Ronald J. Anderson, 61, from Seymour, Indiana, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the 1982 Halloween murder of Clifford Smith. On October 31, 1982, Smith, 24, was fatally shot in rural Jackson County. His body was later discovered in December of that year by animal trappers near the White River, north of Seymour. He had been reported missing by his wife earlier in November, with the cause of death determined to be a gunshot wound to the head.
Although the Indiana State Police initially investigated the case, no arrests were made. Sgt. Kip Main took over the cold case in September 2015. His investigation revealed that Anderson and Smith were at an East 13th Street residence on the evening before Smith’s death. Anderson is believed to have taken a shotgun from the residence, left with Smith, and subsequently killed him.
Evidence suggests Anderson returned the weapon and later went back to the crime scene to conceal evidence. Recently, an arrest warrant was issued, leading to Anderson’s arrest without incident. He is now in custody at the Jackson County Jail.
