anderson had been incarcerated for one count of aggravated burglary in 1971 and three counts of aggravated burglary in 1973. while incarcerated at utah state prison, anderson murdered an inmate, assaulted another inmate, and assaulted a correctional officer. anderson admitted to six other contract killings in las vegas, nevada that happened prior to the crime for which he received a death sentence. on november 24, 1979, he escaped from prison, after which he worked for narcotics traffickers and committed at least one contract killing in the eastern mountains of salt lake county, utah.