Suspect Identified in Unsolved Murder of Margaret Anselmo

Spokane Police have identified Brian J. Anderson as the suspect in the 1997 murder of Margaret Anselmo, whose body was discovered in an alley with severe head trauma and indications of sexual assault. The Spokane County Medical Examiner ruled her death a homicide due to blunt force trauma. After years without leads, detectives turned to Forensic Genetic Genealogy, which identified Anderson, now deceased, as a match to the preserved evidence from the crime scene. Local genealogist Lynda Keenan assisted in tracing Anderson's relatives, leading to DNA submissions that confirmed familial connections.

One relative was identified as Anderson's child, and another as his half-brother, solidifying the link to the case. Detectives expressed that had he been alive, they would seek first-degree murder and rape charges against him. This breakthrough highlights the potential of modern forensic techniques in solving cold cases. The Spokane Police continue to seek additional information regarding the case from the public.