FCSO still looking into murder-suicide
– The red and blue lights from emergency vehicles clashed with the Christmas decorations along Westview Terrace in Lithopolis on Wednesday.
The 911 caller had said Joseph Anderson had shot his wife, but deputies weren’t sure what to expect when they arrived.
When they entered 390 Westview Terrace, deputies found a woman and her two children killed inside, along with the man who had shot them.
The three victims, identified as Kiara M. Anderson, 29, Joseph R. Anderson, 5, and Jeffrey Anderson, 2, were found at the 390 Westview Terrace residence Wednesday morning. The suspected shooter, identified as Joseph R. Anderson, 30, was found with an apparent selfinflicted gunshot wound.
Sheriff Alex Lape said there have not been any developments in the case.
Lape said there are counselors available for deputies and staff, and there is also assistance available through their benefits they can use on their own time.
“When it comes to situations like these, there’s really a degree of experience to deal with these tragedies. There really isn’t a way to prepare yourself for them,” he said. “There are debriefings following critical incidents like this, and we encourage folks to express how they feel, which isn’t something that was practiced in the past.”
He added that the proximity to Christmas might make the tragedy even more poignant, but to deputies and other first responders, holidays become “just another day” when responding to situations like Wednesday.
“There’s going to be an effect no matter what. In my experience, I’ve responded to fatal accidents on holidays, but it is just another day on the job. It can resonate with people, but the bottom line is maker ing sure they get the help they need when they’re having issues,” Lape said. “After a while, you can tell when someone has been affected by tragedy, and you can step in to help them.”
Fairfield County Sheriff deputies, Lithopolis police officers and Bloom Township firefighters were dispatched shortly before 10 a.m., after the 911 caller said she wasn’t sure what was happening at the home, but she was concerned when she got a text from Joseph saying “he had snapped.”
In a 911 call that lasts just under four minutes, obtained by the Eagle-gazette, the caller apologizes to the dispatcher and explains she is calling on behalf of a man living at the Westview Terrace address.
The caller said she had missed a call from the man, and he texted her to ask her to call 911, because “he had snapped.” The caller tells the dispatcher the man is getting divorced from his wife. Both are later identified as Joseph and Kiara Anderson respectively. The caller tells the DISPATCHLITHOPOLIS she is worried Joseph will do something to himself.
As the dispatcher advises the caller units have been sent to the address, the caller breaks down and informs the dispatcher she’d just received a text from her mother, who Joseph had called when he couldn’t reach her. The caller said the text read Joseph said he shot Kiara. The call ends shortly after that.
Lape said that, as law enforcement officers, it is part of deputies’ duties to deal with tragedies like this. As deputies and first responders, he said they see things that the general public shouldn’t have to see.
“And that’s what we signed up for, we chose to do this so no one else will have to deal with it. When you decide to become a crime fighter, this isn’t what you’re expecting. You sign on to catch bad guys, to be a hero, but not dealing with humanity’s dark side,” Lape said. “But we have to deal with it. I am very proud of everyone working on this case.”