Special Ed Teacher Accused of Killing Wife Dies During Court Appearance — Just as He’s Set to Receive 35 Year Sentence
Special Ed Teacher Accused of Killing Wife Dies During Court Appearance — Just as He’s Set to Receive 35 Year Sentence
NEED TO KNOW
- An ex-special education teacher died during a court appearance in Houston after experiencing a medical emergency
- James Anderson was going to be sentenced to 35 years in prison as part of a plea deal for the 2023 murder of his wife Victoria Anderson, prosecutors said
- An autopsy is expected to be conducted
A former special education teacher accused of fatally shooting his wife in 2023 while she called 911 died after experiencing a medical emergency in court this week, prosecutors in Texas said.
The incident occurred on Friday, Sept. 26 at the 208th District Court at the Criminal Justice Center in Houston, where James Anderson was to be sentenced to 35 years in prison as part of a plea deal for the murder of his wife, Victoria Anderson, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said in a news release shared with PEOPLE.
“Shortly after arriving in court, Anderson experienced a medical emergency,” the release states. “A bailiff for the court administered naloxone before EMS arrived. He was transported by the Houston Fire Department to Ben Taub hospital where he was pronounced dead at 11:05 a.m.”
On Sept. 24, 2023, Victoria called 911 to request help, telling the dispatcher her husband was threatening to shoot her, per a statement from the City of Houston. Moments later, the dispatcher reportedly heard a gunshot.
When officers arrived at the Andersons’ home in Kingwood, James allegedly refused to step outside but allowed the couple’s 3-year-old son to exit the house, the statement reads. James was arrested after an hours-long standoff with police.
Once cops went inside, they found Victoria with a gunshot wound and pronounced her dead at the scene. The couple’s son was taken to a local hospital for evaluation but was later released.
Victoria Fowler Anderson/Facebook
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James served as chair of the Special Education Department at Santa Fe Middle School, where he worked since 2022. He was then put on administrative leave, local CBS affiliate KHOU11 reported at the time.
At the time of Friday’s court appearance, James was out on a $300,000 bond and planned to plead guilty in court, the D.A.’s office said.
Prosecutors said an investigation into the incident is ongoing and an autopsy will be conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
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