Pennsylvania Man Killed Ex-Girlfriend 25 Minutes After Breakup, Researched How to Shoot Her Gun First: Prosecutors
WEST CONSHOHOCKEN, PENNSYLVANIA — A 26-year-old Pennsylvania man is on trial for allegedly murdering his ex-girlfriend just 25 minutes after she broke up with him, spending the brief moments in between searching online for how to shoot her revolver, prosecutors revealed this week.
Michael Dutkiewicz is charged with first- and third-degree murder and possession of an instrument of crime in the May 2025 shooting death of 25-year-old Alyssa Wiest. The shocking timeline of the killing was laid out in court by the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office as the trial got underway.
Prosecutors Say Breakup Triggered Premeditated Killing
According to court testimony, Dutkiewicz and Wiest had been dating for two years and were out drinking together on May 17 when they returned home to Wiest’s residence on Moorehead Avenue. That’s when she ended their relationship — a decision she had reportedly been contemplating since March.
Instead of walking away, prosecutors say Dutkiewicz used the next 25 minutes to search online for how to load and shoot a revolver — the very gun Wiest owned for personal protection.
Shortly after midnight, neighbors reported hearing gunfire and screams. Police arrived around 12:25 a.m. on May 18 to find Wiest lying face down on the sidewalk outside her home with multiple gunshot wounds to her torso.
“He used the victim’s own weapon to kill her,” prosecutors said, calling the act “both calculated and cold-blooded.”
Evidence Points to Intentional Shooting
Investigators found blood inside Wiest’s home and along the sidewalk, suggesting she tried to flee before collapsing. Five bullet projectiles were recovered — some inside the home, others near her body.
Witnesses reported seeing Dutkiewicz standing next to his silver Ford F-150 moments after the shooting before driving away from the scene. License plate readers later placed his vehicle traveling through Conshohocken around the same time.
A warrant was issued for his arrest, and he turned himself in days later to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility.
Defense Argues Crime of Passion, Not Premeditation
While prosecutors described the killing as “an act of rage turned deliberate,” Dutkiewicz’s defense attorneys are not disputing that he shot Wiest, but instead claim the act stemmed from a sudden emotional breakdown, not premeditated intent.
They argue that Dutkiewicz acted in a “moment of uncontrollable despair”, hoping to convince jurors to convict on a lesser charge such as third-degree murder.
“He didn’t plan to kill her,” his attorney said. “He reacted in a state of heartbreak and confusion.”
Prosecutors countered by citing his Google searches on how to fire the gun and the 25-minute delay between the breakup and the shooting as clear proof of intent.
Victim Remembered as “Radiant and Full of Light”
Alyssa Wiest’s family described her as a bright and compassionate woman whose death has devastated loved ones and friends.
“She was our beloved shining star—radiant, vibrant, and full of light,” her obituary read. “Her absence leaves a deep ache in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.”
Wiest’s older sister testified that Alyssa had been planning to move on with her life after the breakup and had been optimistic about her future.
The trial continues this week, with prosecutors expected to present video evidence and phone records before the case goes to the jury.
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