The FAQ: The Murder of Anastasia WitbolsFeugen
Is there a chronology of the night of the murder?
Here is an approximate chronology from what is known or estimated from communications,
statements, testimony, evidence, and extrapolation. Specific sources are cited.
- October 22
- 3:45 PM Having already received a call from Justin Bruton asking her to meet him, Anastasia asks a
ride from her stepmother 1
4:10 PM Anastasia leaves her home with her stepmother for Mt. Washington
Cemetery 2
4:20 PM Anastasia arrives at the south gate at Mt. Washington; she hikes the quarter-mile
to the Nelson Mausoleum 3
4:30 PM Justin Bruton calls Anastasia’s house, speaks to her sister, says he can't
make it to pick her up 4
5:30 PM Anastasia walks from the Nelson to DQ, calls Justin Bruton's condo, leaves a message
demanding he pick her up 5
6:50 PM Justin Bruton, along with Byron Case and Kelly Moffett, picks Anastasia up at
DQ 6
7:00 PM All arrive at Anastasia’s house; Anastasia changes
clothes 7
7:15 PM Glenn Colliver spots Justin Bruton’s car at Mt. Washington;8 the foursome immediately leaves the
cemetery 9
7:30 PM Byron Case murders Anastasia at Lincoln Cemetery
7:40 PM Case directs Justin Bruton to drive to a spot west and north of the murder site; he drops the gun on nearby
railroad tracks, and switches places with Justin, taking over driving.10
8:00 PM Bruton, along with the Case and Moffett, arrive at Bruton's condo11
8:20 PM The three leave the condo to visit Abraham Kneisley, who is
house-sitting 12nearby
9:20 PM The Case, Bruton, and Moffett arrive at her home in Lenexa,
KS 13
9:30 PM Justin Bruton calls from there to Anastasia’s house,
again;14 speaks to her sister. Kelly Moffett goes upstairs
to plant the first alibi with her mother.15
10:10 PM Bruton and Case go to Tara McDowell's apartment; they talk in the hall, do not come in.16
10:30 PM Justin Bruton drops Case off at his mother's apartment; Case tells his mother that Anastasia "didn't even
wait for the car to come to a stop before she jumped out".17
10:40 PM Justin Bruton calls Anastasia’s house, speaks to her
father 18
11:00 PM Case leaves his mother's apartment to working further on alibi
~midnight Case returns to spot where he disposed of weapon, picks it up again for later disposal
further from crime scene. He studies Truman Road for places to include in his alibi, then revisits Lincoln Cemetery; finally drives to
a restaurant in Independence, MO for further planning
October 23
- ~2:00 AM Case drives to his father's home in Kansas City, KS, where he will spend
the night.19
- 3:44 AM Anastasia's body is discovered by
police 20
- 9:00 AM First news broadcasts that a body has been found in the area of Truman and Blue
Ridge.21
- 9:00 AM Justin Bruton calls Case at his home, does not find him there.
He then pages Case, and they have a very brief conversation
- 10:30 AM Justin Bruton arrives at the Bullet Hole gun shop, buys a 12-gauge shotgun and
slugs22 He then vanishes from sight.
- noon Anastasia's family is notified of her murder.
- 5:00 PM Early evening news broadcasts report Anastasia's name as murder victim
- 5:20 PM Case drives over to Aaron Vermeulen's home.23
- 5:30 PM In a pre-planned action, Case receives a page and returns the call, and then affects a great show
of loss when he "learns" about Anastasia's death.24
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