Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Missing Person Cold Case
Release Date
Jan 15, 2019
Contact
Kylie Mason
Phone
850-245-0150
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution today announced the sentencing of a habitual offender, Andrelo Witcher, to 30 years in prison for the disappearance of a past girlfriend, Heather Ann MacCrossen, more than a decade ago. On Friday, Alachua County Circuit Judge Mark Mosely handed down the maximum sentence. On Dec. 6, 2018, an Alachua County jury found Witcher guilty of killing MacCrossen.
Attorney General Ashley Moody, "Cold cases are some of the most difficult crimes to solve, but due to the hard work of law enforcement and prosecutors this decade old case is now closed, and a violent criminal will be kept off the streets. I am grateful for our Office of Statewide Prosecution, the local state attorney’s offices and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding efforts on this case. Florida is safer because of their relentless work.”
According to the investigation, MacCrossen went missing in August 2007, with nobody able to make successful contact with the victim since. MacCrossen’s body is still missing and no use of the victim’s identity has surfaced. Witcher was the last person to have contact with the victim. MacCrossen informed her mother that Witcher would pick her up from a Florida bus station after traveling from Michigan, where the MacCrossen’s family resides. Nobody heard from the victim again after arriving at the bus station. According to a charging document, Witcher killed the victim around the date of Aug. 18, 2007, in either Alachua or Columbia county.
Prior to MacCrossen’s disappearance, Witcher made threats against the victim's life and did all he could to exert control over her. About a month before the victim’s disappearance, a search warrant executed at the defendants home identified numerous illegal drugs. Prior to this case, two other victims connected to Witcher disappeared and are believed to be dead. Witcher faced three prior arrests for making threats and committing domestic violence against women. Witcher’s record also reveals involvement with drugs, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, burglary and fleeing from the police with high speed.
Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Office of State Attorney Bill Cervone, the Office of State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister, Sheriff Sadie Darnell and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office worked together on this case. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office primarily investigated this case. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Cass Castillo and Alachua County Assistant State Attorney Jamie Whiteway prosecuted the case.
Attorney General Ashley Moody, "Cold cases are some of the most difficult crimes to solve, but due to the hard work of law enforcement and prosecutors this decade old case is now closed, and a violent criminal will be kept off the streets. I am grateful for our Office of Statewide Prosecution, the local state attorney’s offices and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their outstanding efforts on this case. Florida is safer because of their relentless work.”
According to the investigation, MacCrossen went missing in August 2007, with nobody able to make successful contact with the victim since. MacCrossen’s body is still missing and no use of the victim’s identity has surfaced. Witcher was the last person to have contact with the victim. MacCrossen informed her mother that Witcher would pick her up from a Florida bus station after traveling from Michigan, where the MacCrossen’s family resides. Nobody heard from the victim again after arriving at the bus station. According to a charging document, Witcher killed the victim around the date of Aug. 18, 2007, in either Alachua or Columbia county.
Prior to MacCrossen’s disappearance, Witcher made threats against the victim's life and did all he could to exert control over her. About a month before the victim’s disappearance, a search warrant executed at the defendants home identified numerous illegal drugs. Prior to this case, two other victims connected to Witcher disappeared and are believed to be dead. Witcher faced three prior arrests for making threats and committing domestic violence against women. Witcher’s record also reveals involvement with drugs, cocaine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, burglary and fleeing from the police with high speed.
Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, the Office of State Attorney Bill Cervone, the Office of State Attorney Jeff Siegmeister, Sheriff Sadie Darnell and the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office worked together on this case. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office primarily investigated this case. Assistant Statewide Prosecutor Cass Castillo and Alachua County Assistant State Attorney Jamie Whiteway prosecuted the case.