The day his wife went missing, accused murderer called Whitley Clerk to see if he was still married

Days before he was charged with murder in his wife’s death, a Richmond man allegedly called the Whitley County Clerk’s Office wanting to know if he was legally married.

On Friday, Kentucky State Police Detectives charged Jason E. Singleton, 34, with murder in the death of his wife, Angela Canada Frazier-Singleton, who was a former Canadatown resident.

This was one day after Singleton allegedly stole a car in Somerset and then held four people hostage at gunpoint for 15 minutes before surrendering to police, and two days after his wife’s remains were found in a rural Madison County field.

Whitley County Deputy Clerk Amy Smith told police that she got a call about 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 18 from a man identifying himself as Jason Singleton. The man wanted to know if he was married or not because his wife had allegedly torn up their marriage license.

Smith said she felt suspicious and that she took down some notes about the conversation because she had found out that afternoon that Frazier was missing.

"I told him that if they went in front of a preacher and said, ‘I do,’ then in the eyes of God they were married, but if they didn’t turn their license in within 30 days they would not be legally married because the license is only valid for 30 days," Smith said.
Smith said that Singleton then told her he didn’t know whether to go to his attorney and ask for an annulment, a divorce or to get an EPO.

"He said she had the bottom part of their marriage license and she had come to his house and got a bunch of stuff and took it," Smith said.

Singleton claimed that his wife called him on the phone and said that if he would give her a bunch of money then she would leave him alone, and he gave her the money. A couple of days later, his wife allegedly called again saying she lost the money, Smith said recalling her conversation with Singleton.

"He said that she was crazy and didn’t know what he was going to do. I put Mr. Singleton on hold after telling him I would go ask my boss, Kay Schwartz, and see what she thinks," Smith said.

Smith explained the situation to Schwartz, who then asked Whitley County Attorney Paul Winchester about it.
Winchester’s advice was that if the groom ever got remarried and the bride proved that they were married and they hadn’t gotten a divorce then he could be charged with bigamy.

"I got back on the phone and told Jason Singleton what he said. Mr. Singleton said he didn’t know what to do because Angela was crazy and would cause him trouble if she could. I advised him that he probably should talk to his lawyer. He said okay. He was going to call his lawyer then we hung up," Smith said.

Marriage license records in the Whitley County Clerk’s Office show that Angela N. Frazier, 25, and Jason E. Singleton, 34, of Richmond, obtained their marriage license on Dec. 20.

Frazier, whose maiden name was Canada, listed her address as 330 Jim Walker Road, Williamsburg. She listed her occupation as an assistant manager. He listed his as director of new business.

Schwartz said that while the marriage license was obtained from her office, the marriage certificate, which is located at the bottom of the license, was never returned to her office so the marriage could be officially registered.

Under state statutes, marriage licenses are only valid for 30 days including the date that the licenses are issued.
Once a certificate is returned to Schwartz’s office and recorded, it is filed with the bureau of vital statistics in Frankfort.

Frazier-Singleton was laid to Monday afternoon at the Canadatown Cemetery in Williamsburg following a funeral service at the Croley Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Dorman Patrick and Rev. Bill Meadors officiating.

Officials haven’t released her cause of death, but are investigating the case as a homicide.

Kentucky State Police received a missing person complaint on Frazier-Singleton on Jan. 17. She was reported missing by her mother Nancy Arlene Canada of Williamsburg.

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, her burned vehicle was recovered in Fayette County on I-75 near mile marker 101.

Thursday afternoon, Jason Singleton allegedly stole a car near Somerset Mall, and then held four people at gunpoint at the Super Service trucking company in Somerset.

He surrendered to police about 15 minutes later, and was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment, first-degree unlawful imprisonment, theft by unlawful taking-auto, disorderly conduct, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, and criminal mischief, according to the Pulaski County Detention Center website.

A Pulaski County district judge entered a not guilty plea Friday afternoon for Jason Singleton, stemming from charges related to his armed standoff in Somerset.

On Friday, KSP Detectives executed several search warrants and recovered evidence sufficient to charge Jason Singleton with murder in his wife’s death.

The arrest warrant was served on Singleton at the Pulaski County Detention Center, and he will be brought back to Madison County to face charges there, according to a state police press release.

According to Jail Tracker, Singleton’s bond is $1 million in the murder case, and a Pulaski County judge has ordered him held without bond on the other charges.