Suvechha Sarkar
Kirsten Russell Lockett was known among her loved ones for her bright personality and for being a loving mother. However, her beautiful life came to an abrupt halt in July 2015, when the 36-year-old was brutally stabbed in Castle Rock, Colorado. The devastating tragedy left her family and the community completely shocked. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Evil Lives Here: A Demon on Her Back’ focuses on this case and how a person closest to her turned out to be responsible for her untimely demise. It also features an emotional interview with her eldest daughter, Kayla Stitely, who sheds light on the days leading up to Kirsten’s murder.
Kirsten Russell Lockett Was Found Stabbed in Her Brother’s Home
Kirsten Russell was born sometime in 1979 and brought immense joy to the lives of her mother Sherry Russell, father, and siblings. She was always surrounded by their love and support and had a close bond with her brother, Kurt, and sister, Chantel. Her friends and family often described her as someone who was “brilliant” and had a bright personality. Kirsten graduated from Columbine High School in 1996. She was also a big animal lover and enjoyed speaking with people from all walks of life. As an adult, she married twice, but both unions ultimately ended in divorce. However, during this time, Kirsten was overjoyed to welcome three children into her life, with Kayla Stitely being her oldest daughter. In 2002, she met Richard Allen Lockett, and they quickly hit it off. However, it wasn’t until a few years later that the couple decided to tie the knot in a cozy ceremony.
In the following years, Kirsten and Richard welcomed three children into the world, making her a mother of six. However, according to Kayla, things changed when Richard moved in with them. He began showing exaggerated reactions to the smallest things that the kids used to do. Since he faced financial issues, the family had to move around a lot. With time, Richard allegedly grew abusive, and at one point, Kirsten decided to leave him. Kayla was sent away to live at her father’s house, but when she returned to her mother in Colorado two years later, she discovered that Kirsten was still with Richard. Things worsened when Kayla turned 17 and moved back in with them after giving birth to her own child. Around that time, her younger brother called the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and reported Richard for alleged abuse and neglect. Therefore, their five younger children and Kayla, along with her own daughter, were sent to live at their aunt’s house.
Eventually, Kirsten left Richard, got custody of the kids back, and filed for a restraining order against him. However, on July 13, 2015, she was allegedly abducted by her estranged husband and assaulted at gunpoint. She somehow managed to free herself and filed a complaint against him, leading to officials launching a manhunt for him. As for Kristen, she moved into her brother Kurt’s home on South Amherst Street in the Founders Village neighborhood in Castle Rock. Things gradually seemed to cool down a bit, but it all changed on July 18, 2015. That’s when police responded to a 911 call from Kurt regarding a break-in at his home and the potential danger to Kirsten’s life. By the time officials arrived, though, it was too late, as they found her deceased in the bathroom. She had been stabbed multiple times in the neck, and her autopsy confirmed this to be the cause of her death.
A Deadly Break-in and Protective Order Violation Led to Kirsten Russell Lockett’s Murder
When the authorities received a call from Kirsten’s brother, Kurt, he had already informed them that Richard had broken into their home shortly before 5 am on July 18, 2015. He reported that although Kirsten managed to urge her children to run away and save them, her estranged husband reportedly dragged her into the bathroom and locked the door. When they arrived, they discovered Richard was still present at the scene. Furthermore, they observed that he had two self-inflicted knife wounds on his neck, suggesting a failed suicide attempt. Ultimately, with the evidence available at the scene, Richard was arrested on the spot. By this point, investigators had also noted that the back window of the garden-level bedroom where Kristen was staying had been shattered to such an extent that there were pieces of glass on the bed too, meaning the break-in was undeniable.
During the investigation, detectives learned that after Kirsten received custody of the kids, Richard had started stalking her. The incident where he had allegedly abducted as well as sexually assaulted her also came up, driving them to look deeper into his actions. That’s when they uncovered that the protective order against him, granted on June 24, 2015, stipulated he was not to come near his estranged wife, her children, or even her mother. However, he violated it on the fateful day by breaking and entering while Kirsten was asleep with her kids. Therefore, Richard was ultimately charged with first‐degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, stalking, and violation of a protection order.
Richard Lockett is Serving Time at a Colorado Prison Facility
In January 2016, Richard initially pleaded not guilty to all the counts against him, and his defense team revealed that they planned to maintain this position by reason of insanity or mental health issues. He was thus scheduled to face a jury trial in connection with the ordeal in March 2017. However, on January 31, 2017, Richard pleaded guilty to first-degree murder to avoid court proceedings. During this time, his team maintained the defense of mental health issues by arguing that he was suicidal at the time of Kirsten’s murder. They claimed he went to her brother’s home intending to kill himself, not her, and that he pleaded guilty to avoid causing any further pain. Ultimately, on the very same day, Richard was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Following his sentencing, Richard apologized, saying, “I’d like to apologize to my family for all of the hurt I’ve caused. I pled guilty because it was the right thing to do. I’m sorry.” He gave an interview where he reportedly admitted that he was responsible for the murder. However, he claimed once again that he never intended to kill Kirsten. He alleged that while they were speaking in the bathroom, he had turned around to stab himself in a manner so that Kirsten wouldn’t be able to see. Richard claimed that he did not believe that he actually killed her. He alleged that Kirsten might have picked up the knife and stabbed herself. As of writing, Richard is incarcerated at the Arkansas Valley Correctional Facility, located in Ordway, Colorado.
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