Police Make Arrest in Truck Stop Murder

More than a year ago, police began looking for a man named “Mike,” a person of interest in a murder at a Branford truck stop.

Police have now made an arrest. Michael Chaves, 40, of Phoenix, Arizona has been charged with the murder of Dale Anderson.

Anderson, 47, from Redlands, California was looking for work when he hitched a ride to T.A. Travel Center, a truck stop in Branford, and landed a job as a trucker’s freelance mover -- also referred to as a “lumper.”

The truck driver also gave a job to another assistant named “Mike,” America’s Most Wanted reported, and the two hung around together, waiting for the next job. The last time they were seen together was when they were just about to go to sleep in the sleeper section of the truck, the fugitive TV show reports.

On April 17, 2009, the driver of the truck found Anderson’s bloodied body in the trailer portion of his tractor-trailer. He died of cranial-cerebral trauma.

Officials traveled to Phoenix, took Chaves into custody and transported him back to Connecticut, where he is being charged with murder.

 “Two of our detectives traveled to Phoenix this week after extradition was authorized by both the State of Arizona and Connecticut,” said Detective Lieutenant William Carroll, who is spearheading the investigation.

Chaves was featured on July 11, 2009 and again in December on America’s Most Wanted about regarding his possible connection with the homicide.

Chaves was held on a $300,000 bond and will be arraigned on Thursday morning in New Haven Court.
 

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