Anne Louise Gordon

Case overview

Anne Louise Gordon was sentenced to life in prison without parole on July 17, 2007. She pleaded guilty to murders arising from two separate incidents in Lexington County, South Carolina. Her plea included admissions in court to murder, armed robbery, and 2nd-degree arson in both cases.

Gordon was incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections and was held at Leath Correctional Institution in Greenwood, South Carolina. She had been incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections since July 20, 2007.

Timeline

• July 17, 2007 — Anne Louise Gordon was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
• July 20, 2007 — She was incarcerated in the South Carolina Department of Corrections.
• April 20, 2003 — L.H. Tindall was found shot in the back of the head at his Lewis Rast Road home near Swansea.
• April 2003 — Gordon’s crimes in the L.H. Tindall case occurred around this period, and L.H. Tindall died in his Swansea home.
• May — A court date was set and Gordon was scheduled to go on trial the following week for murder.
• Thursday night prior to July 15, 2007 hearing — Gordon changed course before the hearing began and pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty.
• July 15, 2007 — Gordon pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty; she admitted to murder, armed robbery, and arson in both cases.
• July 14, 2007 — A Swansea woman pleaded guilty to murdering an elderly man and woman in separate incidents in 2002 and 2003.
• September 2002 — Viola Pearl Neal was stabbed and shot in the head at her home in Gaston; her home was set on fire.
• Sept. 23, 2002 — Viola Pearl Neal was found stabbed 27 times and shot in the back of the head.
• 2002 — Viola Pearl Neal was murdered and her Gaston home was set on fire.
• Easter Sunday in 2003 — L.H. Tindall was murdered in Swansea.
• Sunday in 2003 (as described) — L.H.
• Wednesday in 2003 (as described) — Gordon surrendered early and Paul Edward Anderson was caught after a five-hour manhunt.

Background

Anne Louise Gordon wrote letters from inside the Lexington County Detention Center over a period of time, voicing frustration that it was taking so long for her case to go to trial.

In her letters, Gordon maintained her innocence and discussed her desire to go to trial. She also described having a “checkered past,” and she said she had been involved in “stupid things because of the men in her life.”

Sheriff James Metts described Gordon as intelligent, manipulative, and cunning, and stated that he believed she was the “mastermind” behind the killings. He also said that he believed her motive was robbery to feed a crack cocaine habit.

Gordon had worked as a nurse and specialized in helping the elderly. The prosecution argued at sentencing that the manner in which Viola Pearl Neal’s bed was made suggested experience in health care, which Gordon had.

The offences

Gordon pleaded guilty to three charges in each slaying: murder, armed robbery, and 2nd-degree arson.

Murder of Viola Pearl Neal

Viola Pearl Neal was 80 at the time of her death in September 2002. Another account describes her as 83-year-old Viola Pearl Neal. She was stabbed and shot in the head. Deputies stated she was stabbed 27 times and shot in the back of the head.

Her home in Gaston (including a Meadowfield Road home near Gaston) was set on fire in an attempt to cover up the killings. Sheriff’s deputies also stated that both homes were set on fire to hide the crime.

Murder of L.H. Tindall

L.H. Tindall was described as 66-year-old L.H. Tindall. He was found shot in the back of the head April 20, 2003, at his Lewis Rast Road home near Swansea, and he died in his Swansea home. Another account described his murder as occurring on Easter Sunday, and investigators described his death as being shot in the head.

His home was also torched in an attempt to cover up the killing.

Investigation

Sheriff James Metts said he had never seen a case like Gordon’s in more than 30 years as sheriff.

Metts also stated that Gordon and Paul Anderson stole prescription drugs from Ms. Neal to feed a crack habit. Metts believed the drugs led Gordon on a cross-country killing spree.

Metts said he called Gordon a serial killer after her arrest in 2003 and said Gordon told her accomplice in these two murders that this was not the first time she had killed and that she had killed many individuals across the country. Metts later said those claims were never substantiated and nothing materialized from the belief that Gordon may have been involved in other crimes.

Arrest and custody

Anne Louise Gordon surrendered early Wednesday in April 2003, and Paul Edward Anderson was caught after a five-hour manhunt.

At the time leading up to the plea, Gordon had been in tears almost from the beginning of the plea process. Her courtroom support included members of her church.

Plea and trial posture

Gordon’s attorney, Cam Littlejohn, said she pleaded guilty to avoid prosecutors seeking the death penalty. Another report described that her attorney informed her that she was eligible for the Death Penalty under the felony murder rule.

During the plea proceedings, the families of Gordon’s two victims filled the Lexington County courtroom.

Gordon told Kara Gormley she was pleading guilty to avoid the death penalty and indicated an 11th-hour change of heart before the hearing began.

Sentencing

On July 17, 2007, Gordon was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

In her sentencing hearing, the prosecution admitted it had no direct evidence that Gordon killed Viola Pearl Neal. The prosecution’s stated evidence that was presented included DNA found under Ms. Neal’s fingernails that the prosecution said could not be excluded as belonging to Gordon. The prosecution also reasoned that Gordon must have been the killer because Ms. Neal’s bed was made like it was made by someone with a background in health care.

Prosecutor Dayton Riddle admitted at the sentencing hearing that the prosecution could not say for certain that Gordon had ever been in Ms. Neal’s house, where Ms. Neal was murdered.

The prosecution did not have a murder weapon and did not have an eyewitness.

Regarding the evidence in the other murder, the source stated there was testimony from two people who were not eyewitnesses. Those individuals claimed that Gordon admitted killing Mr. L.H. Tindall. The source also stated that both individuals were facing charges and were looking for favorable sentencing consideration in exchange for their testimony.

The felony murder rule was discussed in the case summary: under that rule, a person could only be sentenced to death if they knowingly acted in a felony in which they knew that death would likely result from reckless indifference. In Gordon’s case, the prosecution could not even say for certain who was involved in either murder, according to the case summary.

Sentencing-related statements

“they were going to get money and buy crack cocaine.” — according to the solicitor’s office, Gordon’s motive

“My faith has gotten me through, because I know whatever it is I have to face, God is there with me.” — Anne Louise Gordon, speaking to WIS News 10’s Kara Gormley

“Oh-no, only if it were a life and death situation. I can't begin to fathom hurting anybody.” — Anne Louise Gordon, in response to whether she was capable of murder

“I am innocent of these charges,” — Anne Louise Gordon, asked “Are you guilty or innocent?”

“We believe firmly the evidence we've been able to get that Ms. Gordon was the one that actually did the killing and I think we will be able to prove that in court,” — Sheriff James Metts

“Ms. Gordon told her accomplice in these two murders that this is not the first time she's killed. As a matter of fact she's killed many individuals across the country.” — Sheriff James Metts, as quoted in the account after her arrest in 2003

“I want folks to know that there is hope for anybody to turn their life around and make a change and for me, it was coming to this situation and realizing I had a serious drug problem. I've addressed that. I've taken care of that, but there's hope. There's always hope.” — Anne Louise Gordon

“The only thing I can do is tell the truth and speak up for Ms. Neal and Mr. Tindall.” — Anne Louise Gordon

“Yes, Paul Anderson did indeed kill them.” — Anne Louise Gordon, when Kara asked whether she contended that Mr. Anderson was responsible

“Of course she's making reference that somebody else did the crime and she was just there. That's our job to prove in court. She did it. That's what we're going to do.” — Sheriff James Metts

“It's not about me. It's not about Paul Anderson. It's about the victims and they need to know I did not hurt her and I did not hurt Mr. Tindall either. Ms. Neal, what happened to her was obscene. It was horrible and I can't imagine the agony that family's gone through.” — Anne Louise Gordon

Appeals

Gordon filed for post-conviction relief, based on ineffective assistance of counsel.

Outcome

• Gordon pleaded guilty to murder, armed robbery, and 2nd-degree arson in the two separate incidents.
• She received a sentence of life in prison without parole on July 17, 2007.

Other details

Victims

• Viola Pearl Neal, described as 80 and also described as 83, was murdered in September 2002.
• L.H. Tindall was described as 66 and died in April 2003.

Co-defendant

Paul Edward Anderson was described as Gordon’s former boyfriend and as a co-defendant. Another account stated he was 34, and another described him as 30. The reports stated he had not been tried on murder and other charges.

Court setting and procedural posture

Gordon was scheduled to go on trial next week for murder, and then she changed her plea on the Thursday night before the hearing began.

In one account, Gordon had another court appearance scheduled next week as a sentencing hearing.

Scheduling details mentioned

Anne Louise Gordon was set to go to trial for the murder of L.H. Tindall on July 9th as stated in the narrative, and no trial date had been set yet for the murder of Viola Pearl Neal.

Detention and communications

Gordon spoke by phone with WIS News 10’s Kara Gormley in May from inside the detention center.

She had written letters from behind bars for years and was described as having maintained her innocence in those letters.

Statements about innocence and guilt

Sheriff James Metts stated that Gordon and Paul Anderson were behind the crimes and that investigators were to prove Gordon’s role in court.

Neal’s daughter made a statement included in the narrative:

“We have no doubt of her guilt and if she's so concerned about the victims, I would really appreciate it if she was honest and let me know what happened. Please let me know what happened,” — Neal’s daughter

The daughter also stated:

“I feel like I owe it to my mother to know the details and that way maybe it would be like holding her hand as she died because she died alone.” — Neal’s daughter