Stephen Wayne Anderson was born on July 8, 1953. His life did not start well. He was the eldest of two sons born to parents who cared little about having children. His father was an abusive alcoholic who often beat both boys and their mother. Anderson’s mother, also abusive towards her sons, mirrored the violence inflicted by her husband. After enduring years in this vicious cycle, Anderson’s mother eventually kicked him out of their family home when he was only 14, forcing him to fend for himself while she kept his brother.
Life of Crime Begins
After being abandoned, Anderson turned to a life of crime. He began burglarizing houses to keep food in his stomach and clothes on his back. This was only the start of a criminal path that would eventually lead to murder.
By the age of 18, Anderson had already been in and out of prison multiple times, primarily for burglary. While incarcerated, he developed a reputation as a violent troublemaker, causing frequent issues with both guards and inmates. His short temper often led to violent outbursts.
Prison Escape and Contract Killings
On November 24, 1979, Anderson was serving time for a 1971 aggravated burglary charge, along with three additional counts of the same crime committed in 1973. During his time in prison, Anderson assaulted both an inmate and a correctional officer in a brawl, showcasing his violent tendencies. Amidst the chaos, he managed to escape from prison, launching an extensive manhunt that ultimately failed to recapture him.
While on the run, Anderson became involved with a drug trafficking gang and allegedly committed at least one contract killing in Utah while hiding out. He had previously claimed to have killed six people in Las Vegas while working as a contract killer.
The Murder of Elizabeth Lyman
On May 26, 1980, Anderson entered the home of 81-year-old Elizabeth Lyman with the intent to rob her. Before entering, he cut the phone line to prevent her from calling the police. Once inside, he found Lyman asleep in her bed. When she awoke and screamed, Anderson shot her in the face with a handgun, the same gun he used for his contract killings. Lyman died instantly.
After killing her, Anderson casually covered her body with a blanket and proceeded to ransack the house in search of money or valuables. Unbeknownst to him, a neighbor, suspicious of the commotion, had already called the police.
Arrest and Conviction
As Anderson sat in Lyman’s kitchen, eating a meal he had prepared for himself, armed police surrounded the house. They saw him lounging casually in the living room. When they entered, they arrested him for burglary. Upon discovering Lyman’s body, they charged him with first-degree murder.
Anderson had just over a hundred dollars on him, the proceeds from the burglary. During questioning, he did not deny the murder, fully admitting to his crime. Two days later, a psychiatrist evaluated Anderson and found him sane and sober at the time of the offense, deeming him competent to stand trial.
The Death Sentence
A jury in San Bernardino County convicted Anderson of first-degree murder and, due to the special circumstances of the burglary, recommended the death penalty. The judge agreed. However, due to procedural errors related to California law, a second trial was ordered to determine whether the murder was premeditated. The second jury reached the same conclusion, affirming that Anderson had intended to kill Lyman, and sentenced him to death.
Appeals were made on Anderson’s behalf, citing various legal technicalities, including the improper timing of his police interview and alleged jury tampering. Despite these efforts, all appeals failed, and Anderson’s death sentence remained.
Time on Death Row
Anderson was transferred to San Quentin State Prison and placed on death row. During his time there, he continued to cause trouble, accumulating additional charges for assaulting inmates and officers. His defense team attempted to portray him as a reformed man, highlighting his work as a published poet, and earning him the nickname “The Bard of Death Row.” However, the state successfully countered this narrative by pointing to Anderson’s continued violent behavior.
Read more: The Shocking Crimes of Quincy Allen: How a Prisoner Became a Serial Killer
Execution
After years of failed appeals, Anderson’s time finally ran out. His last family visits were scheduled for January 24-28, 2002. On January 28, he was served his last meal: grilled cheese sandwiches, peach pie, and chocolate ice cream. At 12:30 a.m. on January 29, 2002, with no final words, Stephen Wayne Anderson was pronounced dead by lethal injection.
