The Murder of Anna Repkina
I watched an episode of 48 Hours for this case. This is case didn’t happen too long ago, it happened in 2017, and I had never heard about it until today. A young woman from Russia came to the U.S., and was stuck in a love triangle, and mostly likely killed because of it.
Background
Anna was a 27 year old from Moscow, Russia. She had just gotten out of a long relationship, and decided to get back out there by using a dating site. She met a 26 year old named Will Hargrove, and together they made plans to meet and plan their future together.
Anna
“WILL HARGROVE [via Facebook]: You, are absolutely amazing.
WILL HARGROVE: We are going to have soooo much fun together..
ANNA REPKINA: (Smiley Face)
ANNA REPKINA: True”
Anna and Will Meet
Anna and Will decided to meet for the first time in person in December 2016. They had to wait a little while longer because Anna flew to Portland, Maine instead of Portland, Oregon. She finally made it to meet Will, and it went so well that they got engaged after 10 days of being together.
Will and Anna
However, there was a problem: another woman. Will was dating another woman named Michelle Chavez. Michelle was still married at the time, and had kids, but Will actually rented a room in the house she shared with the husband she planned on leaving. Will and Anna also stayed there when she came to visit, and Michelle was PISSED. She finally decided to kick them out and gave Will an ultimatum: her or Anna.
Michelle Chavez
Will was playing both women, when he wasn’t with one, he was with the other. Anna was clueless about Will and Michelle’s relationship, but Michelle knew and wanted Anna to leave.
Michelle VS. Anna
Michelle was interviewed in this episode, and she said that she friended Anna on Facebook one day, and noticed that Anna’s engagement ring was her wedding ring that she had given to Will.
Michelle was fuming, and decided to get to the bottom of it and message Anna herself. Michelle went off on Anna, and Anna told her to “stop being a bitch.” Michelle then said “I am happy to show you how much of one I can be.”
Michelle was asked about those messages and she downplayed it saying she was threatening, but just wanted Anna to know about her and Will.
In April 2017, Michelle continued pressuring Will into choosing one of them and he finally told her:
“I will have this permanently fixed by 1800 tomorrow.”
The Murder
On April 16, Easter Sunday, Will called Michelle from Alesa, Oregon, he told her to come meet him because he had a flat tire. Michelle left her family Easter to come to his beck and call.
Michelle said that Will said Anna left for good, and even took her suitcases with her. Michelle and Will spent some time together, and she dropped him back off. He left and ran errands. Actually, he stopped at several ATMs and withdrew money from Anna’s bank account, so that he could pay his car insurance. He withdrew $800 dollars in total, and then put some of that money in his account so that he could pay it off.
The next day, on April 17, a man found a body of a woman in the forest. It was Anna Repkina. She was killed by a gun shot wound to the back of the head. There was also garbage found near her body, which ended up being significant.
Investigation
A KFC receipt from the 17th was found with a time stamp on it. The police took the receipt to the KFC, and the employees remembered it. The man who ordered the food was a man named Kevin Thomas. Kevin was friends with Will, and he said they often went to KFC together. Kevin also said Will had borrowed his gun to “go shooting in the woods.”
Will was brought in for questioning, and he downplayed his relationship with Anna. He said that she was psychotic and told everyone that she had posted that they were engaged after two days. He also said that he and Michelle were together that day and drove together into Alesa.
Will even texted Michelle about being his alibi, he said:
“Picked you up at your moms drove to alsea general store and drove back.”
The police then told Will that his garbage was found near her body.
Will was arrested that day.
Trial and Sentencing
Will was indicted in July 2018, but his trial started in October 2019. Will’s defense team blamed the murder on Michelle. They said she had more of a motive than Will did. However, the shotgun was found in Will’s car and only had his fingerprints on it. Will’s phone also pinged from the scene of the crime because he had called Michelle.
Will was found guilty of Anna’s murder, two counts of identity theft and two counts of second degree theft for stealing Anna’s money.
In January 2020, he was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Other
Anna’s ashes were flown back to her hometown in Russia.
FINAL THOUGHTS
First, I don’t like Michelle and I think she had more to do with Anna’s murder then she says she did. She was constantly telling Will to break it off with Anna, and would even call him and say things like I guess you made your choice with her, and give him ultimatums.
I 100% think Will was the one who shot Anna, and maybe even was at the scene alone, but I think Michelle’s words got to him and he wanted her gone to be with Michelle. I could be wrong though, because money was also the motive, but I think he had access to her money once she was gone. I think Michelle would have given him the money.
Anna didn't deserve to be killed. She thought she found the love of her life, and he was lying to her the entire time. He should have been honest with her about his relationship with Michelle, she didn't have to die. I hope Anna’s family had peace knowing that Will is rotting in prison.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anna-repkina-murder-william-hargrove-love-triangle-ultimatum-48-hours/
