RENO, Nev. (KOLO) – The suspect in a January murder in north Reno had been told by his girlfriend she wanted to end their relationship, court documents show. Joseph Bitter, 31, was arrested July 22 on charges of open murder with a deadly weapon.
According to the arrest report by the Reno Police Department, Bitter’s girlfriend, Nina Stephens-Wagner told detectives she had been at a party the night of Jan. 14 and that Joseph had been drinking. Stephens-Wagner said she and Bitter got into an argument over Stevens-Wagner dancing with another man. Stevens-Wagner said she told Bitter the man was gay and there was nothing to be mad about. Following the argument, Stephens-Wagner told Bitter she wanted to end their relationship and that he needed to leave the apartment they shared. She then called a friend to come over until Bitter left because of his angry and belligerent behavior. Stephens-Wagner said the only belongings Bitter took when he left were three guns, ammunition, gun accessories, and a water pipe for smoking. During the night Stephens-Wagner received numerous text messages and phone calls from Bitter.
Bitter then called a friend and said he had broken up with Stephens-Wagner and that he needed a place to visit and shower. His friend’s wife left just after 1:00 a.m. on Jan. 15 with the couple’s children after Bitter allegedly threatened to shoot them if he heard them saying bad things about him. He later spoke with his wife on the phone, saying they had left and were now outside. The friend last texted his wife around 3:20 a.m. She returned home after hearing on the news a body had been found in a condominium on Clear Acre Lane. The victim was later identified as Anthony Walker, 31. Inside the condominium, detectives said they found a a pistol with what appeared to be blood on the muzzle. There were no signs of a struggle. Walker’s body was seated at the kitchen table…