LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Exactly 41 years after a Jackson County man was shot to death, detectives from the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post arrested a 61-year-old Seymour man and charged him with murder.
Ronald J. Anderson was arrested Tuesday, 41 years after 24-year-old Clifford Smith was murdered in rural Jackson County on Oct. 31, 1982, according to a news release from ISP. His body was found by two animal trappers on Dec. 1, 1982, in an area along the White River near County Roads 700 East and 800 North near Rockford, just north of Seymour.
Smith's wife had reported him missing on Nov. 4, 1982. After his body was found, investigators determined that he had been shot in the head. ISP detectives investigating the case in 1982 were unable to make an arrest at the time, and several investigators have examined the case, including Sgt. Kip Main, who started his investigation in September 2015.
Main's investigation revealed that Anderson and Smith were both at a residence with other people on East 13th Street in the late hours of Oct. 30, 1982. Anderson got a shotgun from the house and loaded it before leaving with Smith in a vehicle.
Smith was not seen alive again after leaving with Anderson.
Further investigation determined that Anderson was responsible for killing Smith. Police said Anderson also allegedly returned the murder weapon back to the home on 13th Street and returned to the crime scene soon after the murder to hide potential evidence.
A warrant was issued for Anderson, and he was arrested Tuesday at his residence on the east side of Seymour. He is being held at the Jackson County Jail.
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