(Jackson County, IN) – Detectives from the Indiana State Police Post in Versailles made an arrest Tuesday 41 years to the date of a Jackson County murder.
61-year-old Ronald Anderson of Seymour was arrested in connection with the October 31, 1982, shooting death of 24-year-old Clifford Smith in rural Jackson County.
Smith’s body was found by two animal trappers on December 1, 1982, in an area along the White River just north of Seymour. Smith had been reported missing by his wife on November 4, 1982. It was determined at the time that Smith died from a gunshot wound to the head.
ISP detectives investigated the death in 1982 but no arrests were made at the time. Over the years, the case was passed along to new investigators. Sgt. Kip Main took over the investigation in September 2015.
Sgt. Main’s investigation determined that Anderson was at a residence on East 13th Street with Smith and others on October 30, 1982. The investigation further indicated that Anderson retrieved a shotgun from the house and loaded it. ISP says Anderson, while in possession of the shotgun, left the residence in a vehicle with Smith., who was not seen alive after that night.
Information gathered during Sgt. Main’s investigation indicated that Anderson was responsible for Smith’s death. Anderson also allegedly returned the murder weapon back to the home on 13th Street and went back to the crime scene soon after the murder to hide potential evidence.
Anderson was rounded up at his home in Seymour after the arrest warrant was issued and is being held in the Jackson County Jail.
