Man, who used phone charging cords to strangle single mother of 1 he was obsessed with following their breakup just because he could’t accept their separation, was sentenced
Virginia – In a deeply unsettling case in Virginia, a 31-year-old North Carolina man, identified as T. Frye, has been sentenced for the first-degree murder of his 28-year-old ex-girlfriend, identified as K. Montgomery, in a crime marked by obsession and violence. Frye was convicted after just an hour of deliberation in April in connection with the calculated murder of Montgomery in October 2022.
The tragic series of events leading to Montgomery’s death began to unravel when her lifeless body was discovered by her roommate, showing signs of a brutal attack. The prosecution presented a chilling scenario where Frye, driven by jealousy and rage, committed the heinous act. According to prosecutors, Frye was obsessed with Montgomery following their breakup, and his inability to accept the separation fueled his actions. On the night of the murder, Frye strangled Montgomery using phone charging cords, a method of murder that was substantiated by the physical evidence found at the scene. These cords, found wrapped in a blanket on Montgomery’s bed, matched the linear markings on her neck, indicating a violent struggle that led to her untimely death.
The trial of Frye detailed the accused’s stalking and dangerous actions prior to Montgomery’s murder. After their breakup and Montgomery’s subsequent disregard for him, Frye’s texts displayed an obsession with reconciling with the 28-year-old mother of a four-year-old girl and how he quickly turned hostile and aggressive. These messages were presented in court on the week of trial. Further damning evidence came from Frye’s digital activity. Prior to the murder, he obsessively searched online for details about Montgomery’s apartment and attempted to track her through social media and dating apps. His fixation was evident from the barrage of abusive and threatening texts he sent her after she attempted to distance herself.
The courtroom heard how Frye’s narrative of the events kept shifting—initially denying he had even been in Virginia, before admitting he had been at the apartment complex, though claiming he never entered. His defense tried to cast doubt on his physical ability to commit the murder without detection, arguing that the logistics of entering the apartment undetected were improbable. But the jury wasn’t convinced. Commonwealth’s Attorney W. Nance emphasized the critical role of Frye’s digital trail and constant deceit. “His phone data and his lies, they all interact to prove his guilt,” Nance said. “From my perspective, I think his constant flow of lies to law enforcement played a big role, but we also wouldn’t have been here without the flow of digital evidence.”
Frye, who was arrested in North Carolina and later extradited, was formally sentenced on Tuesday by Judge J. Updike. Though Virginia’s sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of 22 to 38 years, Updike exceeded those recommendations—imposing a life sentence. He described the murder as “cold-blooded and calculated,” one of the most disturbing he had ever encountered. The sentencing brings a painful but necessary sense of justice to Montgomery’s family. Known by loved ones as a vibrant and loving mother, she was remembered for her strength and warmth. Her family has vowed to continue honoring her memory by speaking out against domestic violence and pushing for stronger protections for victims. Frye will now spend the rest of his life behind bars—a fate that reflects not only the severity of his crime, but the irreversible loss of a life stolen by obsession and rage.
