A Colorado Springs mother suspected of murdering her two young children in December has been embroiled in a long and contentious divorce. 

Kimberlee Singler, 35,  accused her former husband Kevin Wentz of abuse and intimidation in court filings. He denied all the allegations of domestic violence and abuse in a formal statement on Wednesday that also outlined the steps he took to take custody of the children right before their deaths. 

“Kevin was devastated when he learned the news,” the statement said. 

Singler was arrested without incident in a London hotel room Dec. 30 on suspicion of injuring her 11-year-old, murdering her son Aden Wentz, 7, and her daughter Elianna “Ellie” Wentz, 9. The two younger children were Odyssey Elementary School students in first and third grades. 

The police put out a warrant for Singler’s arrest on Dec. 26. She faces numerous potential charges in the case, including murder and child abuse.

Local authorities started investigating the case on Dec. 19, when a burglary was reported at 12:29 a.m. from the condo where Singler was living with her children near Stetson Hills and Tutt boulevards. The police found Singler and her 11-year-old daughter injured, and the youngest two children dead in the home.

A Wednesday statement, put out by Wentz’ lawyer, Jennifer Darby, said Singler killed the children, injured her oldest child and herself the day prior and did not report it until Dec. 19.

Details that would normally be found in a police affidavit, such as how police determined it was not a burglary, are not available because the document was immediately sealed when it was signed, Colorado Springs police spokesman Ira Cronin said.  

Singler now faces a long extradition process from the United Kingdom, the police said in a statement Wednesday.

Court records show the deaths of the young children followed an extended battle between their parents that began in September 2018 when Singler filed for divorce. 

Five years later in September, Singler filed a restraining order against Wentz claiming that when he came to pick the children, he threatened her with a kitchen-sized knife, court documents said. In the same document she claimed over the summer Wentz physically abused Aden bringing him almost to the point of drowning. A temporary restraining order was granted based on her claims about the knife. 

In mid-November, a Larimer County Court ended the order and said Wentz must be allowed to make up his parenting time. 

The statement from Darby said Wentz was ordered to have custody of the three children from Nov. 19 to Nov. 29 and from Dec. 16 to Dec. 31. 

Singler failed to bring the children to the Stetson Hills Police Station to give them to Wentz on Dec. 16. Rex Harris, Wentz’s divorce attorney, tried to contact Singler, but she did not respond, the statement said. 

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Harris then filed an emergency motion for law enforcement assistance to enforce the exchange of children. It was granted Dec. 18. Singler was advised the same day as the order to appear in person on Dec. 20. 

She disappeared Dec. 23 and a $10 million bond was set in her case. 

School District 49 said in a statement that Aden and Elianna were energetic, well-liked students and will be missed. 

“Our school and our community will feel the effects of this tragedy, and we will walk through this difficult time together with care and respect,” the statement said. The school is offering structured support for students and staff, it said. 

Colorado Springs Police Chief Adrian Vasquez also spoke about the children in a Wednesday statement.

“Three weeks ago, two innocent lives were tragically taken from our community. Young lives that were filled with hopes and dreams for a bright future. I am heartbroken over this loss”, he said.

He said his department would provide answers about the case to the extent possible when it is appropriate. 

Colorado Springs woman suspected of killing her children makes first appearance in court

Extradition is controlled by a 2003 treaty between the U.S. and the United Kingdom and will take time, the statement said.  If the courts in Britain rule that Singler can be extradited, an executive authority of the government must agree, the statement from the police said. Singler will also have several opportunities to appeal. 

“It is important to note that neither the United States nor the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office controls the pace of the extradition proceedings,” it said. 

The BBC reported Singler’s next hearing will be Jan. 29.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to offset the cost of the funeral for the children, which is scheduled for later this week, and to help care for the surviving child. To give visit https://gofund.me/5b1fbd75. A private funeral was planned for the children. 

Gazette reporters Chris Osher, Debbie Kelley and Carol McKinley contributed to this report.