A fugitive American mother who fled to the UK after allegedly shooting dead her two children is facing extradition to the US.
Kimberlee Singler, 35, allegedly murdered her two children Elianna ‘Ellie’ Wentz, 9, and Aden Wentz, 7 at their home in Colorado Springs in December after drugging them with sleep medication.
Autopsy reports released by local coroners last week show both kids suffered gunshot wounds to the head and cuts to their necks.
Potentially toxic levels of doxylamine – a drug commonly found in sleep aids and allergy medicines – were detected in Ellie and her brother Aden’s bloods.
Singler later went on the run for two weeks after Colorado police launched an investigation, sparking an international manhunt.
Kimberlee Singler, 35, is facing extradition from London after she allegedly murdered her two children Elianna ‘Ellie’ Wentz, 9, and Aden Wentz, 7
Autopsy reports show both kids suffered gunshot wounds and cuts to their necks before the deaths
The 35-year-old was arrested by the National Crime Agency in a hotel in Kensington, west London, on December 30.
She later appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on New Year’s Day, where extradition proceedings were started.
Singler also allegedly injured herself and her 11-year-old daughter, who has not been identified, before she called 911 and reported the attack as a burglary in the early morning of December 19.
Police responded to the call and found Singler and her still-living daughter, 11, lying next to the dead bodies of her other daughter and son.
However, Singler’s claim that the attack was a burglary was later discovered to be unfounded.
Forensic pathologist Dr Megan Kliesner, said in her report: ‘Autopsy and investigation indicate that these injuries were incurred as a result of the deliberate actions of another person.’
It came on the same day a judge ordered police to locate the children after she failed to drop them off to their father, Kevin Wentz, 38.
Court records show that ahead of a hearing scheduled on December 20, Singler, who was representing herself, went to a public library and filed a motion asking for the hearing that day to be continued.
Singler’s ex-husband Kevin Wentz (pictured) identified the bodies, while Singler went on the run for two weeks, sparking an international manhunt
Wentz released photos of his two children and their names: Daughter Elianna ‘Elie’ Wentz (pictured left), 9 and Aden Wentz (pictured right), 7
Wentz claimed that Singler made allegations of both domestic violence and child abuse against him, which a US county court found unsubstantiated
In the motion, she states that an unknown person broke into her residence on December 18 and attacked her and three children.
She claimed she that she was weak, in a great deal of pain, and had no ability to call 911 until after midnight on December 19.
The 35-year-old has been charged with two counts of first degree murder, one count of attempted murder, three counts of child abuse and one count of assault.
District Judge Billing told Westminster Magistrates Court: ‘These are the most serious offences. It does not seem that she has any real ties to this country.
‘She left the USA knowing exactly what was going to happen to her and fled to this country.
‘I cannot see that there are any conditions I could impose to give me confidence that she would return to court, knowing what is awaiting her in the USA.’
Singler was involved in a lengthy custody battle with her ex-husband Kevin Wentz, who put out a press release after the alleged murders and revealed the names of his two deceased children.
He claimed the incident was related to his divorce to Singler, which dates back to September 2018.
Colorado Springs Police arrived at the scene and spoke with Wentz, who denied all allegations
District Judge Billing told Westminster Magistrates Court: ‘These are the most serious offences’
Wentz said that Singler made allegations of both domestic violence and child abuse against him. Larimer County Court in Colorado later dismissed the claims.
The battle had continued well into 2023, however, as Singler obtained a Temporary Protection Order in a Colorado court against Wentz after she allegedly claimed he brandished a knife at her.
Wentz denied the charge but the order stood until January 24 with an appeal hearing scheduled.
Singler also filed another emergency motion in the county court on November 17 to try and restrict Wentz’s parenting time based on those same allegations, but the court rescinded the order after they found there was no imminent threat.
The court even ordered Singler to pay Wentz’s legal bills and give him makeup time to cover what he’d lost from the order.
Singler did not comply with those directives and did not bring the kids to Wentz on their scheduled December 16 exchange date, Wentz claimed.
The mother of three is now awaiting extradition in London, a process that could take several months
Both he and his legal representatives tried to contact his ex-wife but got no response.
Wentz was granted an Emergency Motion for Law Enforcement Assistance to Enforce Parenting Time on December 18 and scheduled a Status Conference for two days later, ordering Singler to appear with the children.
But by December 19, two of the three children were dead.
Wentz said that he has cooperated fully with the police investigation into the killings.
A Gofundme has been started to help the surviving family and has raised more than $10,000 toward its goal as of Wednesday.
A National Crime Agency spokesman said: ‘Officers from the National Crime Agency’s National Extradition Unit arrested a 35-year-old female wanted in the United States of America for offences including two counts of murder and one count of attempted murder’.
Singler is next due in court in London for a hearing on February 26.
