Home / Crime and Justice / Spokane Woman's Killer Identified 25 Years After Brutal Slaying
Spokane Woman's Killer Identified 25 Years After Brutal Slaying
14 Nov
Summary
- Margaret Anselmo murdered in 1997, body found in alley
- DNA evidence finally linked to suspect Brian James Anderson, who died by suicide in 2009
- Daughter Lisa Anselmo haunted by mother's death for over 20 years
On November 13, 2025, the Spokane Police Department announced that they have finally solved the 1997 murder of Margaret Anselmo, a 45-year-old floral designer. Anselmo was killed in January 1997 after going out to cash a check, her body found face-down in a snowy alley.
For over two decades, her daughter Lisa Anselmo, now 47, has been haunted by her mother's brutal death, frequently visiting the police station to demand answers. In 2022, Spokane Police Sergeant Zac Storment began reinvestigating the cold case, utilizing advances in forensic genetic genealogy. The DNA evidence collected from the crime scene was matched to Brian James Anderson, who died by suicide in 2009 at the age of 33.
While Lisa Anselmo feels "relieved" that her mother's killer has been identified, she is saddened that he is no longer alive to face justice. The police have not been able to establish a clear motive for the crime, as Anselmo's purse still contained money when her body was discovered. Storment is hopeful that the renewed attention on the case may uncover more information from the public to provide closure for the grieving family.
