Did Amy Anderson suffer from mental illness? Mississippi veterinarian told officers her life was in danger
BAY ST LOUIS, MISSISSIPPI: The woman, who killed two police officers and also lost her life in the violence, had reportedly shown signs of mental issues before the tragedy. Amy Brogdon Anderson apparently claimed she was being followed and that her life was in danger. The 43-year-old has been identified as the suspect who fatally attacked sergeant Steven Robin and officer Branden Estorffe before getting killed in an incident that happened this week.
PEOPLE reported that according to the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation, at around 2:30 am on Wednesday, December 14, the mother-of-three arrived at the Motel 6 in Bay St Louis along with her eight-year-old daughter. Not many hours had passed since her arrival when she asked a motel staff to call 911. Soon, Robin and Estorffe reached the scene and talked with her for around 40 minutes.
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A media statement shared that during the interaction between the woman and the cops, she “advised the officers that she was in fear for her life and that she was being followed by a white pick-up truck. The interactions with Anderson and her minor child occurred both inside and outside of their motel room, during which time the officers took statements, gathered information, and investigated allegations made by Anderson.”
The release also noted that amid the conversation, Child Protective Service was also informed because of “concerns for the safety of the minor child”. Later, the woman reportedly informed the cops that she was going to leave the place with her child. She then sat on the driver’s seat of her SUV, while “apparently attempting to leave the hotel. They [officers] were trying to keep her there until Child Protective Services could arrive,” Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell told WLOX News.
Tindell also said that “Ms. Anderson, while seated in her car, shot and killed Officer Robin,” soon after four in the morning. Then a fire exchange happened between her and the other officer, which hit her in the chest. Estorffe got hurt in the arm and head, and was rushed to Memorial Hospital in Gulfport but could not be saved.
Tindell reportedly stated that “Amy clearly was showing some signs of mental health issues,” before referring to the only witness of the crime, Amy Anderson's little daughter. He said, “I don’t know what she saw but she was there.” The commissioner also added during a press conference on December 15 as reported by The New York Post, “A tragedy occurred here today in the city of Bay St Louis as two of our finest officers’ lives were taken. We are gathering facts and will ensure a thorough investigation into this matter.”
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Anderson, who lived in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, was an emergency veterinarian and worked at MedVet Mobile, according to her Facebook page. In 2005, she reportedly had told The Vicksburg Post, “I wanted to be a veterinarian since I was old enough to know what it was.”
Following the unfortunate incident, Bay St Louis Mayor Mike Favre issued a statement that read, “This is a very sad situation, and our deepest thoughts and condolences go out to the families of our lost officers. We ask that you pray for the City of Bay St Louis, the Bay St Louis Police Department and their families and that you keep them in your thoughts in the coming days and weeks during this difficult time.”