TV star Chris Anderson to speak at Columbus tribute dinner for homicide victims

Chris Anderson, a TV star on the Investigation Discovery’s crime reality show "Reasonable Doubt," will visit Columbus Saturday evening to speak at an event meant to pay tribute to the families of homicide victims.

Anderson, who also starred on A&E Network‘s “The First 48,” will serve as the keynote speaker at the Affluence Family Services’ first annual tribute dinner. It will be held between 6 and 8 p.m. Saturday at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church at 2100 Hilton Ave.

“I’m very excited about detective Chris Anderson coming to our community,” said Montric McClendon, the founder of the AFS organization that provides moral support to the families of homicide victims. “I’m probably going to be at the edge of my seat, because I want to hear everything he has to say.”

Anderson retired from the Birmingham Police Department in 2016 after 20 years of service. McClendon believes that the reality star can use his experience in law enforcement to educate the community.

“My hope is that when detective Anderson comes Saturday, we all can gain some knowledge from him,” she said. “That knowledge that we gain from him, we can implement it into our community and we can come up with some solutions as a community to help eradicate some of these killings.”

This is the third event McClendon has organized since late May that is meant to raise awareness about the unsolved homicides in the Chattahoochee Valley. Her 42-year-old brother, Steven McClendon, was shot and killed May 24 near Abercrombie Road and Mason Road.

McClendon’s death is among one of the two unsolved 2017 homicides in Phenix City. There have been a total of five homicides in the city this year.

The Columbus Police Department’s list of homicides show 20 deaths this year, with the three latest killings happening in three days.

Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan said the city has seen 25 homicides this year, which is one homicide short of the 26 homicides his office recorded in 2016. Nine of those homicides remain unsolved.

To purchase a $25 ticket to the tribute dinner, call Camellia Render with AFS at 706-530-6613. Proceeds will be donated to AFS.

This story was originally published August 25, 2017 at 4:55 PM with the headline "TV star Chris Anderson to speak at Columbus tribute dinner for homicide victims."