Part Two: Twin Falls couple discusses tough call to FBI
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) Joe and Patty Rockstahl have never met Krystal Lee, the 32-year-old nurse they say is being investigated by the FBI for her alleged involvement in the Kelsey Berreth murder investigation.
In an interview exclusive to Gray Television and CBS News, the Rockstahl's tell KMVT about their employee Michelle, Krystal’s best friend and the conversations they were privy to. Michelle has been an employee at Rockstahl Law Office since spring of last year.
People have been critical of the Rockstahl's for a delay in reporting, but they want to emphasize that they had little to no information initially and had nothing to provide law enforcement.
After Patty saw a Facebook post about a missing Colorado mom that sounded familiar,
she delivered an ultimatum on Nov. 26 for her employee Michelle to pass along to Krystal.
“I said, ‘Would you please text your friend Krystal and ask her if this is that woman?,” Patty said. She responded quickly and said that it was. “I said, 'Now I’m very concerned. So your friend has 24 hours to go to the police, or I’m calling them.'”
On Nov. 27, Patty learned Krystal got a new phone number and was told Krystal had spoken with law enforcement.
“I don’t know why she didn’t, I don’t know if she was scared,” Patty said. “That’s what got reported back to me. That she had gone to the police. I didn’t know until almost two weeks later that she hadn’t.”
After this realization, Patty contacted the Colorado Bureau of Investigations on Dec. 17 through the number that was posted at the bottom of Cheryl Berreth’s televised plea for help. Michelle immediately called Krystal to let her know, but she wasn’t surprised.
“The FBI was at Krystal’s house,” Patty said. “They had a search warrant and someone of the FBI was at her property. She knew that Michelle would more than likely get called because there was so many phone calls and text messages back and forth in fact some about this incident.”
That's where the Rockstahl's say Kelsey's phone comes into play. When it produced a signal near Gooding, Idaho just days after she was last seen.
"She had the phone," said Patty. "She was probably instructed to send those texts by Patrick but that's-- there's nobody else that could've sent those texts to my knowledge."
The Rockstahls say the two are as close as sisters, but Michelle was not involved in Kelsey’s presumed death.
“She didn’t go with Krystal anywhere to Colorado or anything,” Joe said. “She just listened to her friend.”
However the extent of Krystal's involvement is still unclear. She has not been formally charged with any crime related to Kelsey Berreth's disappearance.
As a lawyer, Joe says charges could still be coming.
"I think she's done enough where she could be charged with aiding and abetting," said Joe.
Despite threats and several weeks of stress, Patty says she doesn’t regret making the call.
“It’s tough for everyone,” she said. “
It’s been a very emotional situation we’ve all lost some sleep over this but I’m sure nothing compared to Kelsey’s family.”
By mid-December police announced they were offering a $25,000 reward for information that lead to the location or safe return of Kelsey Berreth.
The Rockstahls tell KMVT they are not accepting any reward money.
They hope that if there’s anyone else watching, who may know something that they have the courage to come forward.
“Be honest, tell somebody, speak up,” Patty said.
Since KIMVT initial aired the Rockstahl's experience, KMVT has been told a couple other people have come forward with information about the case and they say that those details have been given to the authorities.
On Sunday, Jan. 13, you’ll hear about Krystal and Patrick’s relationship and her time spent in Colorado with him.
