Ruth Anne Maddox, 45, was discovered dead early Nov. 12 in the garage of the condominium she shared with her husband after her co-workers at the Shakopee Valley News reported her missing.
He husband, Charles Anthony "Tony" Maddox, a 43-year-old bartender, confessed to her death before leading police to her body, admitting that he choked her during a fight.
After the murder, he went shopping - as himself - then put women clothes on over his clothes and went to the airport. He left the wife's car there with a note. He then hopped the light rail and a bus that eventually took him back to his car and home.
Much of it caught on camera.
All that rigamarole and he gets caught anyway. Maybe he watches too much TV.
He husband, Charles Anthony "Tony" Maddox, a 43-year-old bartender, confessed to her death before leading police to her body, admitting that he choked her during a fight.
After the murder, he went shopping - as himself - then put women clothes on over his clothes and went to the airport. He left the wife's car there with a note. He then hopped the light rail and a bus that eventually took him back to his car and home.
Much of it caught on camera.
http://www.timesuniononline.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=224&ArticleID=37909&TM=45706The results of the investigation show the cause of Ruth Anne's death was homicide. The preliminary investigation indicates she died of blunt force head and neck injuries.
The search warrants also show:
Video surveillance at Sears showed a person police believe to be Tony purchased luggage, spackle and a spackle knife. During the transaction, a person believed to be Tony was seen wearing a white baseball hat, a blue denim button-down shirt, blue jeans and tan shoes.
Police learned after processing the crime scene that a sheetrock wall from within the town home had been damaged, presumably by a door that had been kicked or otherwise knocked off the hinges.
Police also reviewed video surveillance from the airport that showed Ruth Anne's car arrive at the main terminal of the general parking area.
Surveillance showed what appeared to be a person wearing female clothing get out of the vehicle, walk to the elevators, and take the elevator to the lowest level past ticketing and arrivals while pulling a small piece of luggage.
The person in the video footage was wearing a tan, three-quarter-length button-down coat, black slacks and a black hat pulled down past the ears and covering the eyebrows.
The person looked up directly at the surveillance camera in the elevator. Police believe the person to be Tony.
The video showed the person walk away from the elevator, but at one point the black slacks pulled up around the area of the cuff and police could see what appeared to be blue jeans under the pants.
Airport police observed the person on surveillance head to an area out of camera range toward a family restroom. The person wearing the women's clothing did not reappear, but a person police believe to be Tony exited the area carrying a small pilot bag and wearing the same clothes he was seen wearing at Sears.
A person police believe to be Tony then walked directly to the light-rail area, where he boarded a train to the Mall of America. He then arrived at the Mall of America, where he was observed boarding a bus to Savage.
During the search on Nov. 12, police and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension located and seized items, along with a color photo of Tony with the blue/black jacket. The clothes were found in the dryer and master bedroom.
Police also found blood evidence throughout the home.
Ruth Anne's car was not located for several days after her death. But police found her vehicle - and the note saying she was leaving - at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Nov. 14.
Ruth Anne was reported missing by co-workers on Nov. 11, after she didn't show up for work and her boss received an unusual text message from her cell phone, stating she had a doctor's appointment.
In addition to the text message received by management, a friend of Ruth Anne's also received a text that stated, "I'm not having a good morning." The friend told police he spoke with Ruth Anne daily and it was very unusual not to be able to reach her.
Police also learned Ruth Anne's daughter received two text messages from Charles Maddox after he was served with divorce papers. The text messages stated that he would never allow Ruth Anne to leave him.
When a neighbor left for work on the morning of Nov. 11, she told police both Ruth Anne's and Tony's vehicles were parked in the driveway.
Officers were unable to contact anyone at the town home when they tried to check on Ruth Anne at 4:40 p.m. Nov. 11. At 6:11 p.m., police knocked on the door and Tony answered.
He told police he didn't know where Ruth Anne was. Tony refused to sign a missing persons report on his wife's behalf.
Officers spoke with Tony at his door again at 9:14 p.m. before returning to the home about 3:15 a.m. with a search warrant.
Police found Ruth Anne's body in the garage, wrapped in a tent and a sleeping bag and taped with clear packaging tape.
Tony admitted to police that he killed his wife, according to the search warrants.
All that rigamarole and he gets caught anyway. Maybe he watches too much TV.
Last edited: