Murder trial in Eureka

[Patty]

I came across this one when I was looking for new info on the Sund case.
Sounds wierd to me.

Witness recalls grisly south spit murder
By Rhonda Parker
The Times-Standard

EUREKA — Robert Neal Anderson's original plan was to sell Margaret Lois
Armstrong into slavery, a witness testified Wednesday.

But then Anderson changed his mind about what was going to happen to the
31-year-old Armstrong, who was suspected of molesting a young girl.

"She had to die," said Debra Kiern, testifying for the prosecution in
Anderson's trial on a charge of murder.

Kiern's husband, Ronald Wesley Kiern, has already pleaded guilty to
second-degree murder in Armstrong's death. He also is expected to testify
against Anderson.

Until shortly before her violent death in August 1994, Armstrong was a
trusted friend of the Kiern family. Ronald and Debra Kiern met Armstrong at
a swap meet in Joshua Tree, and they invited her along when they traveled to
Northern California to look for a new place to live.

They ended up on the south spit, camping next to Robert "Bob" Anderson and
his family.

One day the Kierns' 10-year-old daughter, who had already been a victim of
child molestation, told her mother Armstrong had tried to talk her into
getting into her sleeping bag.

Armstrong had been planning to leave Humboldt County and go home to her
husband in Southern California. She had her bus ticket and some money. But
she never made it off the spit.

"Bob (Anderson) grabbed her wrists and told her she wasn't leaving; they
needed to talk," Debra Kiern testified under questioning by Deputy District
Attorney Maggie Fleming.

Armstrong was taken away from the camp. At one point Debra Kiern walked out
in the dunes to where she was. Her husband, Anderson and a woman camper were
there with Armstrong.

"What does Margaret look like?" prosecutor Fleming asked Kiern.

"Beaten up."

Armstrong had been stripped naked. Her wrists were bound with duct tape.

"I hit her a couple of times," Kiern testified, "because of what she tried
doing to my daughter."

Armstrong insisted she never tried to molest the Kierns' child.

Kiern said Armstrong was trying to protect herself with her hands. She
couldn't remember whether she was crying.

Later, Armstrong was put in a sleeping bag and then in the trunk of Debra
Kiern's car.

"They talked about taking her up into the mountains for a day or two until
they could sell her into white slavery," Kiern testified. But then Anderson
decided "she needed to die."

"Is Margaret screaming?" Fleming asked.

"She's trying to."

Kiern said she saw Anderson pick up a rock and hand it to her husband. She
walked away because she knew what was going to happen, and she didn't want
to watch.

Kiern heard a thud. After that Armstrong didn't scream anymore.

After the Kierns and Andersons ate supper, Ronald Kiern and Bob Anderson
left in the car.

When they came back, Debra Kiern testified, one of them talked about dumping
the body.

Anderson was upset, Kiern recalled, because he didn't think Kiern had tossed
the corpse far enough. He feared it might be found right away.

As it turned out, Armstrong's body has never been found.

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©1999 Times-Standard
Thursday, May 6, 1999; A2

[Patty]

[aeb...@gmail.com]

if you still pay attention to this feed I would like to speak to you... My father Robert Neal Anderson was the man on trial for the murder of Ms. Armstrong and from what I have read the whole case sounds odd to me... I believe my dad killed that woman to keep her silent about his molesting of the children.... Same as tried to kill my mom!!!! My dad is coming up for a parole hearing and we want the story out of what a monster he really is so that if he does get out of prison he won't be able to hurt anyone else!!!!!!

[elizabe...@gmail.com]

I am Ronald Kierns daughter and I never said that the woman wanted anything with me, this is a bunch of bull shit. I can't understand how my mother isn't in jail as well

[myemailad...@gmail.com]

This is going to sound weird but if this is Robert I was a good friend of your mom Chris..I remembered a few days ago her telling me this story. I hope you,your mom,stepfather and little brother are doing well
Love to you all,
Michelle

[aeb...@gmail.com]

This isnt Robert this is the middle daughter Angelia, Chris isnt my mom shes treasures mom.

[christina...@gmail.com]

This was my aunt, that I loved dearly!! I’d really appreciate any info I can get! She would never ever commit this crime. She was a woman in her 30’s but her mentality was more of a 13 yr old girl. She was also my nanny .