Anastasia was murdered by Byron Case, a former friend, on the evening of October 22, 1997. Anastasia was shot in the face from extremely close range. Case left her dead in Lincoln Cemetery, where her body was found the following morning by a Sheriff's Deputy. Two days after her murder, her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Justin Bruton, who witnessed the killing, died of a shotgun blast to his head. The Johnson County Sheriff's Department declared it an "apparent suicide", though there has been a great deal of doubt cast on that statement.
The only other witness to the murder, Kelly Moffet, who was Case's girlfriend at the time of the murder, came forward and gave testimony on the murder. Based upon Moffet's testimony, forensic evidence gathered at the crime scene, and Case's own implicit admission taken in a taped phone conversation, Byron Case was convicted of First Degree Murder and Armed Criminal Action on May 2, 2002. He was sentenced on June 28, 2002 to life in prison without chance of parole.
Anastasia's death leaves an unfillable void in the lives of everyone she knew, and the shocking circumstances of her death have made the loss all that much more difficult to bear. Hers was a life much too brief.
Her life was too painfully short to leave many accomplishments. She was Historian/Reporter for her high school Latin Club (Junior Classical League), and wrote articles for her school's underground newspaper. She also wrote poetry, and some of her works have been preserved. It was a dream of hers to travel the world, but she never left the United States, traveling no further from her birthplace than the east and west coasts of this country.
She lived with her mother in Kansas City, MO until she was 17, and then, unable to live with her stepfather, she resided with her father in Independence, MO. During the summer of 1997 she lived with her then fiancé, Justin Bruton, but was again living with her father at the time of her death. She participated in Star Trek conventions and public radio fundraisers, and supported such causes and organizations as free speech on the Web and Amnesty International. She was an avid internet user, a fan of the Beatles, the Cure, Pinky &The Brain, Wallace & Gromit, the writings of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, and a host of other, equally eclectic tastes. To sample and enjoy some of Anastasia's favorite web sites, click on her links page. She was a member of the National Junior Honor Society and participated in Math Counts Competition and National Academic League when in middle school, and participated in Missouri State Latin competitions in high school.
Anastasia left behind her father, Robert WitbolsFeugen of Independence, MO; her mother, Betsey Owens of Raymore, MO; her paternal grandmother, Melanie WitbolsFeugen, of Hinsdale, IL.
Anastasia was the eldest of five sisters; she was also survived by two step-sisters and one step-brother.
Funeral services for Anastasia were on November 1, 1997, at 11:00 AM at the Mt. Moriah and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Rd., Kansas City, MO (816) 942-2004. A visitation was held that same morning. Anastasia's wish to be cremated was honored, and some of her ashes were inurned in Mt. Moriah Cemetery.
This was a horoscope done for her on October 19, 1997, three days before her death.
The family suggests memorial gifts to the Latin Club at Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, 2111 Woodland, Kansas City, MO 64108, c/o Mrs. Suzanne Clizer.
Anastasia was much loved by her family, coworkers, and friends. Something precious has been stolen from our lives, and a bright light has been taken from us all. She will be missed forever.