A 63-year-old man in North Carolina has been sentenced to 18 to 22 years in a state correctional facility for the brutal murder of his own father. The man, identified as Marshall Todd Anderson, was convicted of beating his 83-year-old father, William Thomas Anderson, to death and then attempting to conceal the body by hiding it beneath a tarp in the victim’s backyard.
Authorities responded to a welfare check call at about 8 p.m. on February 22, 2024, at the elder Anderson’s home in Wilmington, North Carolina. A concerned family member had reached out, worried about the elderly man’s well-being. Upon arrival at the residence, deputies conducted a search of the property and soon discovered William Anderson’s body outside, covered by a tarp. Emergency responders pronounced him dead at the scene, and an autopsy later determined that he had died from blunt force trauma. His death was ruled a homicide.
Law enforcement officials quickly identified Marshall Anderson as a person of interest in the case. A search of the surrounding area led authorities to find him walking along a busy road near a local Best Buy. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the county detention facility, where he was held without bond.
Further investigation revealed disturbing details about the hours leading up to the grim discovery. The victim’s grandson had stopped by his grandfather’s house to check on him, concerned about his worsening dementia symptoms. Upon arrival, he found his father, Marshall Anderson, already there. When the grandson asked about his grandfather’s whereabouts, Anderson claimed he had just seen him a minute earlier.
As the grandson searched both the house and the yard for his grandfather, Anderson reportedly tried to divert his attention, telling him not to disturb a blue tarp in the backyard. He insisted that there was only trash beneath it. Suspicious, the grandson expanded his search to the surrounding neighborhood and, still unable to find his grandfather, called 911.
Before deputies arrived, Anderson fled the scene. Witnesses later revealed that when he saw police lights approaching, he asked a neighbor to drive him to Walmart. By the time authorities reached the home, he was nowhere to be found. However, it did not take long for law enforcement to track him down and place him under arrest.
Authorities estimated that William Anderson had been dead for at least 12 hours before his body was discovered. The case shocked the community, with many struggling to comprehend the tragic circumstances surrounding the crime.
During the sentencing hearing, several family members spoke in court, expressing the deep pain and devastation caused by the crime. The victim’s grandson, who had been the one to discover the disturbing scene, addressed the court, describing the heartbreak of losing his grandfather in such a violent manner. He also spoke about the emotional toll of knowing his own father was responsible for the act.
The grandson further expressed frustration over how addiction had played a role in his family’s suffering. He emphasized how devastating it was to see a loved one choose drugs over their own family, ultimately leading to such a horrific tragedy.
The case served as yet another reminder of the tragic consequences that can arise from substance abuse and violence within families. As Anderson begins his lengthy prison sentence, his actions have left a permanent scar on those closest to him.
