Case Explained: Oregon lawmaker proposes ‘Kristil’s law’ to protect domestic violence victims – Legal Perspective

PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — An Oregon Lawmaker is teaming up with the family of a domestic violence victim.

Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-District 21, is proposing legislation that will make it safer for victims of stalking and domestic violence. The legislation is called “Kristil’s law,” named for Kristil Krug, who was murdered by her husband, Daniel, in Colorado in 2023.

Kristil’s cousin, Becky Ivanoff, is a former Lane County prosecutor. Both she and Mannix believe Kristil’s murder could have been prevented.

“And you know, my cousin was an incredible woman, just brilliant. She was an engineer, a loving mother of three. She was incredibly dedicated to her community and worked in ways to uplift the women around her. And part of this work is to honor her life and her legacy. And I know if she were here, she would want us to continue to fight on behalf of other survivors who experienced the very traumatizing and terrorizing experience of stalking,” said Ivanoff.

Ivanoff lives in Eugene. She said she is horrified about what happened to Kristil, who was stalked for months by somebody claiming to be her ex-boyfriend. Investigators say it turned out to be Kristil’s husband, Daniel, who was impersonating her ex. Daniel killed Kristil just weeks before Christmas 2023.

“I absolutely believe that Kristil would be alive today because law enforcement would have had the information necessary to arrest her true perpetrator, and she could have made a safety plan for herself to ensure that she was protected,” said Ivanoff.

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Weeks before her murder, law enforcement sent search warrants to communications companies as part of her stalking investigation. Two of those warrants came back within hours. Others were not returned until weeks after her death.

“So it became clear to me, as we have an opportunity to correct a system-based failure by requiring communications companies in the cases of stalking and domestic violence, when they have received search warrants pursuant to those underlying crimes, requiring them to respond within 48 hours of receipt. And the reason for that is because cases involving stalking and domestic violence can so quickly escalate to serious physical injury or death, as we saw in my cousin Kristil’s case,” said Ivanoff.

Former Lane County Prosecutor Becky Ivanoff is helping to lead the charge for new legislation in Oregon to protect victims of domestic violence. The legislation is named for Ivanoff’s cousin, Kristil Krug, who was killed by her husband in Colorado in 2023. (KATU)

Ivanoff teamed up with Mannix to create the proposal for new legislation. It would require communication companies to return search warrants within 48 hours in the case of domestic violence and stalking.

“This would create a special category of warrant where they would be provided with information documenting that this is an emergency situation, which involves potential serious harm to a victim, and in a way, too, it also gives them civil protection to respond promptly and to get this information to law enforcement,” said Mannix.

KATU news asked Mannix if this law was in place during that time when Kristil was being stalked, if he thought that she would still be alive today?

“Yes. It turns out that immediately upon the murder situation, using exigent circumstances, law enforcement authorities were able to get that communications information within one hour of proceeding, and had they had that information, they could have prevented her death,” he said.

Mannix tells KATU this legislation is a priority. He plans on having the bill formally written and filed in January 2026, just in time for the next session. He believes it will be bipartisan and get passed before the session ends on March 9, 2026.

If passed, Oregon would be the first state in the nation to have this type of law. The hope is that this would set a precedent for the nation.