20/20 After Show: "He's Right Behind You"

Date: September 29, 2025
Host: Deborah Roberts
Guests: Jonathan Balthaser (Producer, “JB”), Rob Ferrari (Editor)

Overview

This episode of the 20/20 After Show takes listeners behind the scenes of the chilling true crime case of Kristeel Krug—a beloved mother of three from the Denver suburbs who was murdered in her own garage. Initial suspicion fell on a distant ex-boyfriend who appeared to be stalking her, but investigators ultimately discovered the true culprit was far closer to home: her husband, Dan Krug. Host Deborah Roberts, alongside producer Jonathan Balthaser and editor Rob Ferrari, discuss the reporting, editing, and emotional impact of the case, pulling back the curtain on how the 20/20 team brings such stories to life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Humanizing the Victim: Kristeel Krug’s Story

• Visual Storytelling and Emotional Editing (02:48 - 04:29)
  • Rob Ferrari explains the process of sifting through family photos and videos, which helped him emotionally connect with Kristeel as a vibrant child, student, and eventually a mother:

    "You do kind of get this sense of like, who she is... And then, as you're putting it, like you said, into the cut itself, adding the music... The question that always goes through my mind... is, why? Why would someone do that to this woman?" (02:48, Rob Ferrari)

  • JB describes Kristeel as a “Renaissance woman”—a scientist, dancer, artist, and model builder, whose world revolved around her children. (04:29-05:21)

2. The Anatomy of a Crime: Suspect, Stalking, and Deception

• From Fearful Vigilance to Fatal Betrayal (07:06 - 09:29)
  • Kristeel believed she was being stalked by her old boyfriend, Anthony Holland, who sent increasingly menacing messages—including a photo of her husband, Dan, at work (07:50).
  • She took proactive measures: maintained a “stalker log,” (spreadsheet), installed security cameras, armed herself, and set up a buddy system (08:18-09:05).
  • Yet, despite her precautions, Kristeel was ultimately killed in her garage—the danger, as it turned out, originating inside her home. (09:30)

3. The Immediate Aftermath: Husband’s Performance and Police Doubts

• Dan Krug’s Reaction at the Crime Scene (10:16 - 11:25)
  • Emotionally charged scene as Dan arrives:

    "He ducks into the first level of crime scene tape and runs towards the house and is yelling, that's my house." (10:21) "Just runs into the arms of one of Christeel's family... we realize that that was her husband." (10:37)

    • Rob recounts editing this moment, initially feeling sympathy for Dan’s show of grief:

      "I just felt horrible for this guy. I was like, you know, he called the police. He did all the right things." (11:27, Rob Ferrari)

• Interrogation and Mounting Suspicion (11:45 - 14:04)
  • JB and Rob discuss the shift in Dan’s demeanor during police interviews—from trauma to defensiveness as police begin to focus on inconsistencies and alternative motives.

4. Breakthroughs in the Investigation: Digital Forensics

• Piecing Together the Evidence (15:47 - 20:35)
  • Police quickly note the absence of robbery, review digital evidence, and become suspicious when security cameras are discovered to have been disabled at a key time (16:36).
  • Detective Randy Pylak (digital forensics expert) uncovers that threatening messages to Kristeel were sent from Dan’s office IP; further, messages sent from Kristeel’s phone after her death were scheduled in advance—manufacturing Dan’s alibi (17:59 - 18:51).

    "Dan was building his alibi, that he's going to get this text message saying, hey, I got a text from her. While she had been alive..." (18:41, Det. Randy Pylak)

  • The investigation uncovers further planning: Dan registered a burner phone six months earlier; digital breadcrumbs ultimately tied him to the crime.

5. The Impact on Family & Legacy

• Processing Grief and Betrayal (21:40 - 23:39)
  • Deborah Roberts reflects on the emotional interviews with Kristeel’s parents, Lars and Linda, and their equipoise in balancing the truth about Dan with protecting their grandchildren.
  • JB shares a touching “off-camera” moment: grandfather and granddaughter bonding over building a model sailboat—a poignant echo of Kristeel’s passions and legacy.

6. The Role of Storytelling in True Crime

• Honoring the Victim (24:12 - 24:41)
  • Rob Ferrari emphasizes the editor’s responsibility:

    "You want to hope that you honored the deceased... to show her in a light of, like, this is what's gone from the world now, you know, that her kids are gonna miss and people... are gonna miss." (24:12, Rob Ferrari)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |---|---|---| | 02:48 | "Why would someone do that to this woman?" | Rob Ferrari | | 04:29 | "She was a true Renaissance woman... But then a mother at heart. Her world really revolved around her children..." | Jonathan Balthaser | | 08:18 | "She brings in this stalker log... a spreadsheet that she's created herself. The detectives are amazed: 'You're doing our job for us.'" | Jonathan Balthaser | | 10:21 | "He ducks into the first level of crime scene tape and runs towards the house and is yelling, 'That's my house.'" | Deborah Roberts (narrating scene) | | 11:27 | "I just felt horrible for this guy... He did all the right things..." | Rob Ferrari | | 18:41 | "Dan was building his alibi... he's going to get this text message saying, hey, I got a text from her. While she had been alive..." | Det. Randy Pylak via Deborah Roberts | | 21:40 | "There's three children now who are motherless..." | Deborah Roberts | | 24:12 | "You want to hope that you honored the deceased... to show her in a light of, like, this is what's gone from the world now..." | Rob Ferrari |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Kristeel Krug’s life and character: 02:48 – 05:30
• Stalking, precautions, and murder discovery: 07:06 – 09:30
• Crime scene and Dan Krug’s initial reaction: 10:16 – 11:25
• Police interrogation and suspicions rise: 11:45 – 14:04
• Digital evidence and Dan’s unraveling alibi: 15:47 – 20:35
• Family’s experience and legacy: 21:40 – 23:39
• Final reflections from the editor: 24:12 – 24:41

Language & Tone

• The episode discusses bleak and emotional material with sensitivity and respect, mixing journalistic rigor with a clear sense of compassion for the victim and her family.
• There is an emphasis on process: both in storytelling (editing, producing) and police investigation (digital forensics, interviews).
• The team’s camaraderie and dedication to honoring the victims are palpable throughout.

Summary Takeaway

This After Show episode provides more than just a recap of the Kristeel Krug case; it invites listeners behind the scenes of both the crime and the making of the story. With intimate reflections from investigators, family, and the 20/20 team, it vividly illustrates the intersection of heartbreak, betrayal, and dogged investigation. Ultimately, the podcast honors Kristeel Krug’s memory and underscores the importance of both family resilience and rigorous journalism in the face of tragedy.