In the cool autumn evening of November 5, 2006, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the life of 34-year-old Evaristo Tovias Jr. was violently cut short. Tovias became the first victim in a string of brutal murders committed by 19-year-old Joshua Julius Anderson. On that fateful night, Tovias, who was reportedly looking for drugs while armed with a knife, encountered Anderson's brother, A.C. Anderson.
An altercation broke out between Tovias and A.C., during which Joshua Anderson joined the fray, bringing with him a double-barreled shotgun.
The fight escalated tragically when Anderson fired the shotgun at Tovias, striking him and causing his death. After the shooting, Anderson callously stole the knife from Tovias's body simply because he admired its appearance, and then fled the scene with the murder weapon in hand. The killing of Evaristo Tovias marked the beginning of a violent crime spree by Anderson that would terrorize the Tulsa community.
Joshua Julius Anderson was eventually arrested in connection with a series of other violent crimes, including a rape charge. During the investigation, detectives linked him to the murder of Evaristo Tovias and four other homicides that occurred in the months following Tovias's death. Faced with mounting evidence and his brother's cooperation with the police, Anderson confessed to the murder of Evaristo Tovias. On December 8, 2008, he pleaded guilty to the murders of Tovias and another victim. For his crimes, Anderson received multiple life sentences, ensuring he would remain imprisoned for his deadly rampage.
