Abhiroop Das
While the plot of Netflix’s ‘The Hunting Wives‘ centers on the murder of Abigail Jackson, another such mystery runs in parallel throughout the narrative, about the kidnapping of a girl named Kaycee Krummel. As both of them are residents of Maple Brook, their cases soon begin to overlap, and new connections are made on both ends. While Town Sheriff Jonny formally leads both the investigations, Officer Salazar and Flynn do the hard work, and their quest for the truth soon takes them through the underbellies of the town’s most respected institutions. Although Kaycee is not a major character in the show, her case becomes a defining element of it, with each new turn and discovery triggering a domino effect that changes everything. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Kaycee Krummel Disappeared Seven Months Prior to the Incidents of The Hunting Wives
Kaycee Krummel is introduced to the story as a part of Jed Banks’s speech in the first episode, wherein he discusses the growing unrest amongst the townsfolk ever since the kidnapping of the young girl in the nearby region of Braxton. He further mentions that one of the officers investigating the case was even shot, which added to the police force’s woes. Our next venture into Kaycee’s story happens in the form of a flashback in episode 3, with Officer Salazar following a lead on the case, which takes her to a cabin in the woods. As she makes her way to the source of the noise inside, she is shot in the head, with the culprit successfully evading capture. Though Salazar survives, she has to go through three rounds of brain surgery, which temporarily puts her out of commission, and soon, the case goes cold.
While discussing Abby’s death with her mother, Starr, Salazar provides more information on her own past experiences with Kaycee’s case. She states that although she does not remember the attacker’s face, she distinctly remembers his smell, describing it as a mix of vodka and cinnamon gum. This detail is crucial to solving the case, as it suggests that the culprit is someone who wishes to hide the fact that they have a drinking problem. With this, the story slowly makes its way into covering the life of Pastor Pete, who works under Reverend Clint and the Holy Horizon church. We soon learn that Pete, too, is a secret alcoholic, which lines up with the criminal profile. While Salazar does suspect him, it is for Abby’s case, which shifts the focus completely.
Kaycee Krummel is Rescued During a Different Investigation
Pastor Pete’s involvement in Kaycee’s disappearance gradually comes to light as we follow his journey of preying on another girl, this time, Abby’s friend Nina. Following a night out, he spikes her drink before forcing her into the car while she nears senselessness. Following this, we see him stuff her in a bag and then hide her in his truck. The criminal is ultimately caught by chance when Salazar approaches him regarding Abby’s case, but notices that he has cinnamon gum stuffed inside his car. With the connection made, she tries to intercept him, but it is already too late. Realizing that the situation is hopeless, Pete takes his own life, leaving behind his truck, where Salazar finds not only Nina, but also Kaycee, who has endured Pete’s abuse for months.
In the aftermath of Pete’s death, we learn that his actions were a result of his perverse nature conflicting with the values he had learnt in church. As such, he kidnapped these girls to punish them for their sexuality, Kaycee being one of them. Nina explains that Pete took pleasure in punishing and torturing them, and it is likely that the same holds true for his previous victim. Furthermore, the fact that she was held captive for months points to a ghastly fate, one that she is finally freed from due to the efforts of Salazar. For the Officer, this stands as a moment of joy, as the case has been of momentous importance to her. While Kaycee being alive comes as a relief for Salazar, it can also be interpreted as a moment of redemption, as she managed to save lives in the wake of Abby’s death.
Following this, both Nina and Kaycee are admitted to a hospital, where they continue their healing process. In a press release, Sheriff Jonny announces that both girls are alright and will be returning to their homes shortly. As such, Kaycee is never properly introduced as a character in her own light, with her relevance always being centered around the kidnapping case itself. However, we can still infer how such an incident can leave a horrific mark on a young girl’s psyche, and it is likely to take her a significant amount of time to truly recover from what happened to her. Nonetheless, the fact that her abuser has died means that a fresh start in life awaits her.
Read More: The Hunting Wives: Do Margo and Sophie End Up Together? Are They Gay or Bisexual?
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