FL FL - Anita Mae Carter Lukander, 22, murdered, Atlantic Beach, Mar 1988

[ElrikaB]

This is a case I saw on YouTube and it has haunted me ever since...I really feel like this needs to go somewhere

On March 17, 1988 Anita Mae Carter Lukander (22) vanished from her Atlantic Beach home in Florida. Her remains were found ten days later. Her case remains unsolved.

When Anita did not report for work, the authorities went to her house. They found her door unlocked and the lights were on.

A few days later they found Anita’s truck in the parking lot of a local bar. The keys were in the ignition. I have not found anything about potential suspects related to the bar or their patrons.

Detective Dave Archer and Dr. Peter Lipkovic, the medical examiner for Duval County, confirmed that her death was a homicide. The cause of death was strangulation. Anita’s hands were bound and she suffered severe mutilations. She was gagged with a white shirt. Anita was identified by her dental records.

Two fishermen found her along the Intracoastal Waterway in Jacksonville Beach, Fl. The authorities are quoted in the papers saying that her body had been in the water for several days.

Here is a link to a few articles, but its difficult to find any info, I will try to find more and post it here

Anita Mae Carter Lukander (Oct 21, 1965 - March 18, 1988) - Defrosting Cold Cases

 

[PayrollNerd]

Interesting info from the link.

Snip:
US Navy
Anita was a member of the Mayport-based Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 42. She was assigned to shore duty as an administrative clerk in maintenance control. On May 9, 1987, Anita married Petty Officer 2nd Class William “Bill” E. Lukander. He is an electronics technician in the same squadron. As soon as he was notified that Anita had gone missing he flew back to the USA. He was on active duty abroad a frigate.

Snip:
Wrongful Conviction
Peter Johnstone was arrested and charged with Anita’s first-degree murder. Prosecutors said that he had made incriminating statements about the crime early in the investigation. Johnstone had been incarcerated since Aug 1995. He was acquitted in 1997.

The theory was that Anita turned down his advances. She was after all his best friend’s wife. Johnstone too was an aviation electronics technician and part of the same squadron as Anita and Bill.

Anita Mae Carter Lukander (Oct 21, 1965 - March 18, 1988) - Defrosting Cold Cases

 

[PayrollNerd]

Her obit:

Obituary for Anita Mae Lukander (Aged 22) - Newspapers.com



Anita Mae Carter Lukander PERU — Services for Anita Mae Carter Lukander, 22, Atlantic Beach, Fla., will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home. She died March 17 in Florida. She was born Oct. 21, 1965, in Peru to Thomas D. Sr. and Opal Hurt Carter, who survive at Rt. 2, Peru. She was married May 9, 1987, to Chief Petty Officer, 2nd Class, William E. Lukander, who survives. She was a U.S. Navy Airman stationed at Mayport Naval Air Station, Atlantic Beach, Fla. She was a 1984 graduate of North Miami High School, Denver, and a 1984 graduate of Upper Wabash Vocational School. Also surviving are a brother, Thomas D. Carter, Peru; a sister, Barbara J. Fitzpatriek, Chili; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hurt, Rt. 2; and several nieces and nephews. The Rev. John Campbell will officiate at the service. Burial will be in Chili Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday in the funeral home.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Her F. A. G.

Anita Mae Carter Lukander (1965-1988) - Find A...

 

[tifcat]

Her F. A. G.

Anita Mae Carter Lukander (1965-1988) - Find A...

If a psychic was employed to exonerate an innocent suspect, why in the world wasn't the same psychic or a different psychic used to identify the killer? No mention of this. Frustrating. This case may be stone cold for the police, but there is a possibility that a psychic could solve the mystery.

 

[Dewbearb]

I am also haunted by this case. There is so little information available online. I’ve been reading some articles that suggest DNA can be collected from fingernail scrapings even if the body was in water. It bothers me that authorities didn’t take her disappearance seriously until her body was found.The detective in the case even says in the Psychic Investigators episode that he thought she was just a Navy wife that ran off. I definitely think the murderer was also a Sailor. The composite sketch from the pawn broker shows a young clean shaven man with a short haircut. It’s also really common for Sailors to hangout in large groups outside of work, plus someone she worked with would have known Bill was out of town. Link to the episode of Psychic Investigators

 

[Dewbearb]

I found an article about Anita's niece. I can't find it now. She grew up and became a cop. I wonder if she is watching this thread.Edit: Found it

 

[Dewbearb]

A member of the jury messaged me (on another platform) saying that the man from the composite is known to the authorities. He was on the stand at the trial. He behaved incredibly bizarrely and was sweating profusely. The whole of the jury believed he was guilty. I asked if they could remember the man's name and they did not. Not sure why he was never prosecuted? Lack of evidence perhaps. Didnt stop them from prosecuting Johnstone.