____________________________________________________________________
Gabriel Falcon
AC360° Writer
There is the bleach on the carpet, the unanswered phone calls, and the young married couple taken into custody. Together, they offer haunting clues that something sinister may have happened to a former small town mayor in Arkansas.
“He’s a very good man, a good friend, and a good person,” Annette Rotta said of Troy Anderson. “I just hope they find him.”
Anderson vanished on June 21st. A missing persons report was filed with the police six days later. Friends, family, and the authorities fear for the 75-year-old’s safety.
“We feel that he is endangered,” Sgt. Levi Risley of the Fort Smith Police told CNN. “There are suspicious circumstances.”
The concern that Anderson is in peril were intensified after a supermarket security camera recorded a man using his debit card after Anderson vanished. “He used it several times,” Sgt. Risley said, “and he may have his PIN number.” Late Thursday night, police in West Memphis, Tennessee arrested the person captured on the surveillance tape. They also took his wife into custody. Both suspects are charged with the fraudulent use of a credit card.
Authorities said the couple was married last year in Fort Smith. They call the arrests a good lead in the search for Anderson.
The initial police report sheds some light on the mystery. According to the notes taken by a Fort Smith police officer, Anderson’s landlord opened his door following several failed attempts to contact him. When the apartment manager entered the residence, he told the patrolman he noticed bleach on a section of the bedroom carpet. Sgt. Riley said Anderson’s son told detectives the stain was not on the rug the previous week.
A neighbor who had a view of Anderson’s window reported seeing the back shades open and the light on in the early hours of June 26th. She also stated that Anderson’s “closet doors were open” and that “Troy is normally very neat and does not leave the apartment in that condition.”
Rotta, who played poker twice a week with Anderson, grew worried when he failed to appear for both game nights. Rotta left several voicemail messages for Anderson. “Troy, we love you,” she said. “I just wish he comes home safe.”
Anderson's career as a local politician was not untarnished. His term as mayor of Waldron ended in disgrace. Accused of soliciting sex from two women, Anderson pleaded no contest to abuse of office and related charges. He resigned from office in 2006. But police believe his disappearance is not related to his troubled past as mayor.
If you have any information on the whereabouts of Troy Anderson, contact the Fort Smith Police Department at (479) 785-4221.
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Billie, that's a nice sentiment but completely off topic... This article is about another person, please leave relevant comments here and leave your MJ comments in the appropriate place (not here)
@Rose, i agree, there are enough other blogs dedicated to MJ.
Its sad about this man, I hope they find him and I hope he is okay.
Yes, they know where this man is. IF police put enough pressure on then..they will tell. Offer her a deal and she may come clean. Hope to hear on CNN in a day or two, what happened to him.
Prayers with the family!
Not another missing person/murder. There must be bodies buried all over our country. What kind of person could take the life of another. Too sad.
That poor man is yet another victum. Or is it a scam how much was he worgth. You have to take every detail into account
What does Michael Jackson have to do with the disappearance and possible death of Mr. Anderson? Billie Hill, save your poetry for your blog.
I wonder where he is? I'm sure that couple has something to do with it.
Oh and before I forget. What does Jackson have to do with this anyway?
Reeks of "hooker once hit on by the ex-mayor" and she decided to get even.
Golly, I'm just too upset about M. Jackson to comment on the missing Mayor. NOT!
Thank you, Rose I agre with you on all countsI pray that Mr. Anderson is found safe and sound and thatthe couple who robbed him by using his card is brought to justice. terrible thing to do to a person!People who prey on the elderly are scum who must pay for their misdeeds. Hopefully, karma/God has a fitting punishment in store for them.
Michael Jackson:
The things i'll miss most
about being alive
are all of the children
I slept with and plied
because of my talent
immense as it was
I am completely forgiven
for all that i've done
I was a great entertainer
one of the best of all-time
no one can doubt that
it makes you all blind
because everyone else
who does what i did
they are hated by all
in fear they have hid
but as long as you're given
a great talent on stage
I guess we just forget the VICTIMS
and the innocence they paid
This article about michael Jackson....oh wait.....THE ARTICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH HIM!!! Find an appropriate place for your worship please. There is a 75 year old man who deserves our attention and (probably) grief. I am sure there is no lack of places one can find to type about Jackson. Why must people take away from other stories as or more deserving and infest them with MORE M.Jackson talk? How many of you knew that the democratically elected President of Honduras was overthrown and dumped in Costa Rica by a military Coup D'etat. I have barely met a person yet who has heard about this, but virtually all of them could tell you what Michael Jackson was taking and every detail of his funeral. Sad. Very sad.
I wish people would read the story BEFORE it goes into print, on the airwaves, or the net to make sure it's correct. West Memphis is a tiny little town just across the border in Arkansas. They weren't referring to the western section of Memphis, they were referring to West Memphis, AR which is a totally different area.
I hope they find him safe – but 8 days and no word is really worrisome. Especially when you have evidence of credit card fraudulent use and someone else being in his apartment. The bleach is not a good sign either. Sounds like the mayor met with a bad ending unfortunately.
Let's stick with the issue here, I think something bad happened to this ex-mayor. Did the couple get rid or knows something about this man? Its not a good thing when somebody doesn't show up in pokers games and his house is a mess when it should be neat.
To: Billie Hill
Wow, crying again, that was really beautiful and very special for you to write and post. You too are special and I thank you. RIP MJ xoxo