DEATH PENALTY INDICTMENT FILED ON ANTHONY PARDON FOR THE KIDNAPPING, RAPE, AND MURDER OF 24 YEAR OLD ASPIRING FUNERAL DIRECTOR RACHAEL ANDERSON

Posted on 2/15/2018

Defendant: Anthony James Pardon

Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said, “Pardon faces the death penalty for murdering Rachael Anderson between the evening of her 24^th birthday and the following morning.”  Prosecutor Ron O’Brien announces that the Franklin County Grand Jury has returned a nine count death penalty indictment on Anthony James Pardon, age 53.  The counts in Pardon’s indictment include Aggravated Murder, Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Kidnapping, and Rape.  The indictment also includes a combination of the following Specifications:  Felony Murder (Death Penalty Specifications), Repeat Attempted Murder, Sexually Violent Predator, and Repeat Violent Offender Specifications.  The Repeat Violent Offender Specifications in the indictment are based on a prior Aggravated Robbery, Rape and Attempted Murder conviction from 1982.  The Specifications to the Aggravated Murder counts that make Pardon eligible for the death penalty include having previously been convicted of attempting to purposely cause the death of another and committing the homicide during the commission of Aggravated Robbery, Aggravated Burglary, Kidnapping, and Rape.  On Sunday evening, January 28^th, Rachael was last seen at approximately 8:30 pm.  Rachael was an apprentice with the Shaw-Davis Funeral Homes.  On Monday morning, January 29^th, Rachael’s co-workers became concerned when she did not show up to work or call.  The co-workers called authorities, who went to Rachael’s Cardinal Creek apartment located at 3044 Allegheny Avenue to check on her well-being.  Rachael was found dead inside the bedroom closet of her residence.  It is alleged in the indictment that between January 28^th and January 29^th Rachael’s debit card was used at various locations throughout the city and her vehicle was observed on video surveillance at many of the same locations.  The vehicle and crime scene were processed by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Coroner’s Office processed a sexual assault kit which was submitted as evidence in the case.  A DNA profile was uploaded into the CODIS database linking the DNA match to Pardon.  Shortly thereafter, Pardon was arrested by SWAT in the south Linden area.  O’Brien commended the Columbus Police Department and SWAT officers for their investigation and quick apprehension of Pardon, aided by the quick work of BCI in the DNA hit.  Arraignment for this death penalty case is set for Tuesday, February 20^th, 2018, at 1:30 pm in courtroom 2B at 345 South High Street in downtown Columbus.