A 20-year-old missing person case has been resolved after the remains of the missing individual were found in a submerged vehicle.
Steven Willard Anderson, who disappeared in June 2004 while traveling to a family cabin near Flaming Gorge, has been identified as the person whose remains were recovered from a car in Starvation Reservoir. Anderson, 20 at the time of his disappearance, was never heard from again after he left Salt Lake City, leading to a cold case that remained unsolved for over two decades.
The case was reignited when, in March 2022, media outlets highlighted Anderson’s disappearance, leading to two key individuals, Doug Bishop from the United Search Corps and Dave Sparks of Spark Motors, becoming involved. Their efforts culminated in the discovery of Anderson’s vehicle on September 29, 2024, at a depth of about 50 feet in Starvation Reservoir.
Following the discovery, authorities confirmed the vehicle was connected to Anderson’s case, and it was recovered the next day. Although initial identification was pending, it was later confirmed that the remains inside the car were indeed those of Steven Willard Anderson.
Officials have stated that no foul play was involved in Anderson’s death, and his case has now been officially closed. The closure of the case brings peace to his family, who have endured years of uncertainty.
Anderson’s son, Axel, shared his emotions with Fox 13, explaining that the years of not knowing what had happened to his father had been a constant source of pain. “It’s good to have some closure for the family and I’m excited for the future now,” Axel said, reflecting on the emotional toll of the years-long search.
The United Search Corps also expressed sympathy to Anderson’s family, offering a message of support and hope. “While nothing can undo the pain of losing a loved one, we hope that the answers found will bring some measure of peace,” the organization said in a statement last month.
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