THE DARK SIDE OF NEBRASKA
Donald Anderson
#30583
photo courtesy The Lincoln Evening Journal
Full Name: Donald Gene Anderson
DOB: July 17, 1939
Charge: 2nd degree murder
County: Saline
City: Friend
Current Status: Released
Date of Crime: August 20, 1975
Victim: Ann Marie Scott
DOB: July 17, 1939
Charge: 2nd degree murder
County: Saline
City: Friend
Current Status: Released
Date of Crime: August 20, 1975
Victim: Ann Marie Scott
Donald Gene Anderson has been accused of murder in the first degree in connection with the August death of 15-year old Ann Marie Scott of Friend. An autopsy on the girl's body failed to establish the cause of death but the medical examiner said that asphyxiation was a possibility. A rolled up stocking was found in her mouth when her nude body was discovered on August 24, 1975, on a farm three miles southwest of Friend.
The medical examiner said that "because of the deteriorated condition of the body, it was impossible to determine if the girl had had sexual relations prior to her death." He said that the time of death would be "very difficult" to determine, but said stomach contents indicated she had died within six hours of eating a meal. Prosecuting attorneys are trying to establish that Ann Marie was killed after attending a supper-picnic in Friend on August 20. It was also testified that there was considerable drinking at the event.
Donald left the community but was apprehended on October 11, in Florida. He had with him his three children, residents of Cedars Home for Children in Lincoln until he picked them up on August 21.
Saline County Sheriff Ed Prokop testified that a cloth gag or a stocking was found in Ann Marie's mouth when her body was discovered by a local farmer. Describing the body as "discolored and partially decomposed," he said that it was completely without clothes, even shoes. Ann Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Scott of Friend, would have been a high school sophomore this year.
Several persons, including painting contractor Rex Clemens of Friend, testified that Donald and Ann Marie were in a group attending a picnic at Rex's house the night she disappeared. Among other persons present were four fellow workers with whom Donald was living with. Rex said Donald left town the next morning, though he had indicated no such intent previously.
Two witnesses, George Dine of Friend and Julie Rold of Crete said they saw Ann Marie get in a white car which stopped near her home about 10:30 PM the night of her disappearance. Neither could identify the car's driver, but George described the vehicle as a 1964 Chevrolet he "had seen at the painter's house." Other testimony indicated Donald owned a 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne. Julie, who said she only knew Ann Marie by sight, said that Ann Marie appeared to recognize the car and got in after brief conversation with the driver. The witness was unsure whether there were other passengers.
Ann Marie's mother identified her daughter's several articles of clothing found in a ditch following Ann Marie's disappearance. Included was a brassiere which the prosecution pointed out was missing its metal fasteners. Sobbing, the mother testified that her daughter had left home between 10:30 and 11 PM to buy some cigarettes. She said it was the last time she saw her daughter alive.
Coming to Friend from Washington state, Donald was said to have worked for Rex Clemens for three to four weeks. He had placed his three children in the Cedars Home and, according to several witnesses, was seeking a house and a housekeeper so he could bring them to Friend.
A surprise witness was Donald's divorced wife, now Mrs. Bonnie Kelley of Shelby, Michigan. She said Donald, whom she was permitted to visit with during a court recess, told her not to worry "because I'm going to get off." "He went on to say that there were three other guys involved," she stated.
The medical examiner said that "because of the deteriorated condition of the body, it was impossible to determine if the girl had had sexual relations prior to her death." He said that the time of death would be "very difficult" to determine, but said stomach contents indicated she had died within six hours of eating a meal. Prosecuting attorneys are trying to establish that Ann Marie was killed after attending a supper-picnic in Friend on August 20. It was also testified that there was considerable drinking at the event.
Donald left the community but was apprehended on October 11, in Florida. He had with him his three children, residents of Cedars Home for Children in Lincoln until he picked them up on August 21.
Saline County Sheriff Ed Prokop testified that a cloth gag or a stocking was found in Ann Marie's mouth when her body was discovered by a local farmer. Describing the body as "discolored and partially decomposed," he said that it was completely without clothes, even shoes. Ann Marie, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Scott of Friend, would have been a high school sophomore this year.
Several persons, including painting contractor Rex Clemens of Friend, testified that Donald and Ann Marie were in a group attending a picnic at Rex's house the night she disappeared. Among other persons present were four fellow workers with whom Donald was living with. Rex said Donald left town the next morning, though he had indicated no such intent previously.
Two witnesses, George Dine of Friend and Julie Rold of Crete said they saw Ann Marie get in a white car which stopped near her home about 10:30 PM the night of her disappearance. Neither could identify the car's driver, but George described the vehicle as a 1964 Chevrolet he "had seen at the painter's house." Other testimony indicated Donald owned a 1964 Chevrolet Biscayne. Julie, who said she only knew Ann Marie by sight, said that Ann Marie appeared to recognize the car and got in after brief conversation with the driver. The witness was unsure whether there were other passengers.
Ann Marie's mother identified her daughter's several articles of clothing found in a ditch following Ann Marie's disappearance. Included was a brassiere which the prosecution pointed out was missing its metal fasteners. Sobbing, the mother testified that her daughter had left home between 10:30 and 11 PM to buy some cigarettes. She said it was the last time she saw her daughter alive.
Coming to Friend from Washington state, Donald was said to have worked for Rex Clemens for three to four weeks. He had placed his three children in the Cedars Home and, according to several witnesses, was seeking a house and a housekeeper so he could bring them to Friend.
A surprise witness was Donald's divorced wife, now Mrs. Bonnie Kelley of Shelby, Michigan. She said Donald, whom she was permitted to visit with during a court recess, told her not to worry "because I'm going to get off." "He went on to say that there were three other guys involved," she stated.
Source: Lincoln Evening Journal