Clifford Allen Smith:1982, Jackson County, Indiana

    


   Clifford A. Smith was born on October 1st, 1958, to Patricia (Welch) Smith and Clayton Smith. He had five brothers and one sister. 


   Clifford Allen Smith married Joyce Anderson in May of 1982. He was employed by the city of Seymour, Indiana as a laborer. 


   Someone killed Clifford Allen Smith early in the morning on Halloween in 1982. He had only been married about 5 months. He had only been 24 for 31 days.


   In early December some boys who were trapping in Jackson County, north of Seymour, came across Clifford’s body. He was found in Back Waters Pond which is along White Creek. He had a gunshot wound to the head. He was only wearing jeans and a t-shirt. 


    Clifford Allen Smith was buried in Scipio, Indiana. His 5 brothers and a good friend served as pallbearers.


    Clifford’s murder case then went cold for 41 years. 


   But Clifford Allen Smith’s case was solved in 2023. Someone volunteered new information. 


   Back in 1982, Ronald Anderson, Clifford Smith and some others were together in a Columbus home. It was late at night on October 30th, 1982 when, according to a witness, Ronald Anderson loaded his shotgun. He and Clifford left together. Only Ronald Anderson came back. Ronald Anderson put away his gun. Later he went back out to Clifford’s body and tried to hide some evidence, according to the witness. 


   It seems it was the witness coming forward that made the case. 61 year old Ronald Anderson was arrested on Halloween 2023, 41 years to the day that he murdered Clifford Allen Smith in cold blood. 


   Ronald Anderson was tried and convicted. He was originally to stand trial for murder. But, he pled guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He was sentenced in 2025 to 18 years in prison. 


   Sometimes cold cases do get solved. Sometimes people finally let go of terrible burdens and they do the right thing. Sometimes Justice comes 41 years late. 


Rest In Peace Clifford

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