Robert Leroy Anderson

Case record: Robert Leroy Anderson

Status / Legal outcome

Robert Leroy Anderson was sentenced to death by lethal injection on April 9, 1999. He committed suicide on March 30, 2003 by hanging from a bedsheet in his cell. The Supreme Court of South Dakota dismissed his appeal after his death.

People involved

• Robert Leroy Anderson — accused and convicted; maintenance man at John Morrell & Co.; one of five men on South Dakota’s death row.
• Piper Streyle — victim; 28 at the time of her disappearance.
• Larisa Dumansky — victim; 29 at the time of her disappearance.
• Vance Streyle — Piper’s husband; 29 at the time of Piper’s disappearance.
• Shaina Streyle — Piper and Vance’s daughter; 3 years of age at the time of Piper’s disappearance.
• Nathan Streyle — Piper and Vance’s son; 2 years of age at the time of Piper’s disappearance; his second birthday was on Money, July 29, 1996.
• Patty Sinclair — day-care worker at the Southeastern Children’s Center; worked with Mrs. Streyle.
• Sheriff Gene Taylor — McCook County Sheriff; arrived at the Streyles’ trailer.
• Jim Stevenson — South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) agent.
• Mrs. Jordnson — babysitter of Shaina and Nathan.
• Roy Hazelwood and Stephen G. Michaud — authors referenced in connection with the case narrative.
• Gary Larson — botanist from South Dakota State University.
• Dan Johnson — neighbor; recalled seeing Anderson cleaning the Bronco.
• Bob Grandpre — DCI assistant director.
• Mark Barnett — South Dakota attorney general during earlier proceedings; led the prosecution team described in relation to the Piper kidnapping conviction.
• Larry Long — Attorney General; headed the prosecution team for the 1999 trial and later gave comments about Anderson’s suicide.
• Boyd McMurchie — circuit judge who sentenced Anderson to life in prison after the Piper kidnapping conviction.
• Tim Dallas Tucker — judge presided over the Minnehaha County Circuit Court trial.
• John A. Schlimgen and Mike Butler — attorneys representing Anderson.
• Jeremy Brunner — prison cellmate who contacted the attorney general’s office and later provided testimony.
• Glen Marcus Walker — accomplice in the crimes described; pleaded guilty in relation to Amy Anderson’s case and later tried for related offenses as described.
• Jamie Hammer — longtime friend of Anderson who provided evidence about sexually sadistic and predatory behavior.
• Amy Anderson — victim targeted in an attempted kidnapping described in connection with Anderson’s behavior; 26.
• Bill Dumansky — Larisa’s husband.
• Dan (referenced as Dan Johnson) — neighbor witness.
• Other individuals named in relation to evidence and procedural detail — included in the narrative of witness interviews and appeals, including references to “South Dakota Supreme Court,” and “University of South Dakota School of Law.”

Timeline

• Aug. 27, 1994 — Larisa Dumansky disappears after working the night shift at John Morrell & Company in Sioux Falls; some of her remains are later found at Lake Vermillion.
• July 26, 1996 — Anderson stops at the Vance and Piper Streyle house in rural Canistota; he expresses interest in sending his children to their Bible camp and writes his name on a piece of paper.
• July 29, 1996 — Piper Streyle disappears from her home; her body is never found.
• Aug. 2, 1996 — Anderson is arrested on kidnapping charges.
• May 8, 1997 — Anderson is convicted of kidnapping Streyle and later sentenced to life in prison; the South Dakota Supreme Court later upholds the conviction.
• Sept. 4, 1997 — Anderson is charged with raping and murdering Streyle and kidnapping and murdering Dumansky.
• April 6, 1999 — A Sioux Falls jury convicts Anderson of kidnapping and murdering Dumansky and raping and murdering Streyle.
• April 9, 1999 — Anderson is sentenced to death by lethal injection for both murders.
• March 26, 2002 — Anderson’s death row appeal argued before the South Dakota Supreme Court at University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion.
• March 30, 2003 — Anderson commits suicide at the State Penitentiary.
• March 31, 2003 — Guards found Anderson hanging from his bed sheet in his cell early Sunday morning; one of five men on South Dakota’s death row is reported to have killed himself.

Background

Robert Leroy Anderson visited the Streyles’ residence in rural Canistota and expressed interest in enrolling his children in their Bible camp. The Streyles lived in a trailer located on forty acres in Canistota, South Dakota, about twenty miles west of Sioux Falls. They had a part-time ministry, the Prairie View Bible Camp for children.

Piper Streyle was 28 and Vance Streyle was 29 at the time Piper disappeared. They had two children, Shaina and Nathan, who were three and two years of age. Nathan’s second birthday fell on Money, July 29, 1996, the day they lost their mother.

Piper’s intended plans on July 29, 1996 included taking Nathan and Shaina to their babysitter before going to work at the Southeastern Children’s Center in Sioux Falls. Piper contacted the babysitter, Mrs. Jordnson, at 9:20 to say they were on their way.

The offence

Piper Streyle abduction, rape, and killing

On July 29, 1996, a man entered the Streyles’ trailer while Piper, Shaina, and Nathan were still there. At some point a violent struggle occurred between Piper and the man, which the children witnessed. The intruder abducted Piper, leaving Shaina and Nathan alone.

Shaina later described the “mean man” as driving a black vehicle with black wheels, coming into the trailer, grabbing their mother, and shooting a gun. Shaina reported that Piper told her and Nathan to run and hide as the intruder grabbed her and took her away in a black car. Shaina also reported that the man took Nathan’s blue tent, a birthday present he had received the evening before.

Patty Sinclair called the Streyles’ house at approximately 3 p.m. because Piper failed to show up to work. Shaina answered the phone and stated that their parents were likely dead, then hung up. Patty stayed on the line for approximately 45 minutes trying to soothe Shaina. Sheriff Gene Taylor arrived a little after 5 p.m. and found the living area in disarray and the trailer door open, indicating a struggle had occurred. Piper was not present.

Shaina said, “Mommy’s going to die,” and that a “mean man” came into the trailer, argued with their mother, and fired his gun. Piper told Shaina and Nathan to run and hide as the intruder grabbed her and took her away in his black car. Shaina said the man had taken Nathan’s blue tent.

Evidence of sexual assault and restraint devices (as described in trial-related narrative)

Investigators found a plywood platform with holes drilled in it, each obviously designed to accommodate wrist or ankle restraints. A toolbox containing chain and wooden dowels was also found in the vehicle. In later described evidence, the wooden platform was believed to have been used as a restraining device for ankles and hands tied to metal hoops inserted into the board. The evidence also included a dildo, a partially used or half burned candle, eyebolts, handcuff keys, duct tape, and duct tape with human hair described as microscopically indistinguishable from Piper’s hair.

The prosecution theory described a sequence in which Anderson drove to the Streyles’ trailer on July 29, handcuffed Mrs. Streyle, retrieved a note with his name and phone number, carried her out to the Bronco, drove to a wooded area near Baltic, gagged Piper with duct tape, cut her shirt open with a folding knife, sexually assaulted her, killed her, and disposed of the body. The narrative also described that Anderson returned to the Streyles’ residence to retrieve a watch dropped during the struggle and the expended shell casing reported by Shaina.

Larisa Dumansky kidnapping and killing

In 1991, Larisa Dumansky and Bill Dumansky moved to South Dakota from the Ukraine. Larisa worked for John Morrell & Co., mostly on the night shift. Anderson was identified as the plant’s maintenance man who befriended Larisa. The narrative described Anderson stalking Larisa and placing “wheel poppers” to damage her tires in hopes of abducting her after she stopped.

On August 26, Anderson approached Larisa in the parking lot, held her at knifepoint, ordered her into his vehicle, and drove her to Lake Vermillion with Glen Walker. At the lake, Walker watched Anderson drag Larisa out of the car and rape her several times. Larisa was described as pleading for her life while Anderson ignored her.

After Walker later testified, he stated that Anderson suffocated Larisa with duct tape and buried her remains beneath a chokecherry bush. At the time of Larisa’s death, she was approximately six weeks pregnant.

Walker later led police to Larisa’s shallow unmarked grave at Lake Vermillion, where portions of her skeleton were missing. A 1999 Midwest News article described forensic recovery of 57 items related to Larisa, including a tooth, a rib, bones from left and right wrist, several fingers, a right foot and ankle, several fingernails, and jaw and throat bones, along with items described as work gloves, shell casings and bullets, Larisa’s shoes, parts of her belt, jewelry, and pieces of her clothing.

Additional attempted abduction described in relation to Anderson’s behavior

A woman named Amy Anderson, 26 (no relation to Robert Leroy Anderson), was described as driving over wheel poppers on her way home from a friend’s house near Tea, South Dakota. Her tire went flat and she pulled off the road to change it. As she reached into her trunk, Anderson grabbed her and carried her off the road toward a wooded area. She managed to break free and flag down a passing car.

The attempted kidnapping of Amy remained unsolved until a breakthrough described in the narrative two years later. During Anderson’s trial for the abduction of Piper in 1996, Amy’s case was again brought forward. Amy identified Anderson in a police line-up, but he was not tried for the crime; another friend, Glen Marcus Walker, took the brunt.

Investigation

Investigators learned that Piper’s disappearance occurred after Anderson visited the Streyles’ trailer several days earlier. Vance Streyle recalled that three days before the disappearance, a balding man in his twenties named Rob Anderson visited the trailer at around 7:30 a.m. on July 26 to inquire about enrolling his kids into the Bible camp. Vance notified police and the suspect was identified as Robert Leroy Anderson.

Identification and interrogation

Investigators identified Anderson as a 26-year-old high school dropout and twice-married father of four who lived in Sioux Falls and worked as a maintenance man on the 11:00 P.M.–7:30 A.m. shift at John Morrell & Co.

The narrative described law enforcement awakening Anderson and asking to speak with him; Anderson voluntarily drove his blue Ford Bronco to the local police station. An investigative team searched Anderson’s Bronco and home while Anderson underwent a seven-hour interrogation.

During interrogation, Anderson remained calm, denying any knowledge of Piper Streyle’s fate or whereabouts, but he conceded visiting the Streyle trailer on the previous Friday morning and later returning Monday to use the archery range. Anderson claimed that he knocked on the door, heard children playing, assumed Piper was taking a nap, and left.

The interrogation narrative included conversation topics such as Anderson’s boyhood speech impediment, Anderson’s professed interest in anal sex (stated as his wife not sharing it), and the unsolved disappearance of another local woman, Larisa Dumansky. Anderson denied knowing anything about her disappearance.

Physical evidence from vehicle and home

Searches of the Bronco and Anderson’s home included:

• Under the carpeting in the Bronco’s cargo area, officers found a plywood platform with holes drilled in it for restraints.
• A toolbox containing chain and wooden dowels was found in the vehicle.
• Traces of black water-based paint were found in the vehicle along with a partial roll of duck tape.
• Dog hairs similar to those of the Streyles’ family dog were recovered, along with furniture moving straps.
• Investigators found Anderson’s blue jeans in the laundry area of his trailer, stained inside with both blood and semen; later tests on the stains were inconclusive as to their source in the narrative.
• Two handcuff keys were found.
• A container of black water-soluble spray paint, such as that discovered in the Bronco, was found.

The narrative described witness accounts of Anderson cleaning the Bronco. Dan Johnson recalled Anderson carefully cleaning the Bronco interior on the morning of the 29th, leaving and returning around 2:00 p.m. and cleaning it again.

Vance Streyle and Shaina identified Anderson in lineups as the man who came to his home and the “mean man” who forcibly took their mother away.

Searches near Baltic and evidence tied to Piper’s disappearance

Investigators directed the search near the Big Sioux River north of Sioux Falls near Baltic, South Dakota. A botanist, Gary Larson, identified plant matter taken from a toolbox in Anderson’s Bronco as honewort and black snake root associated with wooded stretches near the area.

The search described the discovery of:

• A torn half of a black-and-white T-shirt that Piper had been wearing when last seen; the other half was found beneath a small tree near Baltic.
• Lengths of duct tape dangling from a branch above the torn shirt, wadded up and matted with human hair proven to be microscopically indistinguishable from Mrs. Streyle’s hair.
• A large dildo and a partially used wax candle.
• One torn end of duct tape matching the roll taken from Anderson’s Bronco.
• Hair specimens believed to have come from Piper stuck to cloth fiber recovered from a folding knife associated with the Bronco.

Arrest

On the evening of August 2, 1996 at 1:30 on the morning, Sioux Falls police arrested Robert Anderson at Morrell’s and charged him with kidnapping Piper Streyle.

Authorities pursued searches for Piper and additional evidence. A search for Piper’s body did not succeed; her body was never recovered in the narrative.

Trial

First trial: kidnapping of Piper Streyle

Anderson was charged with kidnapping Piper Streyle and went on trial the following spring. He was not charged with murder at that point because there was not yet sufficient evidence to prosecute him for that crime.

The prosecution team led by South Dakota attorney general Mark Barnett was described as showing that Anderson bought black paint and sprayed it on the Bronco to change its appearance.

A Sioux Falls jury found Anderson guilty of kidnapping Piper Streyle on May 8, 1997. Two months later, state circuit judge Boyd McMurchie sentenced him to life in prison. The South Dakota Supreme Court later upheld the conviction.

Shaina’s testimony was referenced as not being heard in the second trial described later, while in the first trial the narrative states that he was convicted on May 8, 1997.

Anderson complained in court that he was innocent and that he was the victim of vindictive prosecution.

“I hope you rot in hell,” he told Barnett just before his sentencing. “I might,” Barnett later said, “but it won’t be because I convicted Robert Anderson.”

Barnett vowed in court that there would be another day of reckoning and predicted, “Sooner or later, he’ll face a homicide charge.”

Second trial: murder and rape charges related to Piper and murder charges related to Larisa

On September 4, 1997, Anderson was charged with murdering Larisa Dumansky and with the rape and murder of Piper Streyle and with kidnapping and murder of Dumansky.

His trial took place in South Dakota’s Minnehaha County Circuit Court during the first week of March 1999. John A. Schlimgen and Mike Butler represented Anderson. Deputy Attorney General Larry Long headed the prosecution team, and Judge Tim Dallas Tucker presided.

The narrative states that the entire trial lasted approximately one month. During the proceedings, Shaina’s testimony was never heard, although her description of the events on July 29, 1996 was presented to the court.

The jury deliberated and returned a verdict on April 6, 1999. On April 6, 1999, Anderson was found guilty on four counts, including the rape and murder of Piper and the kidnapping and murder of Larisa.

Three days later, the same jury sentenced Anderson to death by lethal injection.

Sentencing

• May 8, 1997 — life in prison (after kidnapping conviction for Piper).
• April 9, 1999 — sentenced to death by lethal injection for both murders.

Appeals

Anderson filed for a death sentence appeal with the South Dakota Supreme Court in January 2002. The narrative described his lawyers presenting 18 issues in their appeal.

The narrative listed arguments raised in the appeal including:

• A secret deal between prosecutors and Jamie Hammer in exchange for testimony.
• Complaint that he was not tried separately for the abduction and murder of Larisa.
• Complaint that he did not get the chance to confront Shaina.
• Complaint that he was denied his right to make a statement to jurors before his penalty was handed down.

The Supreme Court met to discuss Anderson’s appeal in March 2002 and would make a decision in May 2003, but Anderson died before the final results. After his suicide, the Supreme Court of South Dakota dismissed his appeal. Court documents suggested that his criminal convictions would have been upheld.

Anderson’s death row appeal argued on March 26, 2002 before the South Dakota Supreme Court at the University of South Dakota School of Law in Vermillion.

Aftermath

Guards found Robert Leroy Anderson hanging from his bed sheet in his cell early Sunday morning on March 31, 2003.

Larry Long said about the suicide: “I was relieved. It brought closure to the family, it relieves us of a lot of responsibility and a lot of work.” “There’s a lot of women who will sleep better knowing that this guy is deceased.”

Vance Streyle said: “This is what we were after anyway. It just saved some time and effort.”

The narrative also reported that Anderson was in segregation at the time he was found hanging and was placed in isolation because he was found in possession of a razor blade.

The narrative also stated that approximately three months before Anderson killed himself, his father also committed suicide and died from a gunshot wound to his head.

Anderson left behind a suicide note that included personal information for his mother and sister, according to Attorney General Larry Long. Long said Anderson did not include information about his victims, Piper Streyle and Larisa Dumansky.

Other details

Missing body details

The narrative stated:

• Piper Streyle’s body was never found.
• Larisa Dumansky’s remains were found at Lake Vermillion, with portions of her body missing from the grave as later described.

Court- and investigation-related evidence descriptions tied to victims

For Piper Streyle, evidence described included restraints and assault-related items (duct tape, dildo, candle) and hair specimens and clothing fibers consistent with Piper. Investigators also found dog hairs similar to those of the Streyles’ dog and furniture moving straps.

For Larisa Dumansky, the narrative described that portions of her skeleton were missing from the shallow unmarked grave. A 1999 Midwest News article described the forensic recovery of 57 items.

Trial and procedure witnesses and defendants linked in the narrative

• Glen Marcus Walker was described as pleaded guilty to attempted kidnapping of Amy Anderson, accessory to kidnapping and first-degree murder and conspiracy to kidnap Larisa Dumansky, receiving a total of 30 consecutive years behind bars at the South Dakota State Penitentiary.
• Anderson’s friend Jamie Hammer was described as providing evidence that led to new information concerning Anderson’s sexually sadistic and predatory behavior.
• Jeremy Brunner was described as contacting the attorney general’s office in August 1997 and providing information about Anderson’s crimes, including locations of items described as found in Anderson’s grandmother’s basement.

Quoted statements connected to the child witness

Shaina stated: “I don’t want my mommy to die!” “I don’t want my daddy to die!” “They’re probably killed.” “Mommy’s going to die,” “She’s not coming back.”

Quoted statements connected to Anderson’s conduct and claims

Anderson was quoted in connection with his sentencing and his statements to prosecutors:

Barnett was quoted: “Sooner or later, he’ll face a homicide charge.”