Violent crime is virtually nonexistent in LaGrange County, Ind. That's especially true of the town of Mongo, where most everyone lives in relative peace, lacking much of the stress and chaos found in the nation's larger cities.
In that regard, Terry and Darleen Anderson were no different. The pair had been married for 25 blissful years, but for Terry, it was his third marriage; for Darleen, it was her first.
Between the two of them, they had a sprawling family, including a 20-year-old daughter, Amanda, who they raised in Mongo.Terry had four other children over the years, including two from his first marriage, Rick and Sherry, who he'd lost contact with after he split from their mother in the late 1960s.
Only when Sherry and Rick turned 18 did they really get to know Terry and Darleen; it was then that they sought Terry out and repaired the bonds that had been broken after their parents' mutual split.
In the years they spent apart, Sherry and Rick each moved to Chicago and developed a lifestyle quite different from their father's, full of the hustle and bustle of city life not found in the quaint parts of Indiana from where Terry hailed.
Once reunited with Terry, their new-found relationship had a profound impact on their lives.
By sharing his experiences and wholeheartedly opening himself up, Terry opened his grown children's eyes to a world they'd never before known.
Whenever Rick would visit with Terry and Darleen, he considered their time together very special, as their property was "serene, and it was a place to get away from life," says Rick. "It was a place you can relax, hang out and just...spend time with Dad."
"Dad was a pure woodsman," said Sherry. "He taught me about nature and being outdoors."
Rick, who Terry referred to as his '#1' since Rick was his firstborn, would always go fishing with his father whenever he came to visit.
However, the frequency of Rick's visits slowed down when he moved to California in the mid-1980s.
Sherry's visits, which were slightly more frequent, were often retreat-like for her, as well. When they'd venture into the woods together, Terry would often tell Sherry to take a step back, look into the trees and "watch the birds" -- many of which he could identify by using a special 'bird book' he often carried with him.
Among Terry's other interests were deer and turkey hunting, waterskiing, off-roading on ATVs, and virtually any outdoor activity
Terry was proud to be a Musky fisherman guide on lakes throughout Northeast Indiana and even won the first ever Webster Lake Musky Club Iron Man contest, in which participants fish for muskies for 24 straight hours.
Darleen, however, was quite different from her husband, as she was far more domestic and significantly less apt to get her hands dirty. In her spare time, she loved trinket shopping at antique stores and garage sales. Sherry would often go shopping with her, and if Darleen found something cute for the house, she'd purchase it and display it proudly in their home.
Together, Terry and Darleen complimented each other perfectly, and shared a normal, happy life. Each held steady jobs: Terry worked at a tree/vegetation removal and utility company, Darleen at a dairy product manufacturer, and both enjoyed their daily routines.
Every night after work, Terry would often spend hours in the huge barn far behind their home, diligently working on his tractor or various other projects. In the meantime, Darleen would get things done inside the house until it came time to wind down for the evening.
Eventually, the Andersons would relax together in front of the television before settling into bed.
This routine came to define the Andersons' life together, and though they led ordinary lives, theirs were honorable, as well.
But tragically, on the evening of October 20, 2005, their lives came to a shocking and horrific end.
The Andersons were savagely beaten to death in the sanctity of their very own home that they each took so much pride in maintaining, and now cops need your help to find their cold-blooded killer.
It was fitting that Darleen's final gesture was one of kindness and love for her beloved husband. Moments later, an unknown assailant ended Darleen's life.
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