Podcast Summary: 20/20 – "He’s Right Behind You"

Host: ABC News | Date: September 27, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This gripping episode of 20/20 investigates the meticulously orchestrated murder of Christeel Krug, a mother of three living in Broomfield, Colorado, whose harrowing ordeal began with months of horrifying stalking by an apparent ex-boyfriend—until the police uncovered a shocking truth. The case ultimately unravels a twisted narrative of deception, digital manipulation, and intimate betrayal, captivating listeners with in-depth reporting and exclusive interviews. The episode examines law enforcement’s investigation, the impact on the family, and the trial that followed—delivering a chilling portrait of how domestic violence and manipulation can hide in plain sight.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Breakdown

1. Discovery of the Crime (00:07–09:55)

• Initial Emergency Call (00:07): Dan Krug reports his wife, Christeel, missing, requesting a wellness check, citing recent stalking threats.
• Police Response (00:25): Officer O’Hara performs a welfare check and discovers Christeel’s body in the garage, noting severe head trauma and blood.
  • "151. Send medical. And 110. I need a force entry. I got a female down in the garage." — Officer O’Hara (01:40)
• Immediate Aftermath: Christeel’s mother, Linda, arrives, and the police clear the house, fearing the possibility of an intruder, given previous stalking.
• Dan’s Emotional Collapse (06:55): Dan arrives, overcome with grief, embraced by family members.

2. Life and Background of Christeel Krug (09:56–18:40)

• Family History: Christeel’s Norwegian heritage, upbringing, and early ambition described by her parents, Lars and Linda.
• Marriage and Family: Her marriage to Dan Krug, joint professional success, and their apparently idyllic suburban lifestyle with three children.

3. Escalation of Stalking (18:41–39:30)

• Initial Garage Intrusion (18:56): Dan claims to have spotted an intruder stealing a house key, heightening family fears.
• Threatening Messages (21:50): Christeel receives harassing messages from "Anthony Holland," an ex-boyfriend, including body-shaming insults and explicit threats.
  • "You should say yes when I offer pity... Saw your pics. You got fat. You should kill yourself." — Message from "Anthony Holland" (24:15)
• Threats Expanding to Family (26:05): The stalker sends photos of Dan and frightening messages about physical harm.
• Car Sabotage Attempt (29:40): Christeel finds clear plastic tubing inserted into her car’s tailpipe, possibly as part of a carbon monoxide attack.

4. Police and Personal Efforts to Combat Stalking (32:00–39:29)

• Christeel's Vigilance: She keeps detailed logs of every contact, installs security cameras, and buys a firearm for self-defense.
• Personal Impact:
  • "It has definitely made me paranoid everywhere I go… This is intending to scare me." — Christeel (38:00)

5. Investigative Roadblocks & Continuing Threats (39:30–48:10)

• Apparent Dead Ends: Police struggle to locate Anthony Holland, the supposed stalker, given his shifting residences and lack of physical sightings in Colorado.
• Threats Intensify: The stalker's communications become more specific, including real-time references to Christeel’s location and further threats to her family.

6. Breaking Point: Murder and the Immediate Investigation (48:11–61:55)

• Murder Scene Details: Christeel is found with lethal head trauma and a stab wound to the heart. Her concealed-carry firearm remains untouched in her purse.
• Police Focus on Stalker: Officers hunt for Anthony Holland, issuing warrants and using surveillance footage—all while the family is in shock and the community reels.
• Unusual Scene Clues: There is no sign of forced entry or burglary, only meticulous planning, including blue tape placed over the front door camera.

7. Twist: Suspicions Shift to Dan Krug (61:56–91:35)

• Digital Forensics Breakthrough (66:00): Email and IP address analysis reveal that threatening communications originated from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Dan's workplace.
  • "The IP address is connected to Dan’s place of employment. Yeah. That’s when we recognized maybe Dan had never been a victim of stalking. Maybe he is the stalker." — Det. Martinez (66:45)
• Alibi Unravels (70:20): Surveillance footage and digital evidence contradict Dan’s account of the morning of the murder. Scheduled texts and turned-off cameras further suggest premeditation.

8. The True Stalker Revealed (91:36–108:05)

• Anthony's Alibi (91:40): Police confirm Anthony Holland (the ex-boyfriend) was never in Colorado during key events and had verifiable alibis.
• Dan’s Digital Manipulation (99:30): Investigation uncovers Dan staged the stalking campaign, sending threats to his own wife—mimicking prior behaviors noted by an ex-girlfriend.
  • "He was searching this the day before she died. Yes. The digital evidence was really the nail in the coffin." — Det. Pylak (105:45)

9. Arrest and Trial (108:06–119:50)

• Dan Krug Arrested (110:10): Police arrest Dan after a carefully orchestrated sting at a grocery store.
• Trial Proceedings (114:33): Prosecution details Dan’s motive—controlling behavior, marital discord, fear of losing family—and his elaborate efforts to create a false stalker persona.
  • "Dan Krug was in denial. He decided that he was going to play puppet master by impersonating Jack Anthony Holland, stalking and terrorizing his family for months before murdering Christeel." — Prosecutor (115:15)

10. Aftermath and Family Reflections (119:51–131:12)

• Verdict & Sentencing (120:40): The jury finds Dan Krug guilty of first-degree murder, stalking, and criminal impersonation. He is sentenced to life without parole.
• Legacy & Mourning: Christeel’s parents and children, though traumatized, remain surrounded by love, determined to preserve her memory.
  • "Geraniums… just represent her spirit, you know, that she’s just. She’s still alive in some way on some plane, you know, she’s still here with us." — Linda, Christeel’s mother (130:30)
• Dan’s Final Statement: Despite conviction, Dan maintains his innocence and plans to appeal.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Christeel’s Fear:
  "She was just so scared." — Victim advocate, describing Christeel’s state in final days (43:12)

• Dan’s Deception:
  "What if I told you that we had already spoken with Anthony and there’s no way that he was in town today?" — Detective, confronting Dan (104:55)

• Family’s Pain:
  "What happened to mommy? Mommy got hurt. Is she okay? No, mommy is not okay. Mommy’s not going…" — Dan breaking news to his children (73:50)

• Detective on The Investigation:
  "We do think he’s been here before. We believed she had a stalker, her ex-boyfriend, and he would be still at large." (54:40)

• Shocking Parallels:
  "[The stalking] was exactly mirror to our daughter." — Linda, after hearing Dan’s ex-girlfriend testify (117:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:07 – Dan reports Christeel missing; initial welfare check
• 01:40 – Officer discovers Christeel’s body
• 09:56 – Family describes Christeel’s background
• 18:56 – First reports of home intrusion
• 24:15 – First explicit threat from "Anthony Holland"
• 29:40 – Car sabotage incident
• 38:00 – Christeel expresses paranoia and fear
• 66:45 – Digital evidence incriminates Dan
• 99:30 – Investigation disproves Anthony’s involvement
• 110:10 – Dan’s arrest
• 115:15 – Prosecutor’s case summary at trial
• 120:40 – Jury’s guilty verdict
• 130:30 – Family’s reflections and hope for Christeel’s children

Conclusion

ABC’s 20/20 "He’s Right Behind You" masterfully transports listeners through the tragic, chilling unraveling of Christeel Krug’s murder and the dark reality of intimate partner violence concealed beneath a meticulously staged campaign of stalking and terror. Through exclusive interviews, digital sleuthing, and touching family recollections, the episode delivers a powerful cautionary tale about trust, fear, and the insidiousness of control. The impact on Christeel’s family is lasting, but their resilience and determination to honor her memory shine through the darkness left by this unforgettable crime.