Daughter of murder victim gets five months after helping to get rid of evidence, but has to testify against her boyfriend

The daughter of homicide victim Tricia Freeman was sentenced to serve five months in jail as part of a plea deal for her role in covering up her mother’s death.

Kayla Colyer, 21, was first charged with accessory to murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle by police, but she was later charged with tampering with evidence instead when formal charges were filed by the State Attorney’s Office.

Colyer and her boyfriend, Roy Nichols Jr., were arrested in West Virginia on March 18, three days after the the Palmetto Police Department was first called to Freeman’s home by friends who became concerned when they had not heard from her.

Although initially police could not find signs of foul play, the investigation led them to develop enough probable cause to obtain warrants charging the couple with stealing Freeman’s car. The Ashland Police Department in Kentucky found Freeman’s car abandoned in a park on March 16.

After the couple’s arrest, police said Nichols confessed to killing Freeman.

On Wednesday morning, Colyer accepted a plea deal during a hearing before Circuit Judge Hunter Carroll. Colyer pleaded no contest to one count of tampering with evidence and was sentenced to three years probation. Conditions of her probation include serving five months in jail and testifying against Nichols.

Colyer was given credit for time she has already served. She has been at the Manatee County jail since being extradited there on April 1.

Nichols, 26, is charged with second-degree murder and grand theft of a motor vehicle in Freeman’s death and could face up to life in prison if he’s convicted.

During Nichols’ most recent court appearance earlier this month, the defense and prosecution agreed that the case would not be ready to go to trial until 2018.

Nichols is being held without bond at the Manatee County jail.

This story was originally published June 29, 2017 at 3:53 PM with the headline "Daughter of murder victim gets five months after helping to get rid of evidence, but has to testify against her boyfriend."