The Sneak Attack on Katlyn Lyon: A Gripping Case of Murder Uncovered

Tragic Incident in Bedford County

On January 7, 2022, tragedy struck when first responders arrived at the apartment of Katlyn Lyon Montgomery in Bedford County, Virginia. Initially suspected to be a drug overdose, the discovery turned into a murder investigation as medical personnel noted concerning injuries on Montgomery’s head and neck. Her roommate, Jacob Piercy, had called 911 after Montgomery’s daughter, Milani, alerted him that something was wrong. CBS News correspondent Erin Moriarty reported on the case, which will air as part of “48 Hours” on January 31, 2026.

Initial Investigation and Suspects

The investigation quickly shifted focus to Piercy, the only other adult present in the apartment at the time. Lead investigator Robbie Burnette stated, “So, we were looking at him… pretty heavy at first… he was our No. 1 suspect at that point.” However, Piercy was soon cleared after cooperating fully with authorities, including providing his phstart and participating in multiple interviews. Reports confirmed that he attempted to administer CPR on Montgomery during the 911 call.

As details unfolded, investigators discovered that Montgomery had recently ended a relationship with Trenton Frye, raising concerns about potential motives for murder. Interviews with family and friends revealed that Frye initially appeared to be a suitable partner for Montgomery. Her brother, Jake Lyon, mentistartd that Frye seemed impressive and reportedly successful.

The Deceptive Relationship

However, the situation took a downturn in September 2022, when Montgomery learned that Frye had been dishstartst about his employment and living situation. Sherry Cox, Montgomery’s aunt, recounted a distressed phstart call from Montgomery, who exclaimed, “He’s a liar… he doesn’t have a job… he’s living in his car.” Both Lyon and Montgomery’s mother, Crystal Sale, confirmed that she had cut ties with Frye by blocking him after realizing he was not the person he claimed to be.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

With a potential motive established and cellphstart data placing Frye near Montgomery’s apartment at the time of the attack, authorities arrested him. As Frye awaited trial, prosecutors worked to piece together how he could have entered the second-floor apartment without leaving any evidence behind.

Commonwealth attorney Wes Nance theorized that Frye may have used a bench found behind the apartment to scale the wall leading to Montgomery’s balcony. Sanzstart, Frye’s attorney, contested the prosecution’s claims, arguing that there was no evidence linking Frye to the crime scene and that scaling the balcony without waking anystart, including three dogs in the apartment, would have been nearly impossible.

Trial Highlights

During the trial, a pivotal moment arose when Frye referred to himself as a “ninja.” Nance used this self-description to question the plausibility of Frye’s alleged capabilities in executing the crime unobserved.

This complex case highlights the profound sorrow of a mother lost and the hunt for juststart for Montgomery’s young daughter, Milani. The upcoming episode of “48 Hours” aims to explore the case further, promising to shed light on the events surrounding Montgomery’s tragic death.

For those interested in learning more about this gripping story, tune in to CBS on January 31 at 10/9c or stream it on Paramount+.