her brothers to welcome her stepsister, Tiffany Parker, and stepbrother, Chris Sale, into their lives. Katlyn’s loved ones often described her as someone smart with the best sense of humor. She was often referred to as a “dancing queen” and enjoyed attending music festivals. Moreover, Katlyn was a fashionista and an avid traveler who loved speaking about love, unity, and peace.
In adulthood, Katlyn entered into a relationship that resulted in the birth of her beloved daughter, Milani Rai Lyon. Sadly, her relationship didn’t work out, and she focused entirely on raising her daughter. Katlyn began working as a Manager at Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar in Lynchburg, Virginia. By 2022, she moved into a residence along with her roommate, Jacob Piercy, at the Jefferson Forest Manor Apartments in Forest, Virginia. Things took a dark turn in the early hours of October 7, 2022. Shortly after 5 am on that day, Milani entered Jacob’s room to inform him that something was wrong with Katlyn. When he reportedly reached her room, he found her unresponsive and promptly called 911. When the paramedics arrived, they did CPR, and Katlyn was rushed to the Centra Lynchburg General Hospital.
According to official records, medical personnel who were examining Katlyn at the hospital noted that she had linear markings on her throat and neck, which were consistent with strangulation. Additionally, they discovered that she had petechial hemorrhaging, meaning tiny blood spots around her eyes and face, which were also consistent with asphyxiation due to strangulation. In the meantime, authorities searched her apartment, leading to the discovery of phone charging cords, which were wrapped in a blanket on the bed. Reports state that when physicians examined the markings on Katlyn’s neck, they matched the phone cords found at the scene, indicating that it was the weapon used to strangle her. Sadly, Katlyn passed away from her injury on October 8, 2022.
The Killer’s Cellphone Data and Contradictory Account Led to His Conviction
Once detectives began their investigation, they first questioned Jacob about whether Katlyn ever did drugs or if it was a case of drug overdose. According to reports, Jacob denied any involvement with drugs. As the investigation intensified, officials learned about Katlyn’s ex-boyfriend, Trenton David Mills Frye, with whom she had broken up just about a week prior. According to court records, when Trenton was questioned on October 7, 2022, he claimed that he was at work on the night of October 6 in North Carolina and allegedly had no idea about what Katlyn went through. In his statements, he reportedly denied knowing where she was living after moving to Forest. Reports state that when investigators contacted his workplace, they discovered that Trenton didn’t report to work on October 6 and 7, contradicting his statements.
On October 9, Trenton admitted himself to Cone Health Behavioral Health Hospital. According to official reports, digital forensic experts then recovered data from Katlyn’s mobile phone, which revealed that she and Trenton had an argument via text on the night of October 6, 2022. Court records specify that he sent her texts like “Lowlife, piece of s**t” and “karma is a bi**h.” Shortly after, Trenton sent the text “My mental issues are getting out of control, hurting like I never have before,” which the authorities believed was his attempt to get back together with Katlyn. Ultimately, detectives executed a search warrant on his cell phone, which helped them uncover his location data. As per police records, Trenton’s location was tracked at approximately 10:19 pm on October 6, just 1 mile from Katlyn’s residence.
It once again contradicted Trenton’s initial account, in which he claimed he was not in Virginia on the day of the attack. According to court records, the authorities believed that on October 7, Trenton had climbed up Katlyn’s balcony before strangling her with the cords and fleeing the scene. Ultimately, he was arrested on October 20, 2022, in Greensboro, North Carolina. After he was extradited to Virginia, he was initially charged with second-degree murder. Trenton’s charge was upgraded to first-degree murder in January 2023. His jury trial commenced on March 31, 2025, and he was convicted of first-degree murder in April 2025. Trenton was finally sentenced to life in prison on August 19, 2025.
