Mullendore Murder Mystery May Be Solved Soon

By Lori, Fullbright, The News On 6

BARTLESVILLE, OK -- One of Oklahoma's most famous cold cases may be close to being solved.

The News on 6 has learned a multi-county grand jury is currently investigating the 40-year-old murder of millionaire Osage County rancher E.C. Mullendore.

Mullendore was beaten and shot to death on his ranch in Osage County on September 26th, 1970.

The only person with him that night and generally considered the main suspect was ranch-hand Damon "Chub" Anderson.

The murder has generated rumors for decades but has never been solved.

Anderson has agreed to tell his life story to Dale Lewis, a columnist for a Bartlesville newspaper.

A table is filled with four years worth of research Dale Lewis has done on Chub Anderson, starting with Chub's early days as a cattle rustler, through his time working for EC Mullendore, to his arrest for the largest marijuana bust in the state, to his 17 years on the run, living in Montana under an assumed name, working as a sub-contractor for Ted Turner, building buffalo pens.

A colorful life filled with highs and lows.

"He's not proud of a lot of them but a lot is he proud of his cowboying ability, breaking horses, welding. He's had many beautiful women; he's quite a charming guy. He could charm women and talk men into being his best friend at the drop of a hat but he could also turn on you if he didn't like you," Lewis said.

Lewis met Chub four years ago when he was extradited back to Oklahoma. He has dozens of audio tapes of interviews.

He says Chub has signed exclusive rights to his story over to Dale for a book, which is this manuscript called "Footprints in the Dew."

In it, for the first time ever, he says Chub talks about Mullendore's murder.

"As I listen to my tapes, there's no doubt he knows what happened that night and what he's told me, he gives me his word is the truth and he's never told anyone, including his children, best friends, law enforcement, no one," Lewis said.

He says the murder has weighed on Chub and he wants the story told before his death.

He's currently 69, living in a nursing home in Kansas, fighting kidney disease.

Because of what Chub told Lewis, Lewis was subpoenaed last week to testify before the multi-county grand jury.

He's not allowed to talk about his testimony.

The News On 6 asked Lewis, "Do you think we're closer to getting this murder solved than ever since 40 years ago when it happened?"

"We're closer to getting this solved than ever since day one, September 26th, 1970," Lewis said.

Dale Lewis is now looking for someone who can turn this story into a movie or mini-series.

He says he has talked to the Mullendore family and they too, are ready for the truth to come out and hope it will put an end to the nasty rumors that have circulated for years about the case.

Related stories:
6/22/2006 Fugitive Returned To Southeast Kansas
6/29/2006 Damon 'Chub' Anderson Pleads
7/10/2006 Fugitive's arrest rekindles murder mystery