Cold Case Cracked: 41-Year-Old Indiana Halloween Murder Sees Arrest

After four decades, Indiana State Police detectives apprehended 61-year-old Ronald J. Anderson on Tuesday night in connection with a Halloween cold case murder that had remained unsolved for 41 years. The case involved the killing of 24-year-old Clifford Smith on October 31, 1982, as reported in a police statement.

Smith’s wife reported him missing on November 4, 1982, and his lifeless body was subsequently discovered by animal trappers near the White River, located north of Seymour, Indiana. The cause of death was determined to be a shotgun wound to the head, yet no arrests had been made in the case until now.

Sergeant Kip Main had been diligently investigating the case since 2015, and information collected during the investigation pointed towards Anderson’s involvement in Smith’s death.

The inquiry revealed that on the early hours of October 30, 1982, Anderson, Smith, and others were present at a property on East 13th Street in Seymour. Police allege that Anderson removed a shotgun from the house and left in a vehicle with both Smith and the weapon, after which Smith was not seen alive again. Anderson is also accused of returning the weapon to the 13th Street property and subsequently revisiting the crime scene to conceal potential evidence.

The arrest of Anderson took place at his residence on the east side of Seymour without any incidents. He is currently in custody at the Jackson County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court. Legal representation for Anderson remains unclear.

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The Indiana State Police reiterated their commitment to solving long-standing cases, providing closure to families, and ensuring that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice in court.

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