Stephen Wayne Anderson

Timeline

• May 24, 1979 — Stephen Wayne Anderson escaped from Utah State Prison.
• May 26, 1980 — Stephen Wayne Anderson broke into Elizabeth Lyman’s home and fatally shot her.
• 12:18 a.m., January 29, 2002 — Anderson’s execution by lethal injection began in San Quentin State Prison’s execution chamber.
• 12:30 a.m., January 29, 2002 — Anderson was pronounced dead.
• 12/27/1990 — The case was affirmed.
• July 24, 1981 — A San Bernardino County jury sentenced Anderson to death.
• 3:47 a.m., May 26, 1980 — Deputies arrested Anderson.
• 1984 — Anderson used force and violence while fighting while incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections.
• 1985 — Anderson used force and violence while incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections.
• 1987 — Anderson assaulted another inmate while incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections.
• 1971 — Anderson had been incarcerated for one count of aggravated burglary.
• 1973 — Anderson had been incarcerated for three counts of aggravated burglary.
• Nov. 24, 1979 — Anderson was an escapee from Utah State Prison at the time of Elizabeth Lyman’s death.
• 1971 — Anderson was incarcerated for one count of aggravated burglary.
• 1973 — Anderson was incarcerated for three counts of aggravated burglary.
• January 24-28, 2002 — Anderson did not request any special food items for scheduled visits.

Background

Stephen Wayne Anderson was a 26-year-old escapee from Utah State Prison at the time of Elizabeth Lyman’s death. He had been incarcerated for one count of aggravated burglary in 1971 and three counts of aggravated burglary in 1973. While incarcerated at Utah State Prison, Anderson murdered an inmate, assaulted another inmate, and assaulted a correctional officer. Anderson also admitted to six other contract killings in Las Vegas, Nevada that happened prior to the crime for which he received a death sentence.

While incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections, Anderson received CDC 115s (Rule Violation Report). He assaulted another inmate in 1987, used force and violence in 1985, and used force and violence while fighting in 1984.

The offence

Elizabeth Lyman was an 81-year-old retired piano teacher who lived by herself in Bloomington, San Bernardino County.

About an hour after midnight on Monday, May 26, 1980, Anderson broke into her home, and cut her telephone line with a knife, believing no one was at home. He was startled when she woke up in her bed. Anderson shot her in the face from a distance of between eight and 20 inches with his .45 caliber handgun as she lay in her bed.

Anderson then covered her body with a blanket, recovered the expelled casing from the hollow point bullet that killed her, and ransacked her house for money. He found less than $100. Anderson then sat down in Mrs. Lyman’s kitchen to eat a dinner of noodles and eggs. His meal was interrupted by sheriff’s deputies called to the scene by a suspicious neighbor.

Investigation

Deputies were called to the scene by a suspicious neighbor who had been awakened by barking dogs and had seen Anderson in Mrs. Lyman’s house through a window.

The deputies arrested Anderson at 3:47 a.m., and took him to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Substation in Fontana.

Trial

Anderson was convicted of one count of first-degree murder with special circumstances and one count of residential burglary in the May 26, 1980 murder of Elizabeth Lyman. A San Bernardino County jury sentenced Anderson to death on July 24, 1981.

Appeals

The case action was affirmed on 12/27/1990.

Sentencing

Outcome

Anderson’s execution by lethal injection began at 12:18 a.m., January 29, 2002, in San Quentin State Prison's execution chamber. He was pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m.

Aftermath

Condemned inmate Stephen Wayne Anderson selected the following for his last meal:

Two (2) grilled cheese sandwiches (American cheese), one (1) pint of cottage cheese (plain, no fruit), Hominy/corn mixture (regular hominy, regular corn), one (1) piece of peach pie, one (1) pint of chocolate chip ice cream, and radishes.

It should be noted that inmate Anderson did not request any special food items for his scheduled visits, January 24-28, 2002.

When asked by the Warden if he had any last words, Mr. Anderson was very adamant that he did not.

Other details

• Name: Stephen Wayne Anderson
• County of residence: Unknown
• County of offense: San Bernardino
• Offense date: NA
• Court date: 12/27/1990
• Case number: SCR36938
• Victim: Elizabeth Lyman (female) — 81-year-old retired piano teacher
• Co-defendant: None
• Place: Bloomington, San Bernardino County
• Arrest location: San Bernardino Sheriff’s Substation in Fontana
• Gun: .45 caliber handgun
• Distance of shot: between eight and 20 inches
• Execution location: San Quentin State Prison's execution chamber
• Execution timing: began at 12:18 a.m.; pronounced dead at 12:30 a.m.
• Home condition details: Anderson cut her telephone line with a knife and believed no one was at home
• Money found: less than $100
• Meal details: noodles and eggs in Mrs. Lyman’s kitchen
• Notes on escape: Anderson was an escapee from Utah State Prison at the time of Mrs. Lyman’s death; he escaped on Nov. 24, 1979
• Rule violations: Anderson received CDC 115s (Rule Violation Report) while incarcerated in the California Department of Corrections