Dairy farmer accused of killing wife released on bond

GASTONIA, N.C. (AP) — A dairy farmer accused of killing his wife and stuffing her body in a toolbox is out of jail.

Jerry Anderson's release in Gaston County comes three days after a judge declared a mistrial in the first-degree murder case.

Anderson had been held without bond since his January 2006 arrest. Judge David Cayer set Anderson's bond at 150-thousand dollars after the 12-member jury failed to come to a unanimous verdict.

Emily Anderson disappeared from their Caldwell County dairy farm in December 2005. Her body was found ten days later in the toolbox of her truck, which was parked at a restaurant about 100 miles away in South Carolina. She had been shot twice.

After seven days of deliberations, eleven jurors felt there -wasn't- enough evidence to convict Anderson.

Roger Barker, the lone juror who wanted to find Anderson guilty, says nothing would change his mind.

Prosecutors -haven't- said whether they'll retry the case or drop the charges.

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)