Jesse Anderson

For other uses, see Jesse Anderson (disambiguation).
Jesse M. Anderson
Born Jesse Michael Anderson
May 1957[1]
Alton, Illinois, U.S.
Died November 30, 1994 (aged 37)
Portage, WI (Columbia Correctional Facility)]], U.S.
Occupation Landscaping contractor
Criminal penalty
 Life imprisonment with no chance of parole for 60 years
Criminal status Deceased
Spouse(s) Debra Ann Eickert (1980-1984)[1]
Barbara E. Lynch(March 30, 1985 - April 23, 1992)[1]
Conviction(s) Murder

Jesse Michael Anderson (May 1957 – November 30, 1994) was a convicted American murderer who was himself murdered in prison, along with infamous serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, by fellow inmate Christopher Scarver.

Early life and education

Anderson was raised in Alton, Illinois. When Anderson was a teenager, his father died of a heart attack and his mother remarried.[2] He attended Alton High School and graduated in 1975. In 1984, he graduated with a degree in Business Administration from Elmhurst College.[3] On March 30, 1985, he married Barbara E. Lynch in Chicago.[1]

Prior to his arrest for murder, the Andersons lived in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, with their three young children.[4] He was treasurer of the Lions Club and did volunteer work at the Divine Word Catholic Church.[3]

Killing of his wife

On April 21, 1992, Anderson and his wife Barbara E. Anderson went to a movie and dinner at T.G.I. Friday's located outside the Northridge Mall in northwest Milwaukee.[3] After dinner, Anderson stabbed his wife, Barbara, five times in the face and head. He also stabbed himself four times in the chest, though most of the wounds were superficial.[3] After going into a coma, Barbara died from her wounds two days later on April 23. Anderson blamed two African-American men for attacking him and his wife. Anderson presented police with a Los Angeles Clippers basketball cap he claimed to have knocked off the head of one of the assailants. When details of the crime were made public, a university student told police Anderson had purchased the hat from him a few days earlier. According to employees at a military surplus store, the red-handled fishing knife which was used to murder Barbara was sold to Anderson only a few weeks earlier. Police stated that the store was the only one in Milwaukee that sold that type of knife.[3] On April 29, just eight days after the killing, Anderson was charged with murder. On August 13, he was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison with no chance of parole for 60 years.

Death

Anderson and Jeffrey Dahmer were left unattended while cleaning the prison gymnasium with fellow inmate Christopher Scarver. Scarver attacked and killed Dahmer before beating Anderson over the head with a 20 inch pipe. Dahmer died en route to the hospital and Anderson died two days later, when doctors at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison removed him from life support.[5]

Prison officials held 25-year-old Christopher Scarver as the sole suspect in the murders of Dahmer and Anderson.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Husband: Friends Know Him As A Family Man The Milwaukee Journal
  2. ↑ Cary Spivak, "Young Anderson 'was just another kid'". Milwaukee Sentinel, April 28, 1992 at A5. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19920428&id=9JYWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1RIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5729,7188646
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Once A Victim, Now A Suspect Chicago Tribune
  4. ↑ "Hancuffed suspect views open casket." Milwaukee Sentinel, April 28, 1992 at A1. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1368&dat=19920428&id=9JYWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=1RIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5729,7188646
  5. ↑ Inmate attacked with Dahmer dies from trauma

Additional sources