Letters in Craigslist slaying case seized

Writings by Michael Anderson, accused of killing a would-be baby sitter, may become evidence.

By JIM ADAMS, Star Tribune

Last update: May 7, 2008 - 9:36 PM

Jailhouse letters were turned over to prosecutors Wednesday in a Shakopee court hearing for Michael Anderson, who wrote them and who is charged with killing a young woman who responded to his Craigslist ad for a baby sitter.

Scott County Judge Mary Theisen listened to attorneys' arguments and then ordered Anderson's attorneys to turn over about five pages of letters to prosecutors and police, attorneys said.

Anderson, 19, of Savage, is charged with premeditated murder in the shooting death of Katherine Olson, 24, whose parents sat in the court hearing Wednesday. Anderson allegedly shot her in his bedroom and left her body in her car trunk, where police found it in a Burnsville park in October.

Anderson apparently wrote the letters to his parents, who gave them to defense attorneys, said Ron Hocevar, chief deputy county attorney. He said the judge also ordered Anderson to provide a handwriting sample to confirm that he wrote the letters. Hocevar wouldn't say if the letters provided a murder motive, which authorities have never publicly disclosed.

Defense attorney Alan Margoles said he turned over a few letters that prosecutors believe incriminate Anderson. He said Anderson wrote some letters to his parents "in response" to a scam attempt by another inmate in the Scott County jail, where Anderson has been held on $1 million bail. Margoles said letters from the other inmate indicate that he was trying to defraud money from Anderson's family.

The victim's father, the Rev. Rolf Olson, said he was surprised to hear about the letters and still wonders why his daughter was killed.

"It is a struggle to maintain our focus and keep our spirits up in the absence of our daughter," he said. "What keeps us going is the support and prayers of thousands of people in prayer chains. And every week we still get letters."

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658

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