Did a love triangle ultimatum lead to Anna Repkina’s murder?

[This story originally aired on October 31, 2020.]

In April 2017, Moscow local Anna Repkina used to be discovered murdered on a far off Oregon logging highway. Fifty-five hundred miles from house, investigators had been perplexed as to what she used to be doing there and who might be able to need her lifeless.

Seems she’d met American Will Hargrove on-line and after a whirlwind romance, the 2 was engaged. Anna relocated to the U.S. now not realizing she used to be shifting proper into the center of a love triangle.

LOOKING FOR LOVE

Ryan Joslin and Amie Matusko, each deputy district lawyers in Benton County, Oregon, won an pressing name {that a} frame have been discovered on April 17, 2017.

Ryan Joslin: That is out of doors of Corvallis fairly a long way out within the Alsea space … and up a far off logging highway.

Amie Matusko: He and I had been each on scene … to … have a look for ourselves. That is so necessary in a prosecutor’s position, that you already know the scene. Now not simply from pictures however having been there.

Ryan Joslin: Now not too many of us are gonna be up in that space. So frankly, the truth that the frame used to be found out as briefly because it used to be – used to be beautiful atypical.

Lead detective Lieutenant Chris Duffitt says an area caretaker came about to be out strolling his canine that day when he got here around the frame.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: The caller … used to be strolling in this highway on an afternoon and a time in a spot that he in reality will have to’ve by no means been. So, we had been very, very fortunate to search out her frame. If it might had been — you understand, any longer time, we may have by no means discovered her.

The sufferer used to be known as 27-year-old Moscow local, Anna Repkina. She have been shot.

Amie Matusko: She used to be sensible, clever. She had a task, an workplace activity operating for Ikea. … She liked cats. … She liked to shuttle. … Anna had so much going for her. … And a large number of other folks preferred her.

So how did a Russian lady, who had a apparently satisfied lifestyles, meet her finish on a far off logging highway just about 5,500 miles from house?

Amie Matusko: She had damaged up along with her boyfriend of 7 years and used to be in reality in search of that connection.

A yr previous, newly unmarried Anna began in search of love on-line and joined a Russian social networking website online. She discovered what she used to be in search of — midway the world over — when she met 26-year-old Oregonian William Hargrove.

Amie Matusko: They began in reality chatting. They chatted so much over Fb. Then — they began videoconferencing. And that used to be going down on a nearly day by day foundation.

Anna and Will discovered that they’d so much in not unusual.

Amie Matusko: They in reality bonded over tune. She very a lot liked tune. She preferred to visit rock live shows. They’d have discussions about bands. She had a just right humorousness. She would repeatedly ship humorous memes, and she or he hooked up along with her buddies and her circle of relatives that method.

Will and Anna exchanged hundreds of messages, imagining their long run in combination if Anna got here to Oregon.

WILL HARGROVE [via Facebook]: You, are completely wonderful.

WILL HARGROVE: We’re going to have soooo a lot a laugh in combination..

ANNA REPKINA: (Smiley Face)

ANNA REPKINA: True)

WILL HARGROVE: Day dreaming but?

ANNA REPKINA: Sure) its glorious)

WILL HARGROVE: Inform me?

ANNA REPKINA: Tricky to believe, but it surely will have to be very romantic and lovely

WILL HARGROVE: Snow lined evergreens, snow at the flooring, a tent hidden moderately within the timber of our clearing, a just right dimension hearth roaring, and also you in my hands.

Jamie Klotz: He indisputably had the reward of gab.

Tracy Smith: The reward of gab. He may communicate a just right recreation?

Jamie Klotz: He may. He may communicate an excellent recreation.

Will’s pal and previous roommate, Jamie Klotz.

Jamie Klotz: He and I had issues … in not unusual. Automobiles. He works on vehicles. I paintings on vehicles. … I am extra Harry Potter, he is extra the Avengers roughly, you understand, style. However — shall we nerd out on such things as that. He in fact took me to look my first Avengers film.

Jamie Klotz: He used to be a likeable man. You realize, a jokester. He identical to to giggle and feature a laugh. … I loved being round him.

Will labored as a mechanic at an area auto dealership. In his unfastened time, he would catch up with buddies like Joseph Thompson on the Peacock Bar and Grill.

Joseph Thompson: We’d play pool over there on Sunday nights, and simply mainly ended up putting out so much, doing karaoke. … I do not understand how time and again me and him could be sittin’ there playin’ pool, and he’d simply have girls stroll up from the bar, simply take a seat there communicate to him. …He used to be very charismatic. … He had the persona, the presence.

Tracy Smith: Used to be he a participant?

Joseph Thompson: No. Now not essentially.

Will used to be any such just right pal that Joseph referred to as him his brother.

Joseph Thompson: We had been each within the army. … Numerous the learning and stuff that we had went via used to be equivalent and it helped pull us in combination.

Tracy Smith: What department of the provider had been you in?

Joseph Thompson: Military.

Tracy Smith: And Will?

Joseph Thompson: I consider he used to be Marines. … He mentioned that … he was once stationed in Russia.

Will looked as if it would have an affinity for all issues Russian, and his on-line dating with Anna took off. Anna determined to fly to the states to spend the vacations with Will in Oregon and spot if their digital love would really feel the similar in fact.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: December of 2016 … she traveled right here and spent a pair weeks with William Hargrove.

However the highway to romance had an sudden detour.

Amie Matusko: There used to be an issue when she first got here out in December to look Mr. Hargrove. She mistakenly combined up Portland, Maine for Portland, Oregon … and she or he used to be stranded in Portland, Maine.

ANNA REPKINA [via Facebook]: Who is aware of you have got two rattling Portlands

WILL HARGROVE: Truthfully, I did not even know that

Amidst the chaos of flight adjustments, Anna messaged Will, construction the anticipation to after all be in combination:

WILL HARGROVE [via Facebook]: That is the place you belong child. Within the clouds. My Angel

ANNA REPKINA: Be able, I will be able to cry.

WILL HARGROVE: ? When? After I suggest to you?

ANNA REPKINA: After I see you.

Anna in the end made it to the fitting Portland, and into the hands of Will Hargrove. Right through her talk over with, she posted highlights in their whirlwind romance, together with pictures in their journeys to the coast, Will’s vehicles, or even a Christmas want scrawled out to her circle of relatives again house.

Amie Matusko: She got here right here for romance.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: On the conclusion of this go back and forth she in fact was engaged to William Hargrove. And so they had plans to get married one day.

Anna returned house to Russia after 10 days with a memento – an engagement ring from Will – and plans to close up her lifestyles in Russia and transfer to Oregon with the promise of marriage.

Amie Matusko: She used to be fascinated by the marriage. She used to be speaking about the entire other taste of clothes and what she in reality sought after.

However there used to be going to be a drawback in Anna’s trail to like.

Michelle Chavez: I am Michelle Chavez and I used to be Will Hargrove’s lady friend.

A LOVE TRIANGLE

In 2015, 33-year-old Michelle Chavez used to be dwelling along with her husband and two youngsters in Albany, Oregon. Sadly, all used to be now not proper within the marriage.

Michelle Chavez: Our dating, at that cut-off date, in reality wasn’t one. It used to be like roommates that simply came about to be married. Slept in the similar mattress, however that used to be about it. Did not in reality communicate.

Michelle met Will Hargrove whilst she used to be operating as a cab driving force.

Michelle Chavez: It used to be one of those sluggish time in the summertime, and I used to be ready on the bar looking forward to other folks to name to head pick out other folks up,

Tracy Smith: What used to be your first affect of him?

Michelle Chavez: God, he is quick.

Tracy Smith: God, he is quick?

Michelle Chavez: Sure. God, he is quick [laughs]. Yeah. He’s quick.

However that first affect gave approach to anything a lot more for Chavez who used to be so unsatisfied at house.

Michelle Chavez: He made you are feeling such as you had been within the solar when he talked to you. … He had some way of with the ability to take a look at me and I felt like I used to be in fact noticed. I felt stunning. I felt like I used to be sought after.

And so, Michelle and Will was a lot more than buddies.

Michelle Chavez:  It wasn’t a deliberate factor. It wasn’t find it irresistible went off in my head and I used to be like, I’ll have a dating with him. … It simply improved that method.

Jamie Klotz | Pal of Will and Michelle: He used to be prepared to offer her what she wanted. Affection, consideration.

The next yr, 2016, the connection grew to a brand new and moderately strange degree with Will renting a spare bed room in Michelle’s area — the similar one she shared along with her husband and children, even though it isn’t transparent what Michelle’s husband knew about her dating with Will.

Michelle Chavez: He simplest needed to pay … $300 a month and his personal meals, until he preferred no matter it used to be we had been making on the time. Truthfully, beautiful candy deal.

Michelle even gave Will her wedding ceremony ring – as a promise that she’d go away her husband quickly. However it wasn’t sufficient for Will.

Tracy Smith: If Will had this dating with Michelle and used to be in love with Michelle, why used to be he occurring web relationship websites?

Jamie Klotz: I believe — that it needed to do with jealousy. … Michelle used to be gonna go away her husband on her phrases. And it wasn’t going rapid sufficient. … If he may make her jealous, then — perhaps it might velocity issues up.

Which might give an explanation for why, when Anna visited Will over Christmas, they stayed at Michelle’s area — underneath Michelle’s nostril. It sort of feels Anna knew not anything of Will’s different dating.

Michelle Chavez: They had been in his room as a rule. … On New Yr’s Eve, they had been on the point of pass out … Will used to be like … “Oh, perhaps I will have to introduce you guys.” … And he or she shook my hand and mentioned her identify used to be … Anna. I mentioned it used to be great to fulfill her.

However Michelle would not be fairly that welcoming when Anna returned a couple of months in a while March 1, 2017, with the aim of changing into Will’s spouse.

Michelle Chavez: I used to be like, “smartly, she’s now not staying right here. … She’s now not staying in my area.”

So, Will and Anna rented an condominium in Corvallis, a small faculty the city now not a ways from Michelle’s house. With Will operating and and not using a activity herself, Anna hung out on her personal, even becoming a member of the native fitness center. Existence wasn’t as simple for Michelle.

Tracy Smith: What did you wish to have?

Michelle Chavez: Easy — simply to be at liberty.

Tracy Smith: And also you concept you would discovered that with him?

Michelle Chavez: I assumed I had. … However you must in fact know any individual to search out the ones issues, I believe.

Seems, in fact realizing Will used to be going to be just a little of problem for everybody. Even together with his new fiancée in The usa, he break up his nights between his two love pursuits.

Ryan Joslin: | Deputy district lawyer: He in reality persisted to flow between the ones two — puts, again at Michelle’s position after which again on the condominium with Anna.

With out a clue as to why Will saved disappearing, Anna frequently needed to hotel to contacting his buddies to search out her personal fiancé.

Amie Matusko | Deputy district lawyer: She’s seeing him long past. … Within the textual content messages, she’s attaining out to his buddies, “Have you learnt the place he’s? What is going on?” … She’s turning into suspicious. “The place is he going? What’s going on together with his time?”

АNNA REPKINA [via Facebook]: Have you learnt the place Will is?

Because it came about, Anna’s instincts had been proper at the cash.

Ryan Joslin: This guy used to be a fraud, and … relied closely on deception to persuade other folks he used to be the kind of person who he sought after to be perceived as.

Amie Matusko: He sought after to be anything more than he used to be. … He instructed numerous other folks he used to be within the Armed Forces. He used to be by no means within the Armed Forces.

Then there may be the topic of a undeniable engagement ring. Anna’s ring. Or used to be it?

Michelle Chavez: Her and I had friended each and every different on Fb. After which I noticed her dressed in my wedding ceremony ring.

Tracy Smith: What?

Michelle Chavez: Yeah.

The hoop that have been Michelle’s wedding ceremony ring have been re-purposed when Will proposed to Anna.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Will instructed Anna that this ring belonged to his … grandmother and had sentimental worth to him.

Anna had no concept she used to be dressed in Michelle’s ring. And on March 22, she used to be stunned to get a Fb message from Michelle about sharing Will.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ [via Facebook]: …if we’re going to proceed to proportion him…

Amie Matusko: At this level, all Anna is aware of is that Michelle Chavez is the loopy ex-girlfriend, as a result of that is what Will Hargrove has instructed her. And so, Anna says, “No method. You get out of our lives.”

ANNA REPKINA [via Facebook]: …prevent being a whinge.

Michelle Chavez: One thing about me being a whinge, I consider. And I used to be like, I am simply getting began at being one.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ [via Facebook]: …I’m satisfied to turn you simply how a lot of 1 I will be able to be.

Tracy Smith: Have been you threatening her?

Michelle Chavez: No. Simply being mouthy. … I simply supposed that in the event you suppose I am being bitchy now, like, simply watch.

Simply 3 days later, Anna and Will headed to the Oregon coast for his or her wedding ceremony rite.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Anna introduced a marriage get dressed along with her from Russia. She had her … ring that William proposed to her with.

At the method, Will determined to prevent on the native Walmart to shop for their wedding ceremony bands, leaving bride-to-be Anna within the automobile.

Amie Matusko: Whilst he is in Walmart searching for his wedding ceremony ring, he’s at the telephone with Michelle Chavez. And he’s discussing their dating and whether or not or now not he is gonna come see her that evening.

Tracy Smith: And also you had no clue when he mentioned he used to be in Walmart that he used to be like headed to a marriage?

Michelle Chavez: No, no, none in any respect.

However as it might prove, Anna and Will weren’t headed to a marriage.

Amie Matusko: They pass to the seaside, and the officiant does not display up. So, he has a telephone name wherein he relays to each the witnesses and to Anna that the officiant could not make it, he used to be sick, anything got here up.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: William Hargrove used to be in fact calling a pair online game retail outlets to … possibly faux he used to be chatting with a marriage legit to turn ’em how mad he used to be about this present day.

Amie Matusko: He by no means organized for an officiant. He by no means were given a wedding license. He … did not have the rest arrange.

Unfortunately, there’d be just one portrait of the bride that day … choosing up some rapid meals.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: The McDonald’s drive-thru video is the one video or photograph taken on Anna Repkina’s wedding ceremony day. …And you’ll in fact see Anna Repkina in her wedding ceremony get dressed — in William Hargrove’s car.

Apparently oblivious to Will’s emotions for Michelle, Anna set her coronary heart on a rescheduled wedding ceremony date. However Michelle had different plans.

Tracy Smith: So, did you give him an ultimatum?

Michelle Chavez: At one level I did. I instructed him he had to pick out one … I did not need the rest dangerous to occur to her. I simply did not need her right here.

Tracy Smith: So, you stressed him to select?

Michelle Chavez: I did.

AN ULTIMATUM

In April 2017, the connection between Michelle Chavez and Will Hargrove hit a crossroads with Michelle insisting Will after all choose from her and Anna. Will instructed Michelle she used to be his selection.

Tracy Smith: So, April nineteenth used to be the closing date for either one of you?

Michelle Chavez: Right kind.

Tracy Smith: You had been gonna be carried out together with your marriage. And he used to be meant to …

Michelle Chavez: She used to be meant to be long past or no matter. … He used to be going to go away her.

Tracy Smith: How a lot force did Michelle placed on Will to eliminate Anna?

Amie Matusko: So much. There used to be a large number of force. … There may be a large number of from side to side in there between the entire textual content messages — the place one minute it is like, “Blank out your stuff and get out,” the following minute is, “I really like you, I wanna be in combination, however we will be able to’t do this if she’s right here.”

Tracy Smith: There are texts between the 2 of you with you pressuring him to select, and at one level you instructed him to mend it. What’d you imply by way of that?

Michelle Chavez: Within the normal sense. … Repair it within the sense that you’d maintain it, now not maintain it like take any individual out. … You possibly can finish the connection, that you’d be carried out.

Will instructed Michelle he’d attempted to ship Anna packing time and again, however she would not pass.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: So, Michelle perceived Anna as this woman who kinda by no means were given the trace, that she used to be being instructed to go away and she or he saved coming again … despite the fact that Anna by no means knew any of this used to be in reality going down.

On Saturday evening, April 15, simply 4 days shy of the closing date they might set, Michelle used to be meant to have dinner at Will’s condominium.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: It wasn’t till about 8 p.m. that evening that William Hargrove tells Michelle Chavez that — she in fact cannot come over, that Anna confirmed again up, that Anna’s again once more. He will maintain it.

What adopted used to be but every other heated textual content dialog. Now not a marvel in line with Detective Chris Dale, who says Michelle and Will exchanged greater than 13,000 texts throughout their dating.

Det. Chris Dale: Consistent checking in each morning to ensure that he is woken up on time — to get to paintings. … It did not appear as though there used to be an hour in an afternoon that went by way of the place they weren’t speaking.

However on that day, there used to be one crucial textual content.

Amie Matusko: So, Will Hargrove despatched a message to Leave out Chavez, “I will be able to have this completely mounted by way of 18:00 day after today.”

Lt. Chris Duffitt: So, he’s going to have the location of Anna Repkina treated by way of 6:00 p.m. the next day to come, which used to be Easter Sunday.

That assurance used to be now not sufficient for Michelle. She contined texting and calling Will, who became off his telephone. Because the hours handed and not using a answer, Michelle’s hope that Will used to be really “solving” the issue with Anna … vanished.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ [2:06 a.m. voicemail to Will]: I assume you made your selection. Adequate.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ [3:10 a.m. voicemail to Will]: I will assist you to be. Why? I simply wanna know why. I will assist you to be. However I simply wanna know why.

The following morning, Michelle headed to her mom’s area for Easter. Jamie used to be there as smartly.

Jamie Klotz: She mentioned that she’d spent the evening unpleasant crying. And although I knew what the possible solution used to be going to be, I nonetheless requested her, like, “why?” And he or she seems to be at me and she or he is going, “Why do you suppose?” And I mentioned, “On account of Will.”

In the meantime, again at his condominium, Will used to be coping with an overly other however pressing drawback: his automobile insurance plans.

Amie Matusko: They have been sending him notices that if he does not have it paid by way of nighttime at the sixteenth, they are gonna cancel his insurance coverage.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: He tells them that he is aware of his insurance coverage lapses that night, and he must get it – prolonged — without spending a dime — as a result of if it does not he is gonna lose his — car mortgage and they are gonna repossess it straight away.

WILLIAM HARGROVE [phone call]: OK. Are you able to guys grasp off till the twenty first so I will be able to get you paid?

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AGENT: Um, sadly as soon as it’s pending cancellation for nonpayment, we do not need the facility to transport the dates in any respect um, and this one … yeah, so it’s going to be impact — canceled efficient this night in the dark.

Simply after 4:30 p.m., Michelle’s telephone rang. It used to be Will.

Tracy Smith: And what did he say?

Michelle Chavez: That he have been out on the coast. … He used to be on his long ago in and … he’d virtually hit a deer. He ran off the street and had a flat tire and he wanted lend a hand.

Tracy Smith: How did he sound?

Michelle Chavez: Shaken, unhappy.

And so, Michelle left her circle of relatives’s Easter party to head meet Will within the the city of Alsea. He waited for her at an area comfort retailer.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: You’ll see him stroll to the — cooler the place he will get — a Pepsi. He is going and will get his sweet bar. After which he in the long run will get a pack of cigarettes.

About an hour later, Michelle arrived.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: She parks at the facet of that retailer. We see her get out of her Prius.

Michelle Chavez: I requested him, “what came about? The place have you ever been?” …

He instructed me that he — when we had talked to they’d gotten to an issue and he mentioned terrible, imply issues to her then that she had became round and brought her suitcases and had walked out.

Considering Anna had after all left the condominium for just right, Michelle says she and Will were given into his automobile.

Michelle Chavez: We drove for just a little bit. … We would pulled off and we had been speaking for a couple of. After which truthfully, we finally end up having intercourse within the entrance seat.

Tracy Smith: So, you had make-up intercourse, necessarily.

Michelle Chavez: Yeah, necessarily. Make-up intercourse within the entrance seat.

Michelle and Will then went their separate techniques, with Michelle returning to her circle of relatives’s Easter party.

Jamie Klotz: She got here again, she used to be in a just right temper. She used to be smiling. She used to be — you understand, she used to be satisfied. She seemed general 180 from what she gave the look of within the morning.

Will headed house, however he made a couple of stops alongside the way in which. First, at an ATM the place he withdrew cash from Anna’s checking account.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Made a $200 withdrawal from this system, after which engaged in some dialog with some staff — at that gasoline station, the place he in fact ended up hugging considered one of them and crying about the truth that his lady friend, Anna Repkina — had left him.

Tracy Smith: His lady friend, whose account he simply took $200 from?

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Sure.

Will then headed to a moment ATM.

Amie Matusko: He is going to the Chase Financial institution and withdraws an extra $600 of Anna Repkina’s cash.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: So now William Hargrove has $800 — that he stole from Anna Repkina’s checking account. …  At about 9:00, 9:30 p.m. on that very same evening … he drives to — every other financial institution and he finally ends up depositing $160 of that money into his checking account.

Will had only one extra chore to maintain that night.

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AGENT [phone call]: Thanks for calling Modern. …

WILL HARGROVE: Y’all will have to have a card on record for me and I wish to make a cost please.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: A number of hours previous he has no cash.

WILL HARGROVE [phone call]: All just right, then? The whole lot’s carried out?

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AGENT: Yep. The whole lot is sorted, you’re insured as we are talking.

WILL HARGROVE: Superb. Thanks very a lot ma’am.

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE AGENT: My excitement. Have a just right evening, William.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Unexpectedly, he has cash and he takes it out of Anna Repkina’s checking account, who is discovered lifeless day after today.

 “A HORRIBLE MISTAKE”

On April 17, 2017 – the day after Easter Sunday – Anna Repkina used to be discovered with a shotgun blast to the again of the pinnacle, her frame left like yet another piece of rubbish.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Anna used to be discarded on this touchdown with the opposite trash.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Rapid meals luggage, cigarette cartons, sweet wrappers that had been — that had been right here. And at that time, we do not know what is proof and what is now not. As a result of that would both be large proof on this case or it may well be simply trash.

Whilst investigators was hoping to discover a connection to Anna’s killer, Will used to be sending Anna texts, appearing worry about her whereabouts after the combat he mentioned they might had the day ahead of.

WILL HARGROVE [text to Anna]: Simply let me know you’re secure?

May also introduced a odd deep dive on-line, researching time travel.

WILL HARGROVE [WhatsApp message]: I wish to know about time shuttle. I wish to proper a terrible mistake.

Det. Chris Dale: He is making an attempt to invite for lend a hand in learn how to shuttle again in time, again to April sixteenth, to be able to proper a terrible mistake.

Tracy Smith: His phrases, “proper a terrible mistake”?

Det. Chris Dale: Sure.

He even went as far as to message strangers on WhatsApp for recommendation to lend a hand any individual he referred to as his “perfect pal.”

WILL HARGROVE [WhatsApp message]: April sixteenth my perfect pal made a mistake. I need to return to stay from shedding the ladies that are supposed to be my spouse.

Will used to be it seems that so determined for this knowledge he presented a praise — his soul.

WILL HARGROVE’S WHATSAPP MESSAGE: I would truthfully promote my soul.

Along with his extraordinary web seek, Will went on a buying groceries spree, spending extra of that money he stole from anna purchasing sweet, video video games and toys.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: He purchased a hundred-and-something buck set of Legos from a Walmart.

Will reached out to a chum named Kevin Thomas.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: …pronouncing that he is … spending cash he mustn’t, looking to distract himself. 

WILL HARGROVE TEXT TO KEVIN THOMAS: Spending cash I mustn’t as a result of I am looking to distract myself.

On Wednesday, April 19, investigators struck a lead with the trash discovered subsequent to Anna’s frame: a KFC receipt from 3 days previous with a the most important timestamp.

Tracy Smith: Used to be there a reputation at the receipt?

Lt. Chris Duffitt: So, at the receipt there used to be no identify. … KFC instructed us that there used to be in fact a automobile that pulled up on that Friday. And there used to be two purchases comprised of that automobile. There used to be one made with a debit card that got here again to Kevin Thomas. And every other acquire that used to be made with money.

With just one identify to paintings with, investigators headed to Kevin’s Corvallis house.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT : We are simply looking to put some items in combination for our case. Um, the uh rubbish we discovered used to be I believe anything that you simply purchased remaining week from KFC.

KEVIN THOMAS: OK.

LT. CHRIS OFFICER: Have you learnt about that?

KEVIN THOMAS: Yeah. Me and my brother pass to KFC –

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: Cross to KFC –

KEVIN THOMAS: — on Fridays.

DET. ADAM MILLER: What is your brother’s identify, Kevin?

KEVIN THOMAS: Uh, Will Hargrove.

Kevin and can was buddies on the Peacock Bar and Grill. Kevin, like Joseph Thompson, referred to as will his “brother.” Police persisted chatting with Kevin on the sheriff’s workplace, the place he presented a revelation. A couple of weeks previous, will had requested to borrow anything that belonged to Kevin: his shotgun.

DET. ADAM MILLER: Did he say why he sought after to borrow it?

KEVIN THOMAS: Simply that he used to be gonna pass up and pass capturing within the woods and simply roughly blow off some steam.

What is extra, Kevin instructed police that can had but to go back the gun. With this new knowledge, investigators headed instantly to Michelle’s area, the place Will used to be staying to query him. He responded the door.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT : We are right here followin’ up on a case we are workin’ and uh, uh your identify’s come throughout and we wanna communicate to you.

WILL HARGROVE: OK.

Will then lied to investigators telling them that he and Michelle drove as much as Alsea in combination on Easter Sunday.

WILL HARGROVE : Drove into Alsea, stopped on the little marketplace there, picked up a pack of cigarettes and drove again.

LT: CHRIS DUFFITT: Did you unload some trash there whilst you had been there?

WILL HARGROVE: Yeah, I did. At the facet of the construction. At the facet of the overall retailer.

However that trash that can claimed to have left on the retailer, used to be the exact same that used to be discovered subsequent to Anna’s frame. Investigators requested Will to come back to the sheriff’s workplace. Whilst Will used to be on the point of go away, he texted Michelle to make sure their tales matched.

WILL HARGROVE’S TEXT TO MICHELLE CHAVEZ: Picked you up at your mothers drove to alsea normal retailer and drove again.

On the sheriff’s workplace, investigators were given to the query of Anna.

DET. ADAM MILLER: What are you aware about her?

WILL HARGROVE: Nearly not anything.

DET. ADAM MILLER: How’d you — how’d you guys meet?

WILL HARGROVE: I met her downtown Corvallis.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: Simply strolling round?

WILL: HARGROVE: Yeah.

Will performed down their dating, even calling Anna “psychotic”.

WILL HARGROVE: We went on two dates after which determined – I – I instructed her it wasn’t gonna be the rest greater than that, and that I used to be satisfied to stay putting out along with her however that used to be all it used to be gonna be.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: OK. How way back used to be that?  

WILL HARGROVE: Uh, remaining time I noticed her used to be center of March.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: Heart of March.

WILL HARGROVE: We reduce it off as a result of she determined to place on Fb that we had been engaged.

DET. ADAM MILLER: She posted that?

WILL HARGROVE: Yeah.

DET. ADAM MILLER: After two dates?

WILL HARGROVE: Oh, yeah. And it introduced hell down upon me.

DET. ADAM MILLER: From who?

WILL HARGROVE: Michelle.

Lieutenant Duffitt became up the warmth on Will and were given proper to the purpose:

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: So, Will, your trash used to be discovered the place any individual used to be killed.

WILL HARGROVE: I am sorry. What?

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: Ok. That is what we are speaking about right here.

WILL HARGROVE: You guys are having a look at me for this?

DET. ADAM MILLER: Your trash, like my spouse mentioned used to be discovered there.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: Your stuff used to be discovered at a scene the place any individual died.

DET. ADAM MILLER: Yeah.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: OK. Speaking to you there may be a large number of inconsistencies together with your tale about what — what came about.

That is when Will stopped speaking and requested for a attorney.

WILL HARGROVE: No offense, guys. You have been in reality sort and I such as you and I do not thoughts that, however the second that you simply say any individual used to be killed available in the market then no, I – ju – ju – simply no.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: OK. So, uh William Hargrove, I want you to rise up and put your fingers at the back of your again. You are underneath arrest for the homicide of Anna Repkina.

Will Hargrove used to be positioned underneath arrest, however did police have the fitting individual in custody?

Tracy Smith [to prosecutors Ryan Joslin and Amie Matusko]: If somebody at the face of it seems like they’ve a cause to kill Anna, it is the different lady. It is Michelle. How are you able to be so positive that she had not anything to do with Anna’s homicide?

AN ALTERNATE THEORY

Simply hours after Will Hargrove used to be arrested for Anna Repkina’s homicide, Michelle Chavez used to be introduced in for wondering about what she used to be doing Easter Sunday.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: Are you able to inform me what that is about even though?

She begins out at the improper foot, telling police what Will had texted her to mention that they might pushed to Alsea in combination.

DET. ERIC GLASS: And he picked you up at your mother’s area at the moment?

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: He did.

DET. ERIC GLASS: OK.

In an instant, Michelle reverses herself, admitting what she had simply mentioned used to be false.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: That is just a little little bit of a lie. He referred to as me, he used to be gonna pick out me up after which he did not.

Tracy Smith: Why did you mislead them?

Michelle Chavez: Truthfully, I wasn’t considering. And I do not need a just right solution.

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: I would like you to understand presently that Will is underneath arrest for homicide.

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: OK. OK.

Investigators say Michelle did not appear in any respect shocked after they instructed her Will had simply been arrested for killing Anna.

OFFICER: How are you now not extraordinarily disappointed presently?

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: I – I …

LT. CHRIS DUFFITT: To understand that the one that you had been romantically concerned with –

MICHELLE CHAVEZ: I’m very disappointed presently. I’m very disappointed presently. I do not know how that may be an individual that I’ve spent the remaining year-and-a-half with.

Michelle Chavez: I used to be numb. It did not make sense.

Over a yr later, in July 2018, Will used to be officially indicted for Anna’s homicide. The protection would pass directly to spin a completely other idea of the crime, person who had Michelle pulling the cause after getting back from her circle of relatives’s Easter party. Consistent with them:

Amie Matusko: The defendant had taken Michelle Chavez as much as the site — to have a dialog with Anna, and … Michelle had taken the gun out from him and shot Anna.

A couple of items of proof had given investigators motive for worry. For something, Michelle mysteriously ended up in ownership of Anna’s telephone. Michelle blames Will.

Michelle Chavez: I did not are aware of it used to be hers. He had given it to me, I assume, the evening ahead of he were given arrested.

Michelle’s personal cellular phone information confirmed {that a} month ahead of Anna’s frame used to be discovered, Michelle had visited that specific spot at the logging highway. Michelle claims that is simplest as a result of Will introduced her there, however may she had been scouting the site?

Tracy Smith: The protection says that Will liked Anna, that he used to be beginning a lifestyles along with her, that you are the only with the entire causes to kill her. What do you are saying to that?

Michelle Chavez: I had no explanation why to wish her lifeless. No explanation why to kill her.

Michelle Chavez: I do get the way it seems to be, however her being lifeless is not anything I ever sought after. I sought after her to head house.

Tracy Smith: Did you ever inform Will to kill Anna?

Michelle Chavez: No.

Days after Will’s arrest, his pal Kevin’s shotgun used to be recovered from the again of Will’s car. Proof helps there’d simplest been one killer.

Amie Matusko: Will Hargrove’s fingerprint used to be at the shotgun. Michelle Chavez’s DNA used to be by no means on that shotgun. Michelle Chavez’s fingerprints had been by no means on that shotgun.

Piecing in combination more than a few safety cameras, investigators tracked Will’s force with Anna to Alsea.

Ryan Joslin: We see the defendant’s automobile that is distinct for more than a few causes, touring alongside a undeniable trail. And it gave us location in addition to timeframes.

However it used to be GPS monitoring that gave police a good larger piece of the puzzle with Will’s telephone pinging from the homicide website online from 4:35 to 4:48 that afternoon.

Amie Matusko: The rationale we now have this is as a result of he referred to as Michelle Chavez.

Michelle Chavez — who used to be nonetheless at her mom’s area at that Easter party.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: We haven’t any forensic information or knowledge that used to be left at that crime scene to indicate that Michelle used to be on the crime scene on that day.

And understand that video of Will buying groceries on the Alsea comfort retailer as he waited for Michelle to reach?

Lt. Chris Duffitt: Against the highest of his bald head, you’ll see what seems to be — smaller black — dots.

Elevating the query: may it had been blood spatter?

Amie Matusko: We will’t inform you if that used to be blood. We will’t inform you what that used to be. However we will be able to inform you it used to be there ahead of he met Michelle Chavez. … Next photograph comparability afterwards display that the ones spots were not moles. They were not the rest that used to be there completely.

There used to be yet another heart-wrenching piece of proof discovered within the trash along Anna’s frame from every other rapid meals drive-thru.

Lt. Chris Duffitt: A receipt from McDonald’s — in Newport, Oregon. … Dated on March twenty fifth of 2017.

March 25, the day that are supposed to have been Anna’s wedding ceremony day.

Will’s trial were given underway in October 2019.

Amie Matusko: The unique witness record used to be 131 other folks. In the end, I consider just about 70 other folks testified.

The trial took a month. Will Hargrove used to be discovered in charge of Anna’s homicide in addition to identification robbery and two counts of second-degree robbery for stealing that cash from Anna’s checking account.

AMIE MATUSKO [in court]: I wanna speak about Anna Repkina for a minute. And I positioned her photograph at the witness stand to remind everybody of a lifestyles that used to be misplaced.

Will’s sentencing used to be held in January 2020.

AMIE MATUSKO [in court]: She got here right here with hopes and goals to search out any individual that used to be loving her and get started a circle of relatives. She does not have that anymore. … The defendant very just about were given away with this crime. It used to be his personal trash that betrayed him.

Will won a lifestyles sentence with an opportunity of parole after 25 years.

Michelle says dwelling underneath the scrutiny of other folks on the town questioning what she knew or did not know was all an excessive amount of.

Tracy Smith: How dangerous did it get for you?

Michelle Chavez: Unhealthy sufficient.

Tracy Smith: Unhealthy.

Michelle Chavez: Unhealthy.

Jamie Klotz: She had an incident wherein she could not take the tension anymore. And– virtually did not get the police there in time.

Michelle says that during June 2018, she attempted to take her personal lifestyles.

Michelle Chavez: I attempted to die. I am nonetheless right here. It did not paintings.

As for the younger Moscow local who flew to the U.S. with the promise of affection …

Amie Matusko: I believe you have got to bear in mind Anna because the candy, loving, worrying one that put herself available in the market to be liked. … As a result of Anna used to be liked. … She used to be liked alive, and she or he used to be liked after.

William Hargrove’s homicide conviction used to be overturned on attraction in 2023. The reversal used to be in response to a incorrect seek warrant and the fallacious assortment of a few proof. A brand new trial is ready to start in April 2025.  

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Produced by way of Susan Mallie and Jennifer Terker. Cindy Cesare is the advance manufacturer. Danielle Arman is the affiliate manufacturer. Marcus Balsam, Michael Vele and Joan Adelman are the editors.  Lourdes Aguiar is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the manager tale editor. Judy Tygard is the manager manufacturer.