YOUNGSTOWN Woman's killer gets life sentence

He must serve at least 15 years before becoming eligible for parole.
By BOB JACKSON
VINDICATOR COURTHOUSE REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- Christopher Anderson offered no explanations or apologies for the death of a 22-year-old Austintown woman he was convicted of strangling to death.
Instead, the 36-year-old Anderson stood silently as Judge James C. Evans of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sentenced him to prison for at least 15 years, and possibly the rest of his life.
A jury decided last week that it was Anderson who went to Amber Zurcher's Compass West apartment in June 2002 and killed her.
"I think of how terrifying the last moments of Amber's life must have been," said Zurcher's mother, Diane Whiteman. "I'm sure prison isn't the life [Anderson] wants, but it's the life he chose when he killed Amber."
Whiteman testified during the trial that she found her daughter's body after going to her apartment to check on her.
Judge Evans said the crime was "heinous" and "obviously unnecessary."
Whiteman and other members of Zurcher's family clutched framed photographs of Zurcher and her son, who is now nearly 5 years old. Zurcher was an only child, Whiteman said.
Showed no emotion
Anderson showed no expression as he sat at the defense table listening to Whiteman's emotional statement. Likewise, there was no expression or reaction when Judge Evans imposed the sentence.
Under Ohio law, a murder conviction carries a mandatory penalty of life in prison with parole eligibility after serving at least 15 years.
Because the penalty is mandatory, defense attorneys Ronald Yarwood and Edward J. Hartwig offered no mitigating remarks on Anderson's behalf before sentencing. Yarwood said they will appeal the conviction and sentence.
Kelly Johns, assistant prosecutor, said she is pleased with the outcome of the case.
It was the second time Anderson was tried for the killing. Judge Evans declared a mistrial in May after a witness inadvertently blurted out information that Judge Evans had previously ruled was inadmissible.
Strangled with cord
Police and prosecutors said Anderson was among a group of people who attended a party at Zurcher's apartment the night she was killed. They said that after everyone left, Anderson returned and strangled Zurcher with a cord.
Anderson's DNA was found under Zurcher's fingernails and on a bite wound on her left breast.
At the time of Zurcher's murder, Anderson was on probation for a previous conviction on charges of failure to obey a police order and two counts of negligent assault.
A hearing will be Dec. 15 before Judge Jack Durkin of common pleas court to determine whether he violated terms of his probation. If he did, Anderson could be sentenced to more time in prison.
bjackson@vindy.com