Five years ago I received a call. A voice on the other end of the line uttered words I never expected to hear- " Darleen is dead - she was murdered!"
My thoughts raced WHAT !!! Darleen murdered !?? Where's dad? Who could have done this? Where is my sister Amanda and is she ok? Oh My Gosh ! I have to get out of here and get to Mongo!
I could feel the presence of people around me, hugging me, asking me what is wrong shaking me - - but all I heard was my own scream. Oh NOOO , my stepmother has been murdered and they cant find my father. I have to leave and someone has to help me I dont know what to do !!
It all seemed like a horrible nightmare no make that a Stephen King book - the 3hr drive from Chicago to Mongo - all the while not knowing what to expect when we arrive and wondering who was responsible. It was an agonizing ride.
We decided to drive directly to Dad's house in Mongo instead of searching out other family that might have been called and had arrived.
Normally we could pull into the driveway of my dad's place - but tonight our truck was parked 3blocks away because law enforcement had showed up in force. FBI, ATF, State Homicide and local Lagrange County Sheriff's equipment and cruisers who were parked everywhere while officers and agents were canvassing the property and surrounding woods.
It sounds cliché' but my first thought was - - Oh my Gosh it looks like a TV program about cops you know, like CSI!
It was so dark outside which added to the depressing and horrific atmosphere. As we parked the truck, we were approached by a police officer who we later found out was a Detective. from Lagrange County. My husband exited the truck and introduced himself as Terry Anderson's son-in-law and inside the truck was Terrys daughter and
our 2 and a half year old son.
After clearing who we were and why we were there the Detective asked my husband if he was familiar with the barn and it's items. He said "YES - - I helped Terry and hunted on his property while we visited - I might be able to check". I watched as the Detective. escorted my husband to an awaiting trailer where he was processed and cleared to go thru the police tape onto the property. They had asked if he would check around for anything that might be missing or moved. My heart sank and my thoughts bounced all over the place. Will he come back? Why are they asking him? Where is Amanda? I just couldn't get a grip of the fact and reality of this nightmare that was happening.
"Your father has been found murdered and his body was found in the barn.
Your step-mom was also murdered and has been found in the house." said
LaGrange Detective. I couldn't stop shaking as the detective told me this God awful morbid information about my family. MY FAMILY. MY FATHER and MY STEPMOTHER and how they were found beaten. It was later determined that their deaths were from blunt force trauma to their skulls. I could hear him but I just couldn't understand - -
was he speaking to ME? He must be - he's in my truck and putting items in my hands that belonged to my father - - a gun card, his social security card things like that.
In the quietness of our conversation, I could here a dog barking beyond the wooded area. Is that Rosco?
My husband returned to the truck after what felt like forever. The white cast over his face - stripped of anything any human can imagine. Sher, it SOOO horrible! So much blood. I saw where your Dad was lying in the barn Sher. IM SORRY - I couldnt help myself and I fell to the floor and sobbed. We held each other as we cried for Dad and Darleen and for ourselves and what the future now holds for our family.
Thoughts ran thru my mind - - Who could have done such a horrible crime?
Why would someone murder my family? How could this be happening !? What is my 2 and a half year old son feeling? Oh my Gosh - I never thought to bring any funeral clothes with us.
As days passed and family starting arriving, my husband and I clung to the fact that we have to find out who is responsible. The who, what and why
just needed to be answered someone MUST be accountable. Someone will be
caught. Someone can't get away with this and not be found out. This just does not happen in Mongo Indiana! We need to reach out to the Media and spread the word someone knows.
We certainly never thought that five years later the case would still be unsolved.
Dads dog Rosco survived the murders and was tied to his tree. If only animals could speak human because he knows who did the crime. Rosco was rescued and now lives with me and my family. Ive seen many effects the murders had on Roscos personality. Fire trucks, police sirens, helicopters and any loud motorcycles will get Rosco to the windows in our house or gates of the yard barking and chasing. Being tethered to the tree that horrible night of the murders with the activity of the police and helicopter landing in Dads front yard, really traumatized Rosco. Even after 5 years,. Rosco still shows the stress from that horrible time - - and that time sometimes does not let you forget.
As the days turned to months and the thoughts of the possibility of the murders never getting solved and justice never getting served crept into my mind. This can't be! There has to be
someone responsible! Why would God allow this to happen!? How could
someone get away with these murders!??
I decided that if my dad and Darleen can't be here to tell the story of the who, what and why - - then I, as a broken hearted daughter, need to help my family and HELP find the answers to bring justice to their souls and peace to my heart.
I have done everything I can possibly think of to keep this case in the public eye.
Hiring private investigators, physics readers, holding a benefit to help raise money for the 20,000 reward posted, renting a billboard that read "WHO KILLED TERRY AND DARLEEN ANDERSON" , holding yearly Memorials on or around the date of their murders - to honor and keep their unsolved homicides active in the media and community, creating a website named - Terry and Darleen .com for a focal point where people can send tips and read about Dad and Darleen, a Facebook page named TERRY ANDERSON was created along with FACEBOOK CAUSE PAGE all for networking their story and sending out flyers, news information about the case and radio interviews can be streamlined, all the while sending out umpteen letters and reaching out to news media. Lastly and most important - American's Most Wanted and the story they created for their AMW.COM readers.
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I want to take some time to say THANK YOU - -
First - - I want to Thank GOD.
Thank Him for allowing me another day here on Earth. Allowing me the determination and strength to keep fighting for Justice for Dad and Darleen. To continue to have a strong drive for their unspoken voice for justice and to see this thru until the end.
I want to thank my family.
Thank you Nick
- just because.. your Nick and I love u more than life itself. For knowing how important justice is to your mom. To offer unconditionally that little hug and tell me you love me more than daddy does.
Thank you to my husband Eric.
Thank you for 15yrs. For your understanding, caring heart, love and dedication and devotion. For your artistic talent and natural love for helping. For sitting on the kitchen floor with me while I cry uncontrollably - knowing that tonight's dinner was not what was on my mind and is burning at the moment - but knowing how important it is for you to just be down on the floor with me to hold me. And most of all - - Thank you Eric, my husband, for our SON
Thank you Rick - my brother. For always being here with my heart and for knowing when your sister needs your wonderful spirit and God's words. Bless you my big-brother and wishing you were here ~ but knowing your heart is one with mine.
Thank you mom - - cuz youre my mom and I love you to pieces and I am so grateful your alive every single day !!
Thank you Rev. Jim Bartlett and his wife Rhonda. For dedicating their time each year to the Memorials
Thank you Tom Christian for your unconditional friendship and support. We love you Uncle Tom !
Thank you -
Lagrange County Sheriff's Detective Tad Oakley and State of Indiana Homicide Detective Jeff Boyd and all the State and Local and FBI -for not letting Dad and Darleen's case become a cold case. For keeping your doors open and for always taking time to talk to me.
Thank you - Americas MOST WANTED ~ for their story on AMW.COM.
Thank you - - to the radio stations, newspapers and television stations who keep these unsolved murders from ever being forgotten
Thank you Crime stoppers.
Thank You to those who donated towards the reward fund, but wish to remain anonymous.
Thank you Chae and Renee' Dolsen and The Terry Anderson Iron Man Fishing Tournament sponsored by Webster Lake Musky Club on Webster Lake Indiana- - The Tournament is held every June - A passion Dad will always be remembered.
Thank you Web-Sleuths and owner Trisha Griffith - - for posting their unsolved homicides on Web-Sleuths.com. For posting their flyers each year and promoting the Memorials and/with news articles.
Thank you FACEBOOK - - for NETWORKING TOOL !! because of the world's technology and the ability to network - - How important it is keeping their unsolved homicides active and in the public's mind - -
Thank you to all my friends - - the ones who listen to my stories, my thoughts and my sadness
Thank you for helping me with everything I ask and without reasons why. For opening your home and hearts while we are in Indiana and when were at home in Chicago.
Thank you Jamie Jones for our new friendship that I pray lasts forever - - and for The Daily Sarcast-Live Talk Radio and giving me the opportunity to talk on their show.
I feel compelled., as you know, a kind of inside feeling and dedication or drive that I HAVE to continue to keep their unsolved homicides active and ALIVE -until their murders are solved.
[FONT="]Let is all vow to never let another anniversary pass without justice for these horrible crimes. Let us pledge that another year will not pass without an arrest and conviction of the person/s who did this to my father and Darleen. Wear your ribbons daily, spread the word in case someone, somewhere, may remember something that will help solve this case. Their innocent blood screams out for justice each and every day. Not a day goes by I dont hear it in my head. They did not deserve the brutality and hatred that came upon them when evil visited their home on October 21, 2005. But those that did this deserve an appropriate punishment. We must never let justice die along with my dad and step-mother Darleen. We must never let evil get the final word.[/FONT]
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That being said, while we gather around the final resting place of the mortal bodies of my dad and Darleen, we know that their souls are in heaven, so with that in mind, lets release the balloons into the air, so that they may lift up towards heaven, along with our prayers and promises of justice. I love you daddy and Darleen, may your souls rest in peace, and I swear to you that I will not rest until justice is served.[/FONT]