Arthur L. Anderson

Arthur L. Anderson

Suspect arrested in scout leader murder

Man stabbed leader while group stopped on trail

22 Aug 2011, 3:15 AM EDT

BUNKER HILL, Ind. (WANE) - The Indiana State Police have released information on a murder in Bunker Hill, Indiana, about 70 miles southwest of Fort Wayne.

According to ISP, officers received a call before 3:00 p.m. Sunday of a reported stabbing on the Nickel Plate Trail in Bunker Hill. Upon arrival, officers found Arthur L. Anderson, 76, Kokomo, bleeding extensively from his neck. Despite medical efforts, Anderson died from his injury.

The initial investigation by an ISP detective revealed that a witness observed a male walk up behind Anderson and unprovoked, allegedly stabbed Anderson in the neck. The suspect then fled the scene in a black Jeep Cherokee.

Away from the scene, an Indiana State trooper located the Jeep and tried to conduct a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle, Shane C. Golitko, 22, Bunker Hill, led police on an approximate eight minute pursuit. Officers were finally able to stop Golitko when they blocked the road near St. Rd. 218 and County Road 300. Golitko was taken in to custody.

Further investigation revealed prior to the 911 call of the stabbing, Golitko's mother, Valerie Henson, 48, Bunker Hill, also called police to report her son had battered her during an altercation at their home. She fled the home to a neighbors house and reported Golitko retrieved a knife from his residence and walked from his home towards Nickel Plate Trail, where he then allegedly stabbed Anderson.

The report further stated that Golitko returned to his home, destroying items inside. He also stabbed two dogs, killing one. He then fled the residence in his mother's Jeep. His mother suffered a broken arm in the reported battery. She was treated and released from a local hospital.

Anderson, another man, and two boys were on the Nickel Plate Trail as part of a boy scout outing. They had planned to hike about five miles from Bunker Hill to Bennetts Switch. The group had stopped along the trail to discuss and identify a tree, when the alleged stabbing occurred.

Anderson was the only one attacked, he had been involved in scouting for over 50 years.

Golitko is being held without bond in the Miami County Jail on a murder charge. He faces two additional felony counts for battery causing serious bodily injury and battery by bodily waste. He allegedly spat at officers while being processed into the jail.