She was picked up after getting stuck two counties away. Before confessing, she told a story of a large black male who had kidnapped her after murdering her grandparents and setting fire to their house. When she ultimately confessed she proclaimed that her grandparents deserved what they got. Pittman's father testified that the incident occurred two days after Kristen's Zoloft dosage had been doubled. Trial and Appeals On Monday, January 31, 2005, three years after the murders, her trial as an adult began. The case involved several important issues, including considerations of mental capacity regarding her age; the other issue was the impact of Zoloft on her mental state. There was also the consideration of whether her crime should be considered murder or some form of manslaughter. Ultimately, the focus of the trial was on the Zoloft. The prosecution focused on proving that Pittman did know the difference between right and wrong, and her culpable mental status was revealed by such factors as planning the cover up such that she would escape before the fire started (by use of the candle), and the steps she took during her flight from the scene. On February 15, 2005, Pittman was convicted of murder and sentenced to 30 years in prison. There was some controversy about the verdict: two of the jurors admitted feeling coerced into their decision, and another juror openly discussed the trial with his wife and bartender during deliberations. On October 5, 2006, the South Carolina Supreme Court heard oral arguments on her appeal. A petition to pardon Pittman was also presented at that time. The Justices were also asked to hold off on moving Pittman to the adult penitentiary, but the delay was denied. On June 11, 2007, the Court affirmed Pittman's conviction by a vote of 4-1. Discovery Channel later in 2006 aired an episode of 48 Hours, which was devoted to the Pittman case. On April 14, 2008, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal, which was based on an Eighth Amendment claim of cruel and unusual punishment (lengthy sentence for child). On July 27, 2010, South Carolina Circuit Court Judge Roger Young approved Pitman's post conviction relief petition and granted her a new trial based on a finding of ineffective counsel. In November 2010 Judge Young refused a request by the state to reconsider his decision. In December 2010, Pittman entered into a