41-Year Cold Case Solved: Ronald J. Anderson Arrested for 1982 Halloween Murder of Clifford Smith

Anderson, a 61-year-old Seymour resident, arrested without incident on murder charges, exactly 41 years after the mysterious death of Clifford Smith on Halloween 1982; investigators suggest evidence of premeditation, and return to the crime scene to 'hide potential evidence'.

Ronald J. Anderson, 61, has been charged for the 1982 Halloween murder of 24-year-old Clifford Smith, more than four decades after the crime. The arrest occurred exactly 41 years after Smith's murder.
Investigations have revealed that Anderson retrieved and loaded a shotgun from a house before leaving the premises with Smith. This was the last time Smith was seen alive, and Anderson is believed to have returned to the crime scene to hide potential evidence.
Aside from the physical evidence, interviews with family members such as Joyce Dyer, Clifford Smith's widow, and a sister of both Smith and Anderson helped to progress the investigation.
Anderson's arrest marks a culmination of a years-long investigation, led by Sgt. Kip Main since September 2015, that involved retracing the steps of previous detectives and re-examining evidence from the cold case.
Despite family accusations and underlying suspicions, the exact motive behind Anderson's alleged murder of Smith remains unclear. Authorities are being cautious about sharing many details of the case.