The Murder of Haley Anderson
For this case, I watched an episode of 48 Hours, the episode is titled ‘The Murder of Haley Anderson.’
A young nursing student is murdered, just a few months away from graduation.
Background
Haley Anderson
Haley Anderson was a nursing student at Binghamton University in New York. Haley was 22 years old, and described by her mom Karen, as a “millennial hippie.” Haley was also a straight A student, a loving and caring person and friend.
Haley was a fifth year senior, and just a few months away from graduation. She was going to move back home to Westbury, New York, and had a job opportunity there. Sadly, she didn’t get that chance to be closer to her family again.
Orlando Tercero
Haley met another nursing student in class, his name was Orlando. He came from a well to do family from Nicaragua, and he had dual citizenship.
Haley always made it really clear to Orlando that she didn’t want to be in a committed relationship, but that she enjoyed hanging out with him. Haley was also on and off with her ex-boyfriend, Kevin. This enraged Orlando, and Haley’s family and roommate, Josie, said Orlando was obsessed with her.
Josie was interviewed in the episode and she said Orlando would drive by their off campus apartment, or they would find him sitting on the porch. Haley stayed away from Orlando for awhile, but because she was trusting she let him back in her life.
On September 16, 2017, Haley posted a video on SnapChat of her car. Her tires had been slashed after she spent the night with Kevin. Haley and Kevin both assumed it was Orlando and that he found out that they were hanging out. Haley also told her mom, and her mom Karen wanted her to go to the police and file a report. Haley decided to drop the charges after learning it would be $600 worth of damages and a felony. She didn’t want Orlando to be kicked out of the nursing program.
Haley and Orlando Tercero
The Disappearance and Murder
After the slashed tire situation, Haley wanted to end her relationship with Orlando, but wanted to stay friends.
On March 8, 2018, Haley went to Orlando’s apartment around 4am. Later in the day, Haley’s roommate and friends couldn’t get a hold of her. It was unlike Haley to not respond to text messages or calls.
On March 9, Haley still wasn’t responding to calls, so her friends tracked her phone using the ‘Find My iPhone’ app. Haley’s phone was tracked to Orlando’s apartment. Her friends went over there, and climbed through a window after Orlando didn’t answer the door. They walked into Orlando’s room and found Haley dead. They called 911.
Investigation
The police arrived at Orlando’s apartment. Haley was found laying on Orlando’s bed, she had bruises on her neck and arms.
On March 10, after an autopsy was done, it was determined that Haley had been strangled to death. Her official cause of death was asphyxiation by neck compression. Orlando was nowhere to be found.
During the investigation, the police located surveillance cameras on the outside of Orlando’s house. The police wanted to look at the footage from March 8 and 9.
On March 8, around 4am, Haley and Orlando are seen walking into the house. Haley is never seen again, but Orlando is several times. He is seen walking his garbage away from the cameras. Then, a receipt was found inside the house, Orlando had gone to CVS and bought Zzzquill and Melatonin. The final time he leaves the house, is seven hours later with luggage.
Orlando had driven to JFK Airport and went home to Nicaragua. He is seen on camera from the airport with his head wrapped, because before he decided to flee, he tried to commit suicide, because the police found a tie in the basement, blood from where he fell and a suicide not written in Spanish. In the note he wrote: “I’m so sorry for this, Father, I will see you soon.”
Arrest Timeline
On March 9, Orlando arrived in Nicaragua around 4pm. His mom picked him up from the airport and they drove three hours to their hometown.
On March 11, Orlando was officially named a suspect in the case. By this point, the police knew he fled and they said they were “seeking an indictment,” and would get a warrant for Orlando’s arrest if it was granted.
On March 13, Orlando’s mom took him to the hospital to get treated for his injuries. He was apprehended by the Nicaraguan authorities.
On March 17, Orlando was charged with second degree murder. The police in the U.S. wanted Orlando to be extradited back to New York for the trial, but it was denied.
Orlando at the time of his arrest
Trial and Conviction
Orlando’s trial finally began on September 1, 2019. The trial in Nicaragua was in Spanish, and there was a video link so that the family and friends of Haley could see and hear what was happening. They had a interpreter because Haley’s mom, Karen and her roommate, Josie, testified.
Orlando was now being charged with femicide, a charge that we don’t have in the United States. Femicide is the murder of a woman who is in a relationship with the defendant.
The prosecution’s theory was that Orlando killed Haley in a jealous rage, basically if I can’t have you, no one can. Orlando’s defense said Orlando was temporarily insane at the time of the murder. They said he and Haley had been drinking heavily that night, and he didn’t remember what happened. There was no evidence that Orlando was that intoxicated or on any drugs.
After both sides gave their case, the judge said she would decide on her verdict after a brief recess. This shocked many, because usually in the U.S. if the trial is decided by a judge, the judge takes several days to look over the evidence and decide on their verdict. This judge decided in 90 minutes.
Orlando Tercero was found guilty of femicide and was given the maximum sentence: 30 years in a Nicaraguan prison.
Other
On February 4, 2020, Orlando was back in court to appeal his conviction. His defense had also requested that Orlando should have another psychological evaluation done and that he was insane during the murder.
On March 10, 2020, almost two years to the day of the murder, the appeal was denied. However, he was given another psychological evaluation.
If Orlando ever gets out of prison, and steps foot in the U.S., he could be tried in New York for the murder because of extradition laws.
Gordon Anderson, Haley’s dad, said this of his daughter:
“was a kind, compassionate person who always saw the good in people,” which is what made her want to pursue nursing, so she could help others. “She was someone who would have made a huge difference in this world.”
FINAL THOUGHTS
First of all, this reminds me of the Michelle Carter case a bit when they said she was “involuntarily intoxicated,” with all the medication she was on. I don’t believe that Orlando was intoxicated or on any drugs because he strangled Haley. Haley’s mom said this many times in the episode. Strangling someone is a very personal form of murder and it’d be hard to not remember it. I truly believe Orlando was pissed at Haley and didn’t want anyone else to have her.
I hope he stays in prison forever, and knowing that the Nicaraguan prisons are a terrible environment makes it better.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Haley_Anderson
https://heavy.com/entertainment/2020/04/haley-anderson death/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/haley-anderson-murder-international-manhunt/
