The Murder of Rachael Nicoletta Anderson

Rachael Nicoletta Anderson was born on January 28, 1994 in Warren, Ohio. She was part of the National Honor Society in High School, plating sports and was in band. She went on to study the prerequisites for mortuary science, making the Dean’s list at Youngstown State University. She then went on to graduate with a Batchelor’s degree in Mortuary Science from the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science in 2016.

Rachael Anderson was a member of the Ohio Funeral Directors Association, and had moved to Columbus to partake in an apprenticeship at the Shaw Davis Funeral Home.

On January 28 2018, Rachael Nicoletta Anderson turned 24 years old. It was also the last day that she was seen alive.

Due to a mix-up with loaned keys, Rachael Anderson had to leave her apartment unlocked for a short period that evening. During that time Anthony Pardon had entered her apartment and lay in wait.

Anthony Pardon is a registered tier III sex offender and at that time had already spent a total of 33 years in prison for a series of heinous offenses starting from when he was only 14 himself, including the rape of an infant, an 8-year-old girl and a 39 year old woman, robbery, kidnapping and attempted murder.

Pardon entered Rachael Anderson’s apartment around 8:00 PM. He abducted Anderson, moving her from the lower level of her apartment to the upper floor. Using the cord from her hairdryer, he bound her feet and ankles, securing her hands with her belt and cords from the blinds. He then looped the cord from Rachael Anderson’s curling iron over her wrists, effectively hogtying her. Additionally, he silenced her with a gag. Pardon coerced Rachael Anderson into revealing her PIN number, subjecting her to further torment and sexual assault.

Tragically, Pardon strangled Rachael Anderson using the electric blanket cord. In addition to asphyxiation, she suffered blunt trauma and a stab wound to the head. He left her lifeless body in her bedroom closet, partially undressed from the waist down, the electric blanket cord still knotted around her neck and the doorknob, and an item of clothing shoved in her mouth.

After committing this heinous act, Pardon stole Rachael Anderson’s car. He also seized her credit card and debit card, using them at various stores in Columbus. He gave the debit card to his sister, who later discovered that it belonged to a murder victim after watching the news.

An examination of Rachael Anderson’s body during an autopsy revealed that she had suffered both strangulation and stabbing wounds. Her scalp bore a laceration, and fractures were evident at the base of her skull. The stab wound had pierced the back of her neck, penetrating the left cerebral hemisphere and internal capsule of her brain. The force of the stabbing was so severe that a portion of her skull broke off. Additionally, the autopsy disclosed that Rachael Anderson had been strangled using the cord from an electric blanket, resulting in hemorrhages in her sternocleidomastoid muscles and eyelids, and engorgement of blood vessels in her eyes.

The coroner who conducted Rachael Anderson’s autopsy attributed her death to the stab wound in her head and neck. However, another coroner who testified during the trial suggested that ligature strangulation might have been the cause if he had performed the autopsy.

Evidence such as location data from Pardon’s phone indicated Pardon’s presence at the victim’s home and at various ATMs at times Rachael Anderson’s card was used. Video surveillance was also able to confirm the ATM usage and was used to identify Pardon driving Rachael Anderson’s car.

Furthermore, Pardon’s DNA was detected on various parts of Rachael Anderson’s body and at the crime scene. Investigators also found his DNA inside her body during the rape kit examination.

Pardon dismissed his attorneys before his trial with the intention to represent himself, but three days later, on the day of jury selection, he reversed this decision.

On February 20, 2020, following three and a half hours of deliberation, the jury reached an impasse regarding whether to recommend the death penalty. Ultimately, they advised a life-without-parole sentence.

Anthony Pardon is currently incarcerated at the Lebanon Correctional Institution in Ohio.