CO L D C A S E K A N S A S
Mother Clings to Memories
of Murdered Son While his
Killer Continues to Escape
Justice
B Y PA U L F E C T E A U
M
attie Anderson makes fried
chicken on Thanksgiving and
Christmas. Her family--
including her mother, Willia
Mae, and her brother, former Topeka Mayor
James McClinton--would be satisfied with
the turkey and dressing which she also
serves, but they know why the chicken is
included: it is for Damon, her eldest son.
Fried chicken was his favorite dish, and he
always asked Mattie and his aunt Bobbie
Jean to make it for him on holidays. Mattie
and Bobbie Jean keep up the tradition
despite the sad fact that this latest holiday
season marked the family’s ninth without
Damon. He was gunned down in front of
his home on Valentine’s Day, 2000, and his
murderer remains at large.
A Topeka native, Damon Anderson
graduated from Highland Park
High School and attended Highland
Community College. He was star
baseball player. Although he appeared
The rumor persists that the identity of the
murderer remains widely known in Topeka but
that no one will come forward due to fear of
possible retribution.
imposing and would not let himself be
pushed around, he was known around
town for his good humor and kindness.
He was only twenty-five years old and
full of plans for the future. He had a five-
year-old daughter.
On Valentine’s Day, 2000, Damon
worked at his job with Great Plains
Locating Services and in the evening
drove his work truck home to the house
in the 900 block of S.E. 11th where he
was staying with his Aunt Bobbie Jean.
Her three children shared a room with
a window facing the street, and one of
them, who was only eight at the time,
recalls cousin Damon looking in on them
that night. Damon told them to be sure
and get to bed on time because it was
a school night. Damon then left in his
work truck, headed to Sonic to pick up
some dinner.
10 tmi WEEKLY JANUARY 22 - FEBRUARY 4, 2009
Future mayor, then city councilman,
James McClinton was home that evening.
He glanced out a window and was
surprised to see his nephew Damon’s
truck outside, but before he could make it
to the door, Damon drove away. Damon
did not usually drop by his uncle’s house
unless he had something important to
discuss. To this day, McClinton wonders
if Damon knew he was in danger and had
come to ask for his help, only to change
his mind.
Damon returned to the house on 11th
Street, and tragedy unfolded.
His eight-year-old cousin heard
Damon’s truck pull into the drive.
Moments later, a car playing loud music
drove up followed by another car. The
cousin looked out the window and saw
a small yellow car in the street and in
the drive Damon talking to three men.
The cousin did not think much of it and
looked away from the window. He then
heard Damon exclaim, “Come on, Man,”
in a frantically dismayed voice. Before
the cousin could look out the window
again, a burst of gunfire ripped through
the night.
When Damon had walked away
from the men, one of them had opened
fire. Several bullets missed, striking the
house, but one hit Damon in the back
of the head. Damon collapsed on the
front porch. Police and an ambulance
responded at about 10:00 p.m. Damon
was rushed to Stormont-Veil where he
died.
Years have passed, but Mattie and
Willia Mae Anderson continue to grieve
for Damon, grief made worse by the
likelihood that his killer remains in their
community. “I wonder,” Mattie says, “if
I’ve stood near him.”
Damon Anderson: He was only twenty-five years old and full of plans for the future. He
had a five-year-old daughter. (Photo courtesy of the Anderson Family)
The rumor persists that the identity If you can in any way shed light
of the murderer remains widely known in on who killed Damon Anderson, please
Topeka but that no one will come forward contact the detectives at the Topeka
due to fear of possible retribution. Police Department at 368-9400.
A variety of theories also circulate
regarding the reason behind the slaying.
Many of these stories tie the killing
to the drug trade, but the Andersons
maintain that Damon had no involvement About the author:
whatsoever in illegal drugs, and they
Paul Fecteau serves as an Adjunct
chalk up such suggestions to the kind of Professor of Criminal Justice at
stereotyping that causes the media and Washburn University where he
even the authorities to write off all black- teaches the course Cold Case in
on-black crime as due to drugs. Contemporary Culture. To suggest
a case for this column, e-mail him
The Andersons do think it possible
that a fight Damon was in two weeks at paul@coldcasekansas.com.
before had something to do with his
murder. The altercation took place at a
local barber shop, and Damon got the
Want tmi weekly delivered to
better of it. What spurred Damon and
an unknown man to violence remains
your business?
unknown.
Perhaps someone who knows or
who has other information will have
the courage to come forward. Mattie,
Willa Mae, and the rest of the family
cling to hope that a break in the case will
come, and they continue to cling to their Call
memories of Damon.