Carla Beth Anderson had reason to celebrate that November night. The 23-year-old had just been named employee of the month at Hardee’s, a proud moment she marked with her mother and stepfather before returning to her apartment in Wadena, Minnesota.
On November 13, 1987, Carla’s mother and stepfather dropped her off at her home sometime between 7:30pm and 8pm. After that, she was never seen again.
Investigators have said Carla made it safely inside the apartment. The residence was locked from the outside, and there were no apparent signs of forced entry or a struggle. The only items believed to be missing were her Hardee’s jacket and her keys.
Inside, police found one of the movies her parents had rented for her that evening still sitting in the VCR. Authorities have not publicly identified the film.
Carla had also been holding a cup of soda when she was dropped off. That cup was later found empty inside the apartment.
Nearly four decades later, her disappearance remains unresolved. Investigators are now offering a $25,000 reward for information that could help determine what happened to her that night.
Wadena Police Chief Naomi Plautz announced the reward during a June 16 press conference, saying: “It was a big night for Carla. She had received an award from her Hardee’s employer where she worked and celebrated with her mother and stepfather. They dropped Carla off near her apartment around 8pm that Friday night, and no one has seen her since.”
Carla was considered a vulnerable adult. She had a learning disability and, at the time of her disappearance, weighed about 80lbs and stood 4ft 10ins tall.
Carla Beth Anderson had just been named Hardee’s employee of the month at the Wadena branch where she worked
Carla had been dropped off at her apartment by her mother and stepfather who had rented some VHS movies for her. One of the movies was found in the player inside the home
But her brother Dan Anderson told the press conference that despite the difficulties she faced, was fiercely independent and proud of living on her own. He said she was all about her family and there would be ‘lots of time spent around family gatherings, our grandparents’ house at the lake. Hardly a day goes by when we don’t think about her,’ he added.
Dan thanked the police for putting continued effort into the investigation. He said: ‘It’s been nearly 40 years…It’d be easy to say, there’s no sense in looking at this anymore.’
Plautz said investigators are convinced that Carla wouldn’t have vanished of her own accord. ‘We are asking the community to step up,’ Plautz added.
When asked if he had anything to say to anyone who may be responsible for her disappearance, Dan simply responded: ‘Come forward. Get it off your back.
‘It’s hard to wrap your head around the fact is she gone or not gone.
‘My mom she was pretty convinced shortly after she disappeared that she was no longer with us.
‘You think back and you go, well did someone take her, do they have her somewhere else, is she alive, is she doing well. Is she just not able to get in touch. First of all she wouldn’t have anyone’s phone number anymore. Is that a possibility? Well as time goes by that gets more and more dim, well in my mind anyway.’
Dan said his family just want closure. ‘Forty years is a long time,’ he added.
Carla was classed as a vulnerable adult but her brother Dan said she was fiercely independent and proud of living on her own
Carla worked at the local Hardee’s store, which is no longer there. Pictured is a file photo of a restaurant
Carla’s brother Dan spoke at the press conference and appealed for people to come forward with information
Wadena Police chief Naomi Plautz announced the reward at the press conference
According to the Charley Project that profiles cold cases, on the night of Carla’s disappearance, there was a fire burning in a swamp on the outskirts of Wadena.
The project stated: ‘She would have been able to view the fire from her window. Authorities theorized she left home to look at the fire up close, and someone attacked her. There is no evidence to support this theory, however.
‘That same evening, a brown Plymouth Horizon was stolen a couple of blocks from Anderson’s apartment building and was never recovered. It is unknown whether the stolen car has any connection to her case.’
At the press conference the police chief was asked whether detectives were looking to do any follow-up interviews with Carla’s boyfriend at the time who had previously passed a polygraph test.
Plautz said: ‘We don’t want to reveal all the information we have. We are still interviewing many suspects, many leads and many community members.’
Carla has three siblings, Dan is the eldest. One of the siblings has since passed away, along with their mother. Dan expressed sadness that their mother did not live to see closure over Carla’s disappearance.
The reward for information was offered by Spotlight on Crime, a partnership between law enforcement, community, and Minnesota businesses.
The non-profit has offered more than $1.4 million in rewards for 30 cases, paying out $20,000 collectively to those who have come forward in various cases, Drew Evans, superintendent of Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, told the press conference.
The Charley Project reported that a brown Plymouth Horizon was stolen a couple of blocks from Carla’s apartment building on the evening she vanished. It was never recovered and it is not known if the vehicle is related to her disappearance
Carla’s disappearance has puzzled investigators for nearly 40 years. It is hoped the offer of the new $25,000 reward for information may throw open a breakthrough
Evans said they ‘fully believe’ somebody has information that could help solve the case. ‘We hope this reward will encourage somebody to come forward with this information.’
Plautz added: ‘What do you remember, who were you hanging out with, who were you talking to. We would like to know anything. If you know anything about Carla or a friend of hers, we want to know all of it.’
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Wadena Police Department at 218-631-7700 or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 877-996-6222 or bca.tips@state.mn.us.
