Nearly four decades after Carla Beth Anderson disappeared from her Wadena, Minnesota, apartment, authorities are renewing efforts to solve the cold case. The Wadena Police Department, in partnership with the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and Spotlight on Crime, announced a $25,000 reward on June 16 for information leading to the resolution of Anderson's disappearance.
Anderson, 23, was last seen on November 13, 1987. Her mother and stepfather dropped her off at her apartment between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. after celebrating her being named Hardee's employee of the month. Investigators confirmed she entered her apartment safely. The only items missing were her Hardee's jacket and keys. Her apartment was found locked from the outside with no signs of forced entry or struggle. A soda cup she had been carrying was found inside her apartment, and one of the movies her parents had rented for her remained in the VCR player.
A Vulnerable Adult
Anderson was classified as a vulnerable adult due to a learning disability. At the time of her disappearance, she weighed 80 pounds and stood 4 feet 10 inches tall. Her brother, Dan Anderson, described her as fiercely independent and proud of living on her own. He noted her strong family ties and stated that the family frequently thinks about her.
Investigators are confident that Anderson did not vanish voluntarily. "We are asking the community to step up," Wadena Police Chief Naomi Plautz stated at the press conference. Dan Anderson appealed to anyone with information to come forward, saying, "Get it off your back." The family is seeking closure after years of uncertainty.
Unanswered Questions and Theories
Several circumstances surrounding Anderson's disappearance have puzzled investigators. According to The Charley Project, which profiles cold cases, a fire was burning in a swamp on the outskirts of Wadena on the night she vanished. Authorities theorized she may have left her apartment to investigate the fire and was subsequently attacked, although there is no evidence to support this theory. Additionally, a brown Plymouth Horizon was reported stolen a few blocks from Anderson's apartment building on the same evening and was never recovered, though its connection to the case remains unknown.
Plautz indicated that detectives are still pursuing multiple leads and interviewing various individuals, including past suspects. "We don't want to reveal all the information we have," she said when asked about follow-up interviews with Anderson's former boyfriend, who had previously passed a polygraph test.
Spotlight on Crime, a non-profit organization that has offered rewards for 30 cases, totaling over $1.4 million, hopes the reward will prompt someone to share critical details. Drew Evans, superintendent minister of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, expressed belief that individuals possess information that could solve the case.
Anyone with information regarding Carla Beth Anderson's disappearance is encouraged to contact the Wadena Police Department at 218-631-7700 or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 877-996-6222 or [email protected].