Counting 'em Down: For better or for worse, this is the Headline Surfer countdown of 2021's Top 100 biggest news stories of Central Florida along the tourism-driven stretch of Interstate 4 (Orlando Attractions and east to I-95 & the World's Most Famous Beach in Daytona). Each recap segment is posted with its own headline, culminating with the unveiling of No. 1, before switching to the Top 5 storylines -- the good, the bad & the ugly on the horizon in "2022: The Year That Lies Ahead."
Photos for Headline Surfer / ABOVE: Deandre K. Anderson is charged with capital murder in the Aug. 22, 2021 slaying of 70-year-old Viola Miller, who was planning to evict him in the next 30 days. Her body was found inside her house, which Anderson, apparently started to cover up the brutal killing, police said. BELOW: Anderson is shown at his first appearance the day after his arrest and he was ordered held without bond.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A 33-year-old Daytona Beach man was arrested back in August on a felony count of premeditated first-degree murder in connection with the brutal attack on a 70-year-old woman with a machete blade and a pair of scissors found near her body in her burning home.
Here is a synopsis of what occurred that led to the arrest of Deandre K. Anderson: First responders arrived at 520 Cannon St. soon after a call came into the Volusia County emergency dispatch center at 1:01 p.m. Sunday, August 22, 2021. The caller told dispatchers that a man who lives at that residence was attacking an elderly woman.
The caller to 9-1-1 reported that "a mentally challenged person was attacking Viola Miller" at a home at 520 Cannon St., investigators wrote in their report.
Daytona Beach cops arrived within minutes, coming across a man walking southbound away from the home on Cannon Street. They also smelled smoke coming from the residence and went inside, finding heavy flames, which required a rapid response from the Daytona Beach Fire Department.
The badly burned body of an elderly woman was found, police said, later confirming it was of 70-year-old Viola Miller, who was the landlady of Deandre K. Anderson. He apparently started a fire in hopes of covering up the crime of murder, police said.
While working the crime scene, investigators discovered the home had surveillance cameras. When they checked the video, they saw Anderson walking away from the home, police said.
Anderson's own mother told cops the landlady was afraid of her son and was planning on having them evicted within the next 30 days.
Anderson was arrested two days later and charged with premeditated first-degree murder.
At his first appearance, Anderson, who also was charged with violating probation on a prior case, was ordered held without bail.
An indictment was handed up in circuit court by a grand jury on Sept. 1, 2021, charging Anderson with capital murder and State Attorney RJ Larizza subsequently announced the state would seek the death penalty against Anderson at trial.
A not guilty plea was entered on Anderson's behalf at a subsequent arraignment and he has remained behind bars awaiting trial. If convicted of capital murder, Anderson would be sent to Florida's death row to await death by lethal injection.
Criminal Case Update:
A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for Deandre K. Anderson (DOB: 4/16/1988) before Circuit Judge Elizabeth Blackburn at the Justice Center in Daytona Beach on Feb. 23. Anderson is represented by private attorney Francis Jerome Shea of Jacksonville, who was appointed by the court to represent him because he specializes in the death penalty. A trial date has not yet been scheduled.
About the Byline Writer: Henry Frederick is a member of the working press and publisher of Headline Surfer, the award-winning 24/7 internet news outlet launched in 2008, that serves greater Daytona Beach, Sanford & Orlando from Lake Mary, Florida via HeadlineSurfer.com. Frederick has amassed close to 150 award-winning bylines in print & online. He earned his Master of Arts in New Media Journalism from Full Sail University in 2019. He was a breaking news reporter (metro cops & courts beat) for the Daytona Beach News-Journal for nearly a decade. And Before that worked the same beat for The Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers in Rockland/Westchester counties, NY, dating back to 1989. Having witnessed the execution of serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Florida's death chamber and covering other high profile cases, Frederick has appeared on national crime documentary shows on Discovery ID, Reelz, and the Oxygen Network series "Snapped" for his analysis. • Award-Winning Journalism: Florida Press Club recognizes Headline Surfer for nine stories in 2020 statewide competition. • Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick.