Judge William T. Tully sentenced Tristan Nicholson to life in prison without parole on March 6, 2024, for the murder of Kelly Patton. A neighbor discovered Kelly’s body on December 16, 2020. Prosecutors presented evidence, that Nicholson confessed to a friend that he killed Kelly before her body was discovered.

The jurors heard evidence that Nicholson choked and beat Kelly to death in her apartment on Harrisburg Street in Swatara Township. The evidence included recordings of Kelly expressing her fear of Nicholson. “I’m telling you. He’ll kill me. I’m scared,” she said in a call three weeks before the murder.

At sentencing, members of Kelly’s family described her as kind-hearted, forgiving and devoted to her son. Deborah Patton, Kelly’s mother, said that two weeks prior to the murder, her daughter called her in tears, saying that if anything happened to her, Nicholson would be responsible.

Deputy District Attorney Alexandra McNulty and Senior Deputy District Attorney Scott Robinette prosecuted the case. The prosecutors commended the work of Swatara Township Police in bringing Nicholson to justice.  “Detective Kenneth Platt led a department-wide effort to uncover the evidence that would lead to Nicholson’s conviction,” McNulty said.