Slain Rainier Ranger Worked at C&O Canal

Spent time in region in 2004

Margaret Anderson, the woman slain by an Iraqi war veteran at Mt. Rainier National Park on New Year's Day, had spent several years on duty in Maryland.

Anderson was shot in her patrol car, which she was using to block a road in the park to intecept a man who failed to stop at a checkpoint to make sure cars were equipped with tire chains.

Before moving to Washington with her husband, Eric, 34-year-old Margaret Anderson had worked as a ranger at the Chesapeake and Ohio National Historic Park starting in 2004, the Star-Ledger reports.  She was born in Canada but grew up in Connecticut and New Jersey.

Her husband, Eric, had worked for the park service in Virginia while she worked at the canal.

The two moved together to Washington three years ago, where they both served as rangers. In addition to her husband, Margaret Anderson leaves behind two daughters, ages 1 and 3.

Authorities said her killer, 24-year-old Benjamin Barnes, was found dead on Tuesday facedown in the snow inside the park.  At the time he was wearing a T-shirt and jeans, and was missing a shoe.  Investigators believe he died from exposure to the cold.

Barnes is said to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, News4's Darcy Spencer reported. He also was suspected in a New Year's Eve shooting in which four people were wounded.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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