On a cold February evening in Waterloo, Iowa, the life of 41-year-old Black / African American female Andrea Rochelle Anderson was tragically cut short. On February 11, 2020, she was visiting her friend, Tamica Takeisha Allison, at Allison's home. What began as a normal evening with drinks and reminiscence between friends took a horrifying turn.
Later that night, authorities were called to the residence around 11:20 p.m.
and discovered a grim scene: both Anderson and the 42-year-old Allison were found dead, having been shot. The initial investigation quickly pointed to a suspect: 36-year-old Mathew Dee Buford III, who was Allison's boyfriend and also lived in the home. Police promptly issued warrants for his arrest on two counts of first-degree murder.
The harrowing events of that night were pieced together through the testimony of Allison's teenage daughter. She reported being in her upstairs bedroom when she heard her mother's defiant words, "What are you going to do, shoot me in the face? I don't care, I'm not scared," followed by the sound of two gunshots. Venturing downstairs, the teenager was met with the sight of her mother and Anderson on the floor and Buford holding a gun. In the aftermath, Buford drove Allison's children from the home, dropping them off at different locations before fleeing the state.
A few days later, Mathew Dee Buford III surrendered to police in Peoria, Illinois. His trial brought a conviction on two counts of first-degree murder and an additional charge of flight to avoid prosecution. Despite pleas from the victims' families for an explanation, Buford offered no motive for his actions during his sentencing. He was subsequently sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison, ensuring he would not have the possibility of parole. The state medical examiner determined that Anderson died from a gunshot wound to her temple.
