2012-06-07 Deans Anderson

Murder of Deans Anderson

Overview

Deans Anderson, 39, was shot and killed around midnight on June 7, 2012, just inside his first-floor apartment at the Westminster Apartments in southwest Amarillo. The killing stemmed from a dispute over a prostitution transaction: Anderson had arranged a date with CreeAnna Shamell Dawn, 23, a participant in an escort service, but refused to pay her because she did not have a condom. Dawn left and contacted Dustin Ryan Rhoades, 27, and the two returned to the apartment to demand the money; when Anderson refused, Rhoades shot him in the face.^[1]

Rhoades was convicted of murder by a jury and sentenced to 40 years in prison (enhanced). His conviction was affirmed on appeal. Dawn was charged with murder as well and was awaiting trial.

People involved

Background

Anderson, formerly of Shelby, Mississippi, rented a first-floor apartment at the Westminster Apartments, 2415 S. Coulter St. A neighbor said Anderson had a girlfriend who usually stayed over on weekends, when he was off, and that the two had argued after she brought her son to his apartment about a week into their relationship.

Investigators later recovered Anderson's cellphone and learned he had communicated with prostitutes. A prostitute, later identified as Dawn, spoke with Anderson several times on the night of the shooting.^[2]

The shooting

According to court records and Rhoades's own written statement, the events unfolded as follows:

Dawn had arranged a date with Anderson on the night of June 7, 2012. When she arrived without a condom, Anderson refused to pay her. Dawn left the apartment and contacted Rhoades for help, and the pair agreed to return to demand the money.

Rhoades stated that Dawn had called him to say a man attempted to rape her and took her money, and enlisted his help to recover it. Using a red minivan belonging to his girlfriend, Kristie Ortiz, Rhoades drove Dawn to the apartment complex and followed her to Anderson's door while holding his .357 revolver. After Dawn knocked, Anderson opened the door and spoke with Dawn. Rhoades then stepped up, pointed the gun at Anderson, and demanded he give Dawn the money and empty his pockets. The men exchanged words, and Anderson stepped toward Rhoades.^[3]

Rhoades's statement continued: "I twisted and pulled the trigger. I didn't mean to. The shot hit the man in the face. I was sorry and wanted so bad to help him."

Anderson died of a gunshot wound to the head. Rhoades and Dawn ran to the minivan and left the complex. A few days later, Rhoades said, he sold the gun to an unidentified man along a north Amarillo street.

A witness — another resident of the complex — called 911 after hearing a gunshot and watching a man and woman run to a red minivan. The witness said the man carried a "small black pistol."

Investigation

Police responded to the 2400 block of South Coulter around midnight on June 7, 2012, after a caller reported shots fired and said a white male and a black female were seen fleeing northbound on Coulter toward Interstate 40. Upon arrival, officers found Anderson deceased in apartment 145, near the doorway, with an apparent gunshot wound to the upper body. A preliminary autopsy confirmed he died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Further investigation led police to Rhoades and Dawn. From Anderson's cellphone, a detective obtained information that led officers, through an undercover investigation, to Dawn, a participant in an escort service who had accompanied Rhoades to Anderson's door on the night of his death. Dawn admitted to her involvement in the slaying and, shown a photo lineup, identified Rhoades as the shooter.

Dawn initially denied participating but later told investigators she had a date with Anderson, who "refused to pay her because she didn't have a condom for sex." She left and contacted Rhoades; both returned to demand the money. "Anderson refused and Mr. Rhoades shot him in the face," the affidavit said.

Investigators sought data from cellphones seized from Rhoades and Ortiz to corroborate information from police interviews.

Arrests

Rhoades and Dawn were booked into the Potter County Detention Center on charges of murder, each held in lieu of a $1-million bond. Dawn was already in the Potter County jail on an unrelated prostitution charge when the murder warrant was served. Officers stopped Rhoades near East 22nd Avenue and South Arthur Street.

The two were indicted in September 2012 on murder charges. Lt. Erick Bohannon, Potter-Randall Special Crimes Unit coordinator, would not disclose how Rhoades and Dawn knew Anderson, who shot him, what type of weapon was used, or other details, and said investigators were still trying to determine a motive.^[4]

Rhoades's criminal history

State records showed Rhoades had served about four years in prison after being convicted of burglary of a habitation and failure to stop and render aid in 2007. He completed his parole term in February 2012.

Trial and conviction of Dustin Rhoades

A jury convicted Rhoades of murder and, after deliberating for less than an hour on punishment, assessed an enhanced sentence of 40 years' confinement.^[5] The 47th District Attorney's office announced the conviction.

Rhoades's written statement was admitted into evidence at trial. Kristie Ortiz testified that a few days after the killing, Rhoades told her he had pulled the gun on Anderson to scare him, and that Dawn "pulled his arm away to quit, and then the gun went off." Ortiz acknowledged she did not recount this version of events in a June 12 written statement to police. A pathologist testified to his autopsy of Anderson and gave the opinion that the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

Rhoades did not testify at trial.

Appeal

Rhoades challenged his conviction on appeal through four issues — three seeking rendition of a judgment of acquittal and the fourth seeking a new trial. The appellate court affirmed the judgment of the trial court, overruling all four issues.^[6]

Trial of CreeAnna Dawn

Following Rhoades's conviction, Dawn was expected to go to trial the following month.

Key locations

Sources