MOUNT VERNON – Tyrone A. Caldwell, 34, Mount Vernon, was sentenced today to a term of life in prison without possibility of parole for killing Marilyn Eversole, 80, during a burglary at her Beech Street apartment. Knox County Prosecutor John Thatcher said Eversole died as the result of multiple stab wounds.
For crimes committed against Eversole, Caldwell entered guilty pleas to aggravated murder and aggravated burglary. For crimes committed against Anita Spencer, Eversole’s home healthcare worker, he pleaded guilty to attempted murder, felonious assault, kidnapping and aggravated robbery. Caldwell also admitted to tampering with evidence for disposing of the clothing he was wearing during the burglary.
Thatcher said on April 8 at about 8 a.m., Caldwell entered Eversole’s apartment intending to steal cash and a television set. Caldwell attacked and killed Eversole when she woke up and confronted him. “Eversole was killed with her own kitchen knife,” according to Thatcher. When Spencer entered the apartment for a scheduled home healthcare visit Caldwell prevented her from leaving the apartment, he assaulted her and then stole her car and house keys. Spencer suffered head injuries and a severe abrasion on her arm. Caldwell fled the apartment after Spencer pulled an alarm, alerting a neighbor who came to investigate. Later that morning investigators from the Mount Vernon Police Department traced Caldwell back to his girlfriend’s residence on Morris Street where he had disposed of his clothing. Caldwell was apprehended after a brief foot chase near the Morris Street residence. Thatcher said, “eyewitness statements and DNA evidence proved Caldwell was the only person involved in the murder and other crimes.”
Anthony Caldwell is led off to prison after pleading guilty to aggravated murder and other charges – KnoxPages.com photo
After pleading guilty to all of the offenses, Caldwell waived a pre-sentence investigation and asked to proceed directly to sentencing. Knox County Victim Advocate Diana Oswalt read a statement on behalf of Eversole’s family. Thatcher recommended a term of life in prison without parole on the aggravated murder charge and maximum sentences for all of the other offenses, and then Judge Otho Eyster imposed the recommended sentence. “Caldwell will be remanded to the custody of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction where he will spend the rest of his life,” according to Thatcher.
Detective Jame DeChant, MVPD, investigated the case.
