Judge rejects lowering bond of man accused in 2002 murder

YOUNGSTOWN — Judge Shirley Christian denied a request today to reduce a $500,000 bond for a man who has been tried for the same murder five times and has been in the Mahoning County jail since Aug. 30, 2002.

After a hearing in common pleas court, Judge Christian said she does not believe the circumstances have changed much to justify lowering the bond for Christopher Anderson, 47, of Austintown.

He is accused of the June, 2002 murder of Amber Zurcher, 22, inside her Compass West apartment in Austintown.

He has been in jail for 4,174 days.