Police Department

Suspect Identified in Unsolved Murder of Margaret Anselmo

Ofc. Daniel Strassenberg, PIO

Wednesday, November 12, 2025 at 3:45 p.m.

The Spokane Police Department has identified the suspect in the 1997 murder of Margaret Anselmo.

On the morning of January 3, 1997, Margaret’s body was found in an alley way near 700 E Pacific. Investigators found evidence of severe head trauma as well as indications of sexual assault. The Spokane County Medical Examiner would rule the cause of death as homicide due to blunt force trauma to the head. Detectives worked tirelessly on the case but were unable to link a suspect to her murder. As time went on, SPD detectives would receive assistance from a company specializing in Forensic Genetic Genealogy.

Brian J. Anderson of Pend Oreille County, now deceased, was identified through the utilization of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG). Evidence preserved from the scene was sent to Othram in The Woodlands, TX where a profile was developed. Lynda Keenan, a local genealogist who volunteered to assist the Spokane Police Department with FGG cases, identified relatives of the profile. Detectives contacted those relatives and asked for their assistance.

Family members provided DNA and family context. They expressed concern for the plight of Anselmo’s surviving family and a desire to help. Othram performed kinship analysis of their DNA as well, finding that one family member was the child of the suspect and another the half-brother. The only person that can meet both these criteria is Brian J. Anderson.

If he were alive today, the Spokane Police Department would seek 1st Degree Murder and 1st Degree Rape charges against Anderson.

Anyone with additional information on this case is asked to call Crime Check 509.456.2233, reference 97-2325.

Related Images

• Margaret Anselmo
• Suspect – Brian J. Anderson

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