The Carnation Murders: A Chilling Christmas Eve Tragedy

On the quiet afternoon of December 24, 2007, the serene town of Carnation, Washington, nestled 25 miles east of Seattle, became the backdrop for a chilling family massacre. It was here, in the home of Wayne Scott Anderson and Judy Anderson, that a horrific event unfolded, leaving six members of the Anderson family dead, spanning three generations.

The Scene of Horror

The modest home of Wayne and Judy Anderson, which was meant to be filled with the warmth and joy of Christmas Eve, instead became a scene of unfathomable tragedy. On this fateful day, Michele Kristen Anderson and her boyfriend, Joseph Thomas McEnroe, armed themselves and set off in a pickup truck, heading towards the Anderson residence with sinister intentions.

Upon arrival, McEnroe engaged Judy Anderson, who was busy wrapping Christmas gifts, in conversation. Meanwhile, Michele attempted to shoot her father, Wayne. When her weapon failed, McEnroe stepped in, fatally shooting both Wayne and Judy. The couple then dragged the bodies outside, methodically cleaning the scene, and awaited the arrival of Michele's brother, Scott Anderson, his wife Erica, and their two young children, Olivia and Nathan.

When the family arrived, Michele turned the gun on her brother, Scott, shooting him multiple times. Erica, wounded but desperate, managed to reach for the cordless phone and dialed 9-1-1. The call was brief, and the dispatcher mistook the background noise for a party. As Erica struggled, McEnroe seized the phone, removed the batteries, and destroyed it. He then delivered the fatal shot to Erica before turning the gun on the children, Olivia and Nathan, at Michele's insistence, to eliminate any witnesses.

Discovery and Arrest

The bodies of the Anderson family went undiscovered until December 26, 2007. Linda Thiele, Judy's best friend and co-worker, concerned by Judy's absence, visited the home. Peering through a window, she saw the gruesome scene and immediately called 9-1-1. Initially, she believed the bodies to be those of Wayne and Judy, but they were later identified as Scott and Erica.

As detectives from King County investigated the property, McEnroe and Michele Anderson unexpectedly drove up. The pair was swiftly taken in for questioning, during which they confessed to the murders, citing financial disputes as the motive. Michele claimed her brother owed her money and that she felt slighted and mistreated by her parents and sibling.

Arrest and Legal Proceedings

Both Michele Anderson and Joseph McEnroe, aged 29 at the time, were arrested and charged with six counts of first-degree murder. Michele, unemployed, was the youngest of Wayne and Judy's children, while McEnroe worked at a Target store. The couple waived their right to appear in court and openly confessed to their heinous acts.

Joseph McEnroe confessed in January 2014, hoping to avoid the death penalty. His trial began later that year with a jury of 16 members. On March 25, 2015, they found him guilty on all six counts of aggravated first-degree murder. By May 13, 2015, McEnroe, who suffered several severe meltdowns during the trial, was sentenced to life imprisonment. His life was spared primarily due to a statewide moratorium on the death penalty enforced by Governor Jay Inslee.

Michele Anderson faced her trial the following year. On March 4, 2016, the jury found her guilty of the same charges, and by April 2016, she too was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Current Status

Today, Joseph McEnroe serves his sentence in the Washington State Penitentiary, while Michele Anderson resides in the Washington Corrections Center for Women. The tragic events of December 24, 2007, serve as a grim reminder of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of familial bonds.

Sources

• Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Springer Publishing
• Crime Watch Daily
• Seattle Times
• Fox News
• KIRO-TV
• Washington State Department of Corrections

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