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WARREN -- Trumbull County Prosecutor Dennis Watkins wants to make sure an inmate convicted of murders in the Liberty area and with a history of bad behavior in prison will not get paroled.
Richard G. Anderson Jr., 44, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 1997 on two counts of murder. Watkins noted in a letter to the state parole board that the Youngstown State University campus was Anderson's stomping ground for his first murder victim, 18-year-old Charity Agee, who died Jan. 1, 1997. Her body was found in McDonald two days later, and police believe Anderson killed the woman at his Logan Arms Drive home in Liberty.
His second victim, 16-year-old Wendie Clay, died three months later, and her body was found near a wood pile at the rear property line of the Logan Arms Drive home.
Watkins notes that Anderson often has been written up on disciplinary infractions in his 26 years in prison. Anderson is scheduled for a hearing before the Ohio Parole Authority in April outside his prison cell at Chillicothe Correctional Institution.
In an interview with Liberty police, Anderson's parents -- both former GM-Lordstown workers -- noted that their son often would be home alone and be unemployed.
Watkins said this killer didn't fit the typical profile.
"He had a very solid middle-class upbringing and clearly had wonderful parents," Watkins said noting Anderson entered the Navy after graduating from McDonald High School and after only six months in the service was discharged.
It was at this point that Watkins said it was obvious that despite many advantages and family support, Anderson "did not tick right."
"He turned out to be one creepy crawler," Watkins wrote to the board.
A friend told Liberty police that Anderson had a "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" personality. "When he drinks, he goes crazy," according to Andrew Leskovac's remarks in a police affidavit.
In the letter to the parole board, Watkins pointed out Anderson's bad behavior in prison included drug, theft, sex and insubordination offenses.
"Without question Richard G. Anderson Jr. is a dangerous, incipient serial killer who should never be released from prison," Watkins said.
Watkins said he hasn't seen an inmate with a higher risk score than Anderson's 22, noting that he has not completed prison educational programs such as "Thinking for a Change," "Victim Awareness" and "Anger Control."
Watkins also feels it is unwise to allow the inmate to participate in a remote program, be released and then continue to attend training on the Youngstown State University campus. He is just too dangerous to be around college co-eds, Watkins noted.
In concluding his letter, Watkins said he believes Anderson is much too young to release, an act that "would only demean the seriousness of his criminal conduct and endanger public safety."
In 2012, the parole board decided to max his next parole eligibility at 10 years. Watkins is advising this current board to do the same.
"With his imprisonment on his two life sentences, it would guarantee that society would not allow this budding two-time chain killer the opportunity to become a full-blown serial killer," Watkins stated.
Laura Austen with the Ohio Public Defenders Office said she doesn't comment about defendant's meetings before the parole board.