Shivangi Sinha
In December 2023, police conducted a welfare check at the home of Kristil Krug in Broomfield, Colorado. Just a few months earlier, she had reported receiving harassing messages from an ex-boyfriend and said she felt threatened. When officers arrived that day, they discovered her remains in the garage, showing signs of a brutal attack. Investigators initially focused on the ex-boyfriend, but after confirming he had a solid alibi, the case took an unexpected turn. The details of the investigation and how the perpetrator was eventually caught are explored in ABC’s ‘20/20: He’s Right Behind You’ and NBC’s ‘Dateline: The Phantom.’
Kristil Krug’s Personal and Professional Lives Were Equally Fulfilling
Kristil Grimsurd was born on November 24, 1980, to loving parents Linda and Lars Grimsurd. She grew up in Boulder, Colorado, alongside her brother, Jeremy, and was known as a bright and curious child. From a young age, she had a passion for dancing and would often perform for her family and every time, her face would light up with joy. Academically, she gravitated toward the sciences, excelling in her studies while continuing to pursue modern dance, where she earned numerous accolades. She had a kindness about her and an unforgettable, infectious laughter that left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
Determined to chase her dreams, Kristil earned an academic scholarship to the prestigious Colorado School of Mines, where she began studying biochemical engineering. She later transferred to the University of Colorado, Boulder, where she earned her degree in biochemical engineering. She joined Agilent Technologies in 2004 and became part of the Project Management team, where she thrived professionally. Her personal life also seemed to be falling perfectly into place. In 2007, she married Daniel Krug, and the couple chose to settle in Broomfield, Colorado. They purchased a home in the 3100 block of Promontory Loop and welcomed three children into their lives, two daughters and a son.
Kristil Krug Was Killed After Reporting to the Police That She Was Being Stalked
Life appeared seamless and fulfilling for Kristil and her family. However, trouble began in October 2023, when she received disturbing messages from someone she believed to be her ex-boyfriend, Anthony Holland. She had dated Holland when she was quite young, but the two broke up in 2000. Over the years, they exchanged a few texts intermittently, but in October 2023, he allegedly asked her to meet him. When she refused, she began receiving a series of harassing and abusive messages. Kristil believed she was being stalked and reported the situation to the police. She even feared for her husband’s safety, believing Daniel was also being followed after he showed her a picture of himself arriving at work that he had supposedly received.
At the same time, her marriage appeared to be under strain, and Kristil felt increasingly unsafe. Reports suggest she was so concerned for her life that she began carrying a firearm. On December 14, 2023, Daniel contacted the police, requesting a welfare check on his then-wife after she failed to respond to his messages. He claimed that he had seen her after she had come back from dropping their kids off at school. At around 12:30 pm, officers arrived at their home and discovered Kristil’s remains in the garage. She had suffered blunt force trauma to the head and had been fatally stabbed in the heart. Her death was ruled a homicide.
Digital Evidence Led the Police to Kristil Krug’s Killer
The police had already been involved in Kristil Krug’s stalking case, so when it turned into a murder investigation, their first step was to reach out to Anthony Holland. At the time, he was living in Utah and was reportedly stunned when officers appeared at his home. He told investigators that he had not spoken to Kristil in years and provided a solid alibi for the time of her death. With Holland cleared, investigators dug deeper into the threatening messages Kristil had received. Digital forensics revealed that the trail led back to someone much closer to her. One of the fake email accounts used to send the messages had been created on Daniel Krug’s workplace server. Further evidence showed that one of the burner phones involved in the harassment had been purchased with a gift card registered under Daniel’s name.
Investigators uncovered more evidence that pointed toward Daniel. The security cameras Kristil had installed around her home had all been disabled on the day of the murder, and one was even found covered with tape. Footage from neighbors’ cameras showed no sign of any third person entering the property. Additionally, on the morning of Kristil’s death, Daniel was seen leaving the house about thirty minutes later than his usual time. Several text messages were sent from Kristil’s phone after Daniel left, but forensic digital analysis revealed they had been scheduled in advance. Investigators concluded that Kristil’s phone was last active at around 8:22 am, just two minutes before Daniel left the house at 8:24 am. This led authorities to believe that Daniel had scheduled the messages himself in an attempt to create a false alibi.
Detectives determined that Daniel had been impersonating Holland and sending the harassing messages once his marriage with Kristil began to fall apart, allegedly as a way to maintain control over her. They believed that as the harassment investigation started closing in and the risk of exposure grew, Daniel decided to kill Kristil to derail the case and frame her ex-boyfriend. Investigators also suspected that Daniel feared losing his marriage and custody of their three children, who were 11 and 8 years old at the time. He was arrested on December 16, 2023, and charged in connection with the case.
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Daniel Krug is Serving a Life Sentence Today
Daniel Krug’s trial began in April 2025, with his defense arguing that no DNA evidence directly linked him to the crime scene and accusing detectives of mishandling the investigation. However, the prosecution presented a strong case, with overwhelming digital evidence, including incriminating internet searches made by Daniel the day before the murder, such as “When is a head injury a cause for concern?” and “How hard would you have to hit someone in the head to make them unconscious?” He was ultimately convicted of first-degree murder, two counts of stalking, and one count of criminal impersonation. The judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole, plus an additional nine and a half years. The 44-year-old is currently serving his sentence at the Sterling Correctional Facility in Sterling, Colorado.
