An Indiana man was arrested on Tuesday evening, on charges related to a 41-year-old cold case in which a 24-year-old was killed.
The Indiana State Police (ISP) issued a statement revealing that detectives had arrested Ronald J. Anderson, 61, for the alleged murder of Clifford Smith on October 31, 1982.
Sgt. Kip Main, who has been on the investigation since September 2015 eventually determined that Anderson had not only been at a residence with Clifford and others before his death but that he had allegedly been responsible for killing the 24-year-old.
“I’m glad that they finally are bringing a closure to this, allowing us to let our brother rest in peace,” Leonard Smith, Clifford’s brother told WHAS11 News.
Anderson’s arrest comes after two animal trappers discovered Clifford’s body on December 1, 1982, along the White River. Smith’s wife had reported him missing on November 4, 1982, according to the statement from the ISP.
Detectives with the ISP investigated Clifford’s death, though, no arrests were made and Clifford’s death was ruled to have been from a gunshot wound to his head.
As the case was passed from investigator to investigator, Main eventually discovered Anderson had been at a home in Seymour, Indiana with Clifford and several others on the night of October 30, 1982, according to the ISP’s statement.
Upon further investigation, it was determined that Anderson had “retrieved a shotgun from the house and loaded it,” the statement from the ISP added.
While Anderson allegedly had the shotgun, he “left the residence in a vehicle with Smith” and Smith “was not seen alive” after the two left the home that evening.
“Combining it with more recent investigative techniques, and it ultimately led to where we had enough information to present the case to a prosecutor,” Sgt. Stephen Wheeles told the outlet of the investigation.
Anderson also allegedly not only “returned the murder weapon back” to the residence, but “returned to the crime scene soon after the murder to hide potential evidence,” according to the ISP’s statement.
After being arrested, Anderson was transported to the Jackson County Jail where he is currently incarcerated while awaiting a first appearance in the Jackson County Circuit Court, according to the ISP.
IJR reached out to the Indiana State Police for a statement but did not receive a response by the time of publication.