Kristen Avery Pittman was born on April 9, 1989, in Florida. Her early childhood was marked by instability, emotional trauma, and mental health struggles. Pittman’s family life was turbulent: her mother abandoned her twice, and her relationship with her father was strained, with Kristen later claiming he had been physically abusive. This unstable environment led to serious behavioral problems by the time she was twelve years old.

In 2001, Kristen’s emotional and mental health began deteriorating rapidly. She ran away from home twice, threatened suicide, and was detained by police before being confined to a juvenile facility for troubled children. During her six-day stay, she was prescribed Paxil, an antidepressant, for mild depression. Hoping to provide a more stable environment, her father sent her to live with her paternal grandparents, Joe and Joy Pittman, in Chester, South Carolina — a decision that would have tragic consequences.

In Chester, her doctor switched her medication from Paxil to Zoloft, another SSRI, due to a lack of Paxil samples. However, abruptly substituting one SSRI for another is medically discouraged, particularly in adolescents. Almost immediately, Pittman began exhibiting signs of severe side effects. Her behavior became erratic and manic, and she reported physical symptoms such as a burning sensation over her body. At a follow-up appointment, her dosage was doubled from 25 mg to 50 mg daily. These changes appeared to exacerbate her mental instability, and in the days leading up to the murders, her behavior became increasingly disturbing — including violent outbursts, such as choking a fellow student and disrupting a church service.

The switch in medication — combined with Pittman’s already fragile mental state — would become the cornerstone of her defense during the trial. Experts later testified that Zoloft and similar medications can cause severe side effects in children, including aggression, hallucinations, delusions, and manic behavior.

On November 28, 2001, Kristen Avery Pittman committed a double murder. After an argument on the school bus and other troubling behaviors, she returned home. That night, after being punished by her grandfather, she went into her grandparents' bedroom. Using their own shotgun, which she had learned to use, she killed Joe and Joy Pittman.

Following the murders, she set fire to their house using a candle and papers. Pittman then took her grandparents' car, their guns, her dog, and $33 before leaving the scene. She was later caught after getting stuck in the car two counties away. Initially, she created a false story about a large black male who had kidnapped her after murdering her grandparents and setting fire to the house. Eventually, she confessed to the crime and stated that her grandparents deserved what happened.

Kristen was tried as an adult three years later. The trial raised important questions, including whether her mental state was affected by the medication Zoloft. Her defense argued about her mental capacity for her age and the influence of the medication. However, the prosecution focused on her actions before and after the crime, arguing that she knew right from wrong.

On February 15, 2005, Pittman was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Her conviction sparked controversy, with jurors later claiming they felt pressured during the deliberations. Over the years, she appealed her conviction multiple times, including an appeal denied by the United States Supreme Court.

In 2010, after presenting a petition for post-conviction relief, she was granted a new trial. Later that year, she accepted a plea bargain, pleading guilty to voluntary manslaughter. She received a 25-year sentence that included time already served. While in prison, Pittman transitioned and legally changed her name.

She was released on February 22, 2023, and is required to complete two years of state supervision.