Fresh details have emerged from court documents in the case of a January murder in north Reno, painting a picture of a relationship unraveling into violence. Joseph Bitter, 31, now faces an open murder charge after authorities say he shot and killed Anthony Walker, also 31, inside a condominium on Clear Acre Lane in the early hours of January 15. Bitter was arrested on July 22, months after the killing, following an investigation that traced a night of jealousy, heavy drinking, and threatening behavior.

The trouble began earlier that evening at a party. Bitter’s girlfriend, Nina Stephens-Wagner, told detectives that she and Bitter argued after he saw her dancing with another man. She explained that the man was gay and that there was nothing to worry about, but Bitter remained upset. The argument intensified, and Stephens-Wagner told Bitter she wanted to end their relationship. She demanded he leave the apartment they shared, and because of his angry and belligerent demeanor, she called a friend to stay with her until Bitter was gone.

When Bitter left, he took with him three guns, ammunition, gun accessories, and a water pipe used for smoking. Stephens-Wagner said she received numerous text messages and phone calls from Bitter throughout the night. He then reached out to a friend, saying he had broken up with Stephens-Wagner and needed a place to shower. The friend’s wife, fearing for her safety, left the home with their children just after 1:00 a.m. on January 15 after Bitter allegedly threatened to shoot them if he heard them saying bad things about him. Bitter later spoke with his wife on the phone, who told him that she and the children had left and were now outside. His last text to her came around 3:20 a.m.

She returned home only after hearing news reports that a body had been found at a condominium on Clear Acre Lane. Inside the unit, detectives discovered 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. The scene suggested a sudden, quiet confrontation turned deadly.

Bitter’s whereabouts became clearer just before 5:30 a.m. when he allegedly crashed his car into a tree at a home on Donatello Drive in Sun Valley. A Washoe County Sheriff’s deputy noted that Bitter had blood on his pants that did not match any injuries on his own body. Bitter was taken to Renown Regional Medical Center for treatment and to be tested for alcohol or drug impairment. He was initially arrested for DUI and later released, but the murder charge followed.

Detectives also spoke with Bitter’s father, Bruce Bitter, who said his son called him multiple times during the night. The final call came around 5:30 a.m., when Joseph Bitter allegedly said, “I have killed somebody.” Bruce Bitter said he urged his son to turn himself in. He also revealed that Joseph Bitter was a recovering alcoholic and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child, and had been on medication for about a year.

Joseph Bitter was arrested on July 22 on a charge of open murder. His next court date is set for September 28. The case continues to unfold as the community grapples with yet another tragedy rooted in a volatile mix of jealousy, alcohol, and access to firearms.