DAYTON, OH (January 13, 2025) – Jonathan Eric Link, 60, of Centerville, has been indicted for the 2001 murder of Shannon Anderson, whose body was discovered in rural Ross County, Ohio, in August of that year. Prosecuting Attorney Mat Heck Jr. announced the indictment today, marking a significant development in a case that has remained unsolved for nearly 25 years.
On July 30, 2001, Anderson, 29, was reported missing by her boyfriend, Jonathan Link, to the Kettering Police Department. Over the following weeks, police conducted an extensive search for Anderson and her vehicle, a 1997 Oldsmobile. On August 16, 2001, the body of a woman was found in a rural area near Clarksburg, Ohio, and DNA testing later confirmed it was Anderson.
Further investigation revealed that on October 23, 2001, Anderson’s vehicle was found abandoned in a parking lot at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.
Though a Montgomery County Grand Jury reviewed the case in 2002, there was insufficient evidence to charge Link. However, the case remained open, with continued efforts from the Kettering Police Department and several other law enforcement agencies. In recent years, the Tactical Crime Suppression Unit (TCSU), Centerville Police, Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI), Ross County Sheriff’s Office, United States Secret Service, and the Montgomery County Prosecutor’s Office began collaborating on the cold case. Through the investigation, new witnesses were located, additional interviews were conducted, and advancements in forensic testing helped to bring fresh insight into the case.
These combined efforts culminated in the presentation of the case to the Montgomery County Grand Jury, which found sufficient evidence to indict Link for the murder of Shannon Anderson.
Link was arrested at his Centerville residence this morning and has been charged with two counts of murder. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at 8:30 a.m.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck, Jr. praised the collaborative work of law enforcement agencies, stating, “I applaud the excellent work by the Kettering Police Department and all of the other agencies working together to develop this case so we could present it to the grand jury. Finally, after nearly a quarter century, this defendant will be held responsible for the murder of Shannon Anderson.”
The indictment brings long-awaited justice for the victim’s family, and law enforcement officials are hopeful that the resolution of this case will offer closure after years of unanswered questions.
