Death penalty sought in slaying of Cleveland mother, child

Ross Anderson.
Ross Anderson.

A former Cleveland, Tenn., firefighter accused of killing his girlfriend, her 5-year-old and the family dog in December will present an insanity defense against charges that could earn him the death penalty if convicted.

Tenth Judicial District Attorney General Steve Crump on Wednesday filed notice in Bradley County Criminal Court that he'll seek execution for Ross H. Anderson on two counts of first-degree murder.

Rachael Johnson, 30, and her son, Colton, were found shot to death in their Hillview Drive home in early December.

Crump cited two aggravating circumstances he says justify the ultimate punishment: first, that Anderson was over 18 when he killed a person under age 12, and, second, that Anderson committed the slayings to avoid being arrested and prosecuted.

Tenth District Public Defender Richard Hughes said he will "vigorously" defend Anderson against the charges and expects to call lay and expert witnesses in support of an insanity defense.

Neither the prosecutor nor the defense attorney could comment further on the case under state law.

Friends and family in Cleveland were shocked at the slayings.

Johnson was a loving and caring mother, family members said, an animal lover who worked at Wolftever Pet Hospital in Hamilton County and had recently earned her master's degree in biology from Western Kentucky University.

Colton was a happy, energetic boy who was learning to spell and appeared to love his mom's boyfriend, family members said.

The bodies were found about nine hours after Anderson was arrested in Murfreesboro, Tenn., 140 miles from Cleveland.

According to newspaper archives, Anderson knocked on the door of a Murfreesboro home about 4 a.m. and told the homeowner it looked like a nice place to stay. The homeowner called Rutherford County deputies, who took Anderson to a hospital for a mental evaluation.

Anderson had resigned from the Cleveland Fire Department in May 2014 after five years' service, officials there said in December.

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