On Christmas Eve of 2007, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of a rural Carnation, Washington community, resulting in the death of 32-year-old White/Caucasian male Scott Russell Anderson. Scott, along with his wife Erica Mantle Anderson, 32, and their two young children, 5-year-old Olivia and 3-year-old Nathan, had gone to his parents' home to celebrate the holiday. What should have been a festive gathering turned into a scene of unimaginable tragedy.
Earlier that day, Scott's younger sister, Michele Kristen Anderson, then 29, and her boyfriend, Joseph Thomas McEnroe, also 29, had arrived at the home of her parents, Wayne and Judy Anderson. Fueled by a financial dispute and feelings of resentment, Michele and McEnroe confronted her parents. The situation escalated violently, and they shot and killed both Wayne, 60, and Judy, 61. After murdering the older couple, the two cleaned the home and awaited the arrival of Michele's brother and his family.
When Scott Anderson and his family arrived, they walked into an ambush. Michele Anderson shot her brother multiple times. His wife, Erica, was also shot by both her sister-in-law and McEnroe. In a final, desperate act, a wounded Erica managed to dial 911, but the call was brief and tragically misunderstood by dispatchers as a party. McEnroe took the phone from her and destroyed it. He then proceeded to kill the two children, Olivia and Nathan.
The bodies were discovered two days later, on December 26, after one of Judy Anderson's concerned coworkers went to the house to check on her. While detectives were processing the grim scene, Michele Anderson and Joseph McEnroe returned to the property and were taken into custody for questioning. They subsequently confessed to the murders of all six family members. Both were arrested and charged with six counts of aggravated first-degree murder. Following their trials, Joseph McEnroe and Michele Anderson were convicted and each sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
