5 chilling details about Michelle Kitterman's murder 

The latest episode of Fatal Affairs on Investigation Discovery sheds light on the murder case of Michelle Kitterman, which was ordered by Lacey Hirst-Pavek, the wife of the man with whom Michelle was having an affair.

The savage killing of Michelle Kitterman planned in 2009, brought shock and fear to the quiet surrounding communities of Okanogan County, Washington. The dark, gruesome nature of the crime, the motives, and the persons involved left the neighborhood aghast.

The latest episode of Fatal Affairs, Meth, Mayhem & Murder, is set to air on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 9.00 PM EST. The synopsis of the episode reads:

"When a new, hot girl arrives in town, it causes heads to turn, including that of the local heartthrob; however, he's married - and waist-deep in the town's drug problem; when they embark on an affair, it leads to mayhem and murder."

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5 unforgettable details of Michelle Kitterman's murder

1) A deadly love triangle

Kitterman's murder was pinned on a love triangle gone bad. Michelle was having an affair with a married man at that time - Lacey Hirst-Pavek's husband, Daniel Pavek. By the time of her death, Michelle had just turned 25. The infidelity led to her pregnancy with Daniel's baby.

Upon discovering the affair and Michelle's pregnancy, it was said that Lacey was filled with ferocious anger and bitterness. It was at this point that witnesses indicated Lacey had started stating her intentions of wanting Michelle to be "taken care of," setting a chilling prelude to the impending crime.

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2) A conspiracy to kill for $500

The loathing that Lacey Hirst-Pavek harbored towards Michelle influenced her to conspire to kill Michelle with Tansy Mathis, a woman who had previously been involved in criminal activities. After uncountable meetings in Okanogan County and Spokane, both women finally agreed - Mathis would "take care of" Michelle for the sum of $500.

The thought of human life being scrapped and fetchable for that amount was shocking and horrid to consider. The conspiracy thus took on the intensity and cold-bloodedness of crime via planning and premeditation.

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3) The brutal nature of the murder

On March 1, 2009, Michelle Kitterman was brutally murdered. Her body was located on a driveway in the Pine Creek area, south of Tonasket, Washington. The autopsy showed that Michelle died of "homicidal violence."

She was allegedly stabbed 39 times. Adding to the brutality of this crime is the fact that Michelle was 11 weeks pregnant at the time.

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4) Accomplices

Lacey Hirst-Pavek was not the sole mastermind behind Michelle Kitterman's killing. Along with Tansy Mathis, there were two crucial players: David Richards and Brent Philips. The three were found guilty of these charges, with Mathis sentenced to life without parole for aggravated murder in the first degree.

Besides being found guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter of an unborn child, Richards was handed a long prison term. Phillips was the third suspect who had turned his plea to first-degree murder and testified at their trial. The involvement of more than one person in the commission of this crime indicates that the said murder was premeditated and organized.

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5) The Fetus

One of the saddest facts about this case is that Michelle Kitterman was pregnant when she was murdered. She was pregnant with the child of Daniel Pavek, with whom she used to have an affair.

The court took cognizance of this fact, thus including it in the list of charges. Lacey Hirst-Pavek was charged with first-degree manslaughter of an unborn child. This extra count made the case doubly devastating.

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The specifics of Michelle Kitterman's murder case still serve to send chills down the spines of those who hear it and act as a very strong alert of the growth of emotions into acts of violence. All the convicted individuals continue to serve in prison.