The remains of 7-year-old Amber Swartz have never been found, but a man who claims to have kidnapped her before killing her told authorities the slaying took place in a Tucson motel and her body was dumped near Benson.
Curtis Dean Anderson confessed in November 2007 to taking Amber from the front of her home in Pinole, Calif., on June 3, 1988. At the time of the confession, Anderson was already a convicted killer, serving a 301-year sentence.
He died little more than a month later of natural causes. Since then, authorities have been working to corroborate his admission.
Anderson told authorities he was planning on traveling to his aunt's ranch just outside of Benson and didn't want to go alone, according to Pinole Police Department Chief Paul Clancy. Amber happened to be standing in front of her home as Anderson was driving around aimlessly.
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He said he gave the girl root beer Schnapps to keep her groggy throughout the trip — a tactic he said was better than using duct tape.
He made his way to Tucson over the next day and a half and rented a "sleazy motel" where he killed Amber, Clancy said.
Anderson told police he put her body in the trunk and intended to drive to Mexico, where he figured it would be easier to dispose of her body. But he was turned away for being too drunk.
At that point he decided to drive to Benson, Clancy said. Anderson dumped Amber's body off Interstate 10 near Benson.
He didn't attempt to conceal the body because the area was so remote and he was sure that wildlife would feed on it, Clancy said.
Clancy did not know the name of the Tucson motel where Anderson claims to have killed Amber.
He said the FBI worked with the Cochise County Coroner's Office to see if any bones belonging to Jane Does were a match for Amber, but they were not.
"The chances of finding anything out there now is very slim," Clancy said. "We are reaching out to people who live out near Benson in the hopes that maybe they recall seeing bones or hearing something 20-plus years ago."
The case is now considered closed.
Anderson was convicted of murdering another 7-year-old girl and kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 8-year-old Vallejo, Calif., child in 2000.
He did not become a person of interest in Amber's case until he was arrested in 2000, Clancy said.
About the series
The Star will feature some of the Tucson-area violent crimes that remain unsolved — sometimes many years later.
Anyone with information is urged to call 88-CRIME. Tips also can be submitted online at www.88crime.org; or by text message at 274637, then enter tip259 plus your text message.
Contact reporter Alexis Huicochea at 573-4242 or huicochea@azstarnet.com if you have been a victim of an unsolved crime or if you are related to a victim of an unsolved homicide.
