Suspect Identified in Unsolved Murder of Margaret Anselmo

Spokane Police identified Brian J. Anderson as the suspect in Margaret Anselmo's 1997 murder, a case that remained unsolved for decades. Anselmo's body was discovered with severe head trauma and signs of sexual assault, leading investigators to rule her death a homicide. With the aid of Forensic Genetic Genealogy, detectives linked Anderson, now deceased, to the crime using DNA evidence from the crime scene. Local genealogist Lynda Keenan assisted in identifying Anderson's relatives, who provided DNA samples for comparison.

The analysis confirmed Anderson's familial connections to the case, indicating he was the child of one relative and the half-brother of another. If he were alive, Spokane Police would pursue charges of 1st Degree Murder and 1st Degree Rape against him. This development underscores the effectiveness of modern forensic techniques in resolving cold cases. Authorities encourage anyone with additional information to reach out to Crime Check.