Suspect Identified in Unsolved Murder of Margaret Anselmo

Spokane Police arrested Brian J. Anderson posthumously as the suspect in the 1997 murder of Margaret Anselmo, utilizing Forensic Genetic Genealogy to make the identification. Anselmo was tragically found dead in an alley on January 3, 1997, with severe head trauma and signs of sexual assault, leading to a homicide ruling. Detectives had long pursued leads but struggled to connect a suspect until recent advances in forensic science aided the investigation. Anderson, now deceased, was identified through DNA evidence preserved from the crime scene and analyzed by Othram in Texas.

Relatives of Anderson assisted by providing their DNA, which confirmed his familial connections to the evidence. The Spokane Police Department would seek 1st Degree Murder and 1st Degree Rape charges against him if he were still alive. The case highlights the potential of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases. Police urge anyone with further information to reach out to Crime Check.