Steven Willard Anderson vanished in 2004, and now his remains have finally been found.
The remains of a man who had been missing for nearly two decades were discovered in a submerged vehicle in a Utah reservoir.
On Tuesday (February 11), the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that human remains were found inside a car pulled from the water.
The remains have now been identified as those of Steven Willard Anderson, who was 46 years old when he disappeared in 2004.
Authorities have stated that they do not suspect foul play, and the case was officially closed on Tuesday, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
According to KUTV, Anderson had left his home in Murray and was making a 200-mile drive to a family cabin located in Flaming Gorge, Utah.
However, when he failed to check in upon arrival, his family grew concerned. His father eventually went to the cabin to search for him, only to find no sign of Anderson.
The remains were found submerged in a car
Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office
Reports indicate that Anderson had rented a car for the trip, but the Utah Department of Public Safety stated that he vanished without a trace.
His family immediately reported him missing, but as time passed without new leads, the case went cold, leaving his loved ones without answers for years.
Eventually, the case was reopened by Doug Bishop from United Search Corps, ‘a nonprofit that specializes in missing person cases’. He collaborated with Utah-based internet personality Dave Sparks to uncover what had happened to Anderson.
According to CBS News, Bishop and Sparks documented their investigation through videos and worked closely with local authorities last spring in an effort to find clarity.
Thanks to the efforts of the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner and a private laboratory, officials were able to positively identify the remains as Anderson’s.
The man’s son, Axel, shared his thoughts with Fox13: “It’s just been a wound that, you know has continuously been opened over the past 20 years just not knowing.”
Anderson went missing in 2004
Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office
“It’s good to have some closure for the family and I’m excited for the future now. The search is over, the questions are answered and we can start a new chapter.”
The sheriff’s office expressed their condolences in an official statement: “The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to Anderson’s family and thanks all agencies involved in the recovery process for their dedication and professionalism.”
Meanwhile, Anderson’s brother, Kevin, also shared his feelings: “It’s good to have some closure for the family and I’m excited for the future now.”
“The finality of it all but also the closure of it all that provides all of us with the abilities to say, ‘OK, this is what’s happened’.”
“Nothing but gratitude and appreciation for everyone that’s helped and has provided this amazing gift of closure.”