LAKELAND — A family member of one of the victims who was murdered almost two years ago raised his fist with excitement Wednesday in court as Walter Lee Anderson Jr. received two terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Anderson, 35, was convicted of the October 2003 slaying of Jody Graham and his estranged wife Annette Anderson.

In lieu of the death penalty, he waived the right to a jury trial by pleading guilty to two counts of murder, theft by taking, possession of a knife during the commission of a crime, two counts of aggravated assault and burglary.

Superior Court Judge Dane Perkins told Anderson he would not be allowed to seek an appeal or apply for parole.

In addition to the murder sentence, Anderson also received two 20 consecutive year terms for the aggravated assault counts, 20 consecutive years for burglary, five consecutive years for the possession count and 10 consecutive years for theft by taking.

District Attorney Cathy Helms said the murder of Graham took place after Anderson assaulted and strangled Annette Anderson in the woods off of Highway 135 in Lanier County.

Anderson then ran through the woods to the property of Dana Giddens where Graham worked as a housekeeper. Graham was home alone when Anderson broke in, stabbed her with a kitchen knife and strangled her with the electrical cord of a vacuum cleaner. He then used Graham’s car to escape. He was found the next day in Lowndes County.

Family members and Helms attribute the murders to drugs.

Annette Anderson’s sister Evelyn Hill said she knew her sister had disagreements with Anderson, but she never expected murder to be the end result.

“Walter was my brother-in-law,” Hill said. “I lost a sister and a brother-in-law,” Hill said. “My family and I have forgiven him.”

Hill encouraged Anderson to go to God to find forgiveness for his sins so he won’t have to face a sentence greater than the one he is facing today.

Others also told Anderson they had forgiven him.

Giddens said his relationship with Christ helped him forgive Anderson, and he no longer had to wish ill fate upon Anderson because he has to live with what he did.

“We held Jody in our arms and saw what you did to her,” Giddens said. “Where I sit and rock my baby daughter every night is less than 10 feet away from where you took a mother away from her two daughters.

“You destroyed something very precious and killed my friend, and may God have mercy on your soul,” Giddens said.

Graham’s father Joseph Royals said Jody missed seeing the birth of her first grandchild and her daughter’s high school graduation.

In a short statement, Anderson apologized to the families, including his own, and asked for forgiveness before he was ushered out of court in special cuffs purchased to fit Anderson’s large build.

“I’m not a violent person,” Anderson said. “I’m a good hearted person.”

Hill said she knew Anderson and felt what he said was an accurate representation of himself.

She also said she was happy with the outcome of the case.

“I felt the sentence was more just than the death penalty because the death penalty won’t bring back my sister,” Hill said.

Helms, who prosecuted an aggravated assault case against Anderson in 1989, said the families did not want the death penalty.

Anderson served five years in prison on that aggravated assault conviction.

Anderson was on parole from the aggravated assault conviction when the murders were committed.



To contact Brianne Sweetland, call (229) 244-3400, ext. 245.