Case Details
- Photo URLs:
-
- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 08/29/1981
- Missing From:
- Missing From Mansfield, Texas
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race Black
- Date of Birth:
- Date of Birth 08/20/1976 (48)
- Age:
- Age 5 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 3’0, 50 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Clothing/Jewelry Description Underwear and an adult-sized t-shirt with burn holes at the bottom.
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Anthony’s nickname is Burt.
- Details of Disappearance:
- Anthony disappeared on August 29, 1981, at the age of 2. His parents were divorced, and he lived with his aunt and uncle, Terry and Della Woodson, after his grandmother could no longer care for him.
One morning, Terry said he took Anthony to a 7-11 store. He claimed he left Anthony asleep in the car while he got a drink, and only realized Anthony was gone when he got home. However, a lie detector test suggested Terry wasn’t telling the truth, and police suspected Anthony may never have been at the store.
The case went cold, but was reopened in 2017. Terry was arrested in 2018 and charged with Anthony’s murder. He gave conflicting stories to the police. First, he said Della beat Anthony and he dumped the body. Later, he said he and Della both beat Anthony with an extension cord until he died. Neighbors confirmed they heard Anthony being beaten repeatedly.
Terry has since claimed his confessions were false due to his diabetes. Police haven’t found Anthony’s body, and experts believe it’s likely been destroyed by animals. The case is still under investigation, and Terry is awaiting trial.
- Agency:
- Mansfield Police Department 817-473-0211
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 08/29/1981