On June 18, 1991, Anna Catherine Cardwell was born. She had a very close relationship with her parents, Joe and Paula, as well as her older brother. She spent a year away at Southern Union College before returning home to live with her family. Anna continued to go to school, but she had a 1.5-hour commute.
Anna was described as happy, bubbly, and loved to make people laugh. She spent a lot of time with her large group of friends when she wasn’t with her family.
The Discovery
Anna had been celebrating Valentine’s Day with her new boyfriend, Nate, on February 14, 2012. Paula, Anna’s mother, advised him to leave because it was getting late. Around two in the morning, Nate left, and Anna went to bed.
The following morning at around 9 a.m., Paula left the house to run some errands. She got home in less than an hour. Anna usually let her know if she was going anywhere, so she was surprised to see that her car was missing. Although Paula attempted to call her, her phone went to voicemail.
The moment Paula entered the garage, she saw a bloody handprint on the doorframe. A trail of footprints leading into the kitchen and blood on the wall were other things she observed.
Paula discovered Anna lying in a pool of blood in the kitchen. She informed 911 that her daughter had passed away.
The Crime Scene
Lieutenant Troy Evans of the Elmore County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the Cardwells’ 13-acre house in less than fifteen minutes.
When the police approached the back door, they saw no evidence of a break-in. However, it was clear that Anna and her murderer had engaged in combat.
Blood covered the walls, pooled in the foyer, and trailed into the house in bare feet that were covered in the same blood.
Although Anna had been shot in the head, it was clear that she had made an effort to elude her assailant. When Anna was dragged back into the house and into the kitchen, she had almost reached the garage door. It was her daughter’s bloody handprint that Paula had discovered.
A gun was discovered in the master bedroom; otherwise, there was no murder weapon at the scene. Paula claimed that the firearm was her own, a gift from her father. The police could see right away that it wasn’t the murder weapon. The police did discover a number of.9mm gun shell casings.
The police inspected the expansive property as well, but they found no indication of any evidence. Anna’s family did inform the police that nothing else had been taken from the house besides Anna’s Honda. Be on the lookout (BOLO) was broadcast.
The small Alabama town of Wetumpka was informed of Anna’s passing, and her friends began to show up at the Cardwell residence.
The absence of Anna’s boyfriend, Nate, raised suspicions among the police and Anna’s family. He was taken inside to be questioned. He claimed to have left Anna’s around two in the morning and was awakened at six by his stepmother wishing him a happy birthday. After going back to sleep until 11 a.m., Nate claimed to have gone to the gym. The rest of the day, he claimed, was spent by himself at home.
The police asked Anna’s family if there was anyone else that Anna had issues with while they investigated Nate’s alibi. They did bring up Mike, Anna’s ex-boyfriend with whom she was still in touch. They were still friendly, according to Mike. He was freed because there was no proof linking him to the incident.
Anna had been shot a total of four times, three times in the back and once in the back of the head with a.9mm weapon, the police found.
The police questioned whether Anna’s case had anything to do with a recent home invasion.
Larry Mann, a retired police officer, was recovering from a knee replacement. He had just come home from the hospital when he fell asleep and woke up to find a gun pointed at him.From Larry’s house, several firearms, including a.9mm weapon, were taken. White men in their early 20s, according to Larry, who described his assailants.
The police quickly discovered that Anna had been having problems with someone else. He went by the name of Joshua Caspari and was Lacy’s close friend Anna’s older ex-boyfriend.
Joshua was described as being very aggressive and in charge. Because of his obsession with Lacy and use of steroids, many people claimed on Facebook that Joshua was most likely the one who killed Anna.
Anna had expressed her boredom with interfering in Joshua and Lacy’s romance to her family. Joshua appeared to be irritated by Anna’s advice to Lacy to break up with him.
In a Winn Dixie parking lot, the police found Anna’s Honda. In the car, they also found cigarettes and energy drinks. Joshua’s mother revealed to the police that she had picked him up from that same parking lot on the morning of February 15 when she called the police.
Cody Abernathy, Joshua’s roommate, was also questioned by the police. On the morning of February 15, Cody told the police that he had driven Joshua to a location close to the Cardwells’ residence. To the location where he dropped off Joshua, Cody drove the police. It was a vantage point that had a clear view of the Cardwells’ driveway.
Cody’s knowledge of Joshua’s plans for that day was unknown to the police. Cody simply informed the authorities that Joshua was feared by everyone and that everyone complied with his requests.
Joshua’s home was the subject of a search warrant because the police had enough proof. They discovered illegal steroids and $20,000 in cash inside, which was strange considering Joshua was unemployed at the time. Along with a card from Lacy, they also discovered guns that had been taken from Larry Mann’s house. Anna had been killed with one of the.9mm guns.
The Conviction
Joshua was detained and interrogated. As he walked into the interrogation room, he looked into the mirror and flexed his muscles.
Joshua did acknowledge that he and Cody were responsible for the break-in at Larry Mann’s house. Joshua responded, “Because I like guns,” when asked why he did it.
The subject then changed. When Anna died, the police confronted Joshua. Joshua claimed that he was fine with Anna. He was informed by the police that they were aware he had visited Anna’s on February 15.
Joshua was taken into custody and grilled. He flexed his muscles in the mirror as he entered the interrogation space.
Joshua did acknowledge that he and Cody had broken into Larry Mann’s house. When asked why he did it, Joshua replied, “Because I like guns.”
The topic of discussion then changed. In regards to Anna’s passing, the police confronted Joshua. Joshua claimed he had no problems with Anna. He learned from the police that they were aware of his presence at Anna’s on February 15.
Joshua went to speak to Anna because he claimed he was still in love with Lacy. He claimed that as soon as he entered the home, Anna noticed the gun and attempted to take it from him. He claimed that the gun accidentally went off, but the evidence didn’t support this.
Joshua downplayed his contribution, but he was still accused of capital murder. On October 13, 2013, he entered a guilty plea and was given a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Additionally, Cody Abernathy was accused of obstructing justice and home invasion. The ID programme stated that Cody had received a 10-year prison term, but I also found evidence that he had received a 5-year sentence.
Both Joshua’s sister and another woman were accused of attempting to free Joshua from jail. Jessica, his sister, was given a 28-month prison term and three years of probation.
Paula started Anna’s Place, a restaurant, six years after Anna passed away. Since then, it has been closed.
