What happened to Chandler Halderson's girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, after her testimony?

What happened to Chandler Halderson's girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, after her testimony?

Chandler Halderson’s girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, largely stepped out of the public spotlight after giving her testimony in the murder trial of her ex-boyfriend. Her courtroom account offered rare insight into their relationship and the events surrounding the deaths of Chandler Halderson’s parents.

Chandler Halderson and Cathryn Mellender
Chandler Halderson's mugshot (L). His ex-girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, testifies in court (R). Photo: @thedarksidepod on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Cathryn Mellender hails from Madison, Wisconsin, the United States, and was born in 2000.
  • Cat Mellender testified as a prosecution witness, describing her relationship with Halderson and what she knew during the investigation.
  • After her testimony, she largely withdrew from public view and has kept her personal life away from media attention.

Profile summary

Full name

Cathryn Mellender

Gender

Female

Date of birth

2000

Age

26 years old (as of 2026)

Place of birth

Madison, Wisconsin, United States

Current residence

Wisconsin, United States

Nationality

American

Ethnicity

White

Religion

Christianity

Sexuality

Straight

Height in feet

5'

Height in centimetres

152

Weight in pounds

135

Weight in kilograms

61

Hair colour

Dark brown

Eye colour

Brown

Mother

Dulce Mellender

Ex-partner

Chandler Michael Halderson

School

La Follette High School

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Who is Chandler Halderson's girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender?

Cathryn Mellender became publicly known mainly due to her relationship with Chandler Halderson. They reportedly met through a mutual friend and started dating in August 2019. Her then-boyfriend became a convicted criminal after he was found guilty of murdering his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, in Dane County, Wisconsin, in July 2021.

Before the double murder case attracted national attention, Cat Mellender lived a largely private life. After the gruesome incident and as the investigation unfolded, her name entered the public domain when she emerged as a key witness with close, personal insight into Halderson’s life in the period leading up to the crimes.

Five facts about Cathryn Mellender
Five facts about Cathryn Mellender. Photo: @thedarksidepod on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: Original

She was reportedly born in the year 2000 and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Her mother is Dulce Mellender, though little information is publicly available about her other family members

Mellender completed her high school education at La Follette High School, where she was a member of the women’s tennis and softball teams.

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After completing her undergraduate studies, she worked as a healthcare professional at a local institution in Madison, Wisconsin.

What was Cathryn Mellender’s role in Chandler Halderson’s trial?

Cathryn Mellender testified about her relationship with Chandler Halderson. She narrated how they met, how long they had been together, and what she observed about his lifestyle and claims about work and education.

Her testimony helped the court understand the contrast between Halderson’s public persona and the realities later revealed during the investigation. Mellender was treated as a witness, not a suspect.

Her appearance in court was part of the prosecution’s effort to build a timeline and demonstrate patterns of deception attributed to Halderson.

What happened after Cathryn Mellender testified?

Chandler Halderson and Cathryn Mellender appear during a court session
Chandler Halderson appears masked during his case hearing (L). Cathryn Mellender testifies in court (L). Photo: @ODFMpodcast on X (Twitter) (modified by author)
Source: UGC

After completing her testimony, Cathryn Mellender stepped away from the public spotlight. Unlike some individuals connected to high-profile cases, she did not pursue interviews, media appearances, or public commentary about the trial’s outcome.

No credible reports indicate that Mellender remained involved in any legal proceedings related to the case after her testimony. Once the trial concluded, her role in the judicial process effectively ended.

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No public records or reputable reports suggest that Cathryn Mellender faced criminal charges or legal penalties connected to the crimes. Authorities did not identify her as a participant or accomplice, and her cooperation as a witness supported the prosecution’s case.

Her testimony did not result in sanctions against her, nor has she been named in subsequent legal actions stemming from the case.

Where is Chandler Halderson today?

Cathryn Mellender during a court session
Chandler Halderson's ex-girlfriend, Cathryn Mellender, appears in court during Chandler Halderson's murder trial. Photo: @rabbitholehappyhour on Instagram (modified by author)
Source: UGC

Since the trial, Cathryn Mellender has chosen to maintain a low profile. She appears to have avoided public social media engagement related to the case and has not issued statements reflecting on her experience. Cat Mellender is believed to be residing in Wisconsin with her dog.

FAQs

  1. What is Cathryn Mellender's age? She was reportedly born in 2000, making her about 26 years old as of 2026, depending on her birth month.
  2. Who are Cathryn Mellender’s parents? Her mother is Dulce Mellender. There is no publicly available information about her father or other immediate family members.
  3. Where is Cathryn Mellender from? She is from Madison, Wisconsin, United States, where she worked as a healthcare professional at the time of trial.
  4. Where is Cathryn Mellender now? She is believed to be residing somewhere in Wisconsin, United States.
  5. When did Cathryn Mellender and Chandler Halderson start dating? Their relationship reportedly began in August 2019 after they met through a mutual friend.
  6. What happened to Cathryn Mellender’s boyfriend? Her former boyfriend, Chandler Halderson, was convicted of murdering his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, in Dane County, Wisconsin, in July 2021.
  7. Was Cathryn Mellender involved in Chandler Halderson's crimes? She was not charged or implicated in the crimes and was involved only as a witness during the investigation and trial.
  8. Is Cathryn Mellender still in contact with Chandler Halderson? There is no public information indicating that she remains in contact with him.
  9. Is Cathryn Mellender on social media? She is believed to keep a very low public profile, and there are no verified or publicly active social media accounts clearly linked to her.

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After her testimony in Chandler Halderson’s trial, Cathryn Mellender chose a path of privacy and distance from public scrutiny. While her courtroom appearance played an important role in the case, her life afterward has remained largely undisclosed. Nevertheless, she was not found culpable of any crimes and is believed to be residing in Wisconsin, United States.

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Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Muhunya Muhonji avatar

Muhunya Muhonji (Lifestyle writer) Muhunya is a graduate of Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Class of 2014, with a passion for storytelling and content creation. Since joining Legit.ng as a writer in July 2021, he has covered diverse topics such as entertainment, technology, business, and biographies. His journalism journey has seen him complete multiple professional courses, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course (2023), the Google News Initiative course (March 2024), and Fact-Checking and Research training (September 2024). Email: muhunyah@gmail.com

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