Dennis Ray Anderson

Serial Killer

Dennis Ray Anderson: A Life of Crime and Tragedy

Early Life and Initial Crimes

Dennis Ray Anderson, born in 1947 in Pearland, Texas, began his criminal activities in the early 1970s. On January 5, 1972, Anderson, along with his accomplice Fred Foy Young Jr., committed a heinous crime in Kountze, Texas. They targeted the antique shop owned by 54-year-old Mabel McCormick. During the robbery, Anderson brutally attacked McCormick, inflicting fatal hammer blows to her head and slashing her throat. Tragically, her 3-year-old granddaughter, Leslie Bowman, was also murdered, drowned in a toilet bowl. The assailants then attempted to cover up their crimes by setting fire to the premises, igniting several mattresses within the house.

Arrest and Conviction

Following the murders, law enforcement agencies launched an intensive manhunt. On January 8, 1972, authorities issued warrants for Anderson and Young, charging them with murder with malice. The duo was apprehended shortly thereafter. In 1973, Anderson was convicted of the murders and sentenced to two life terms. Additionally, he received a 20-year sentence for arson and a 10-year sentence for theft, all to be served concurrently. Young, on the other hand, was sentenced to probation.

Parole and Subsequent Offenses

Despite the severity of his crimes, Anderson was paroled in 1989 after serving nearly 17 years in prison. He was required to remain under parole supervision for the rest of his life in Harris County. In February 2010, Anderson faced legal troubles again when he was charged with robbery causing bodily injury. He was accused of striking a woman while attempting to steal from her. Anderson pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of theft from a person and was sentenced to 180 days in a state jail facility. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles considered revoking his parole but ultimately decided against it, noting it was his first parole violation in 21 years. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (3)

Mabel McCormick Age: (54), Date of Death: 1972-01-05

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The manhunt and trials of Dennis Ray Anderson and Fred Foy ...

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