OMAK, Wash. — A Nice woman was supposed to come home for the holidays Saturday but instead died Dec. 17, while possibly defending the friend she was visiting in Omak, Wash., according to her mother.
Heather Danielle Anderson, 24, of Robinson Rancheria was stabbed in the left clavicle and died instantly, her mother Diana Anderson said after talking with Colville Tribal Police.
Police were not immediately available for comment Wednesday.
“She would have fought to protect herself,” Diana Anderson said of her daughter, who didn”t have defensive wounds.
Diana Anderson said a group of people stole her daughter”s jacket, money for Christmas gifts and her friend”s things. The Nice woman and her friend were trying to get their things back when Anderson was killed.
“My daughter would have done everything and anything for a friend,” the mother said.
Colville Tribal Police detained and released the woman pending further police and FBI investigation of Anderson”s death, Investigator Dave Everett said. He could not release the woman”s name.
Anderson was in a car crash in June that left her with brain injuries and disabilities that would have made it difficult, if not impossible, for her to start an altercation, her mother said.
“I know what condition she was in when I let her go with her friend,” she said. “There”s no way she would walk up and start a fight with this woman.”
“She didn”t go up to Washington to cause trouble,” the mother said.
Diane Anderson said she wants justice for her daughter”s death.
“She was murdered,” the mother said. “Someone should be sitting in jail for this and nobody is. That”s not right.”
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
