WADENA, MINNESOTA — Nearly four decades after Carla Beth Anderson vanished without a trace, investigators are once again appealing to the public for information in one of Minnesota’s longest-running missing person cases.
In June 2026, state authorities alongside the nonprofit Spotlight on Crime announced a $25,000 reward for information that could help determine what happened to Anderson, who disappeared on November 13, 1987, at the age of 23.
Despite years of investigation, multiple interviews, and extensive follow-ups on leads, no arrests have ever been made and her disappearance remains unsolved.
A Normal Night That Ended in Mystery
Carla Anderson’s disappearance began on what was described as a positive day in her life. She had been named Employee of the Month at Hardee’s, where she worked in Wadena, Minnesota.
That evening, she spent time with her parents, who took her out to dinner before returning her to her apartment at Greenwood Apartments around 8 p.m.
Investigators later found signs she had returned home normally. An empty soda cup was discovered inside the apartment, and a rented movie had been placed in the VCR, suggesting she had settled in for the night.
But sometime after that, she vanished.
Confusing Scene Inside Her Apartment
When Carla failed to show up for work the next day, concern quickly escalated.
Police responding to her apartment found several unusual details. Her purse, money, and personal belongings were still inside, and there was no indication she had planned to leave.
The apartment door was reportedly locked from the outside, and only her keys and Hardee’s work jacket were missing.
The lack of clear evidence has fueled decades of speculation about whether she left voluntarily or was taken from the apartment.
Key Leads and Early Theories
Investigators have explored multiple possibilities over the years, including foul play and abduction.
One early point of interest was that the apartment building’s entry door had been left propped open during a period of move-ins, potentially allowing access to outsiders.
Authorities also examined the theft of a brown Plymouth Horizon reported just blocks away the same night Carla disappeared. The vehicle was never recovered, though no direct link to the case has been confirmed.
Several individuals were investigated, including family members, a former boyfriend, and a convicted serial offender later ruled out. Despite extensive efforts, no suspect has ever been publicly identified.
Renewed Efforts and Modern Technology
Law enforcement officials now believe modern forensic tools could help advance the case. Cold case investigators are reviewing old evidence using updated DNA technology and reexamining witness statements collected over the decades.
Wadena Police Chief Naomi Plautz has confirmed that active leads are currently being followed, and investigators continue to re-interview individuals connected to the original case.
Authorities also hope that the newly announced reward will encourage someone with long-held information to come forward.
Remembering Carla Anderson
At the time of her disappearance, Carla was described as a young woman with strawberry-blonde hair, blue eyes, and a height of roughly 4’10” to 5 feet. She was known for being dependable, hardworking, and closely connected to her family.
Now, nearly 39 years later, she would be 60 years old.
Family members say the lack of answers has made the passage of time especially painful, as they continue to live with uncertainty about what happened after she returned home that night.
A Case That Remains Open
Carla Beth Anderson’s disappearance remains one of Minnesota’s oldest active missing person cases. Investigators say even the smallest detail could still prove crucial in solving the mystery.
With renewed public attention and a financial reward on the table, authorities are hopeful that someone will finally come forward with the information needed to bring closure to a case that has remained unsolved for nearly four decades.
For the Anderson family, the goal remains unchanged: to finally learn the truth about what happened to Carla Beth Anderson on the night she disappeared in 1987.