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Authorities announced a new reward on Monday in hopes of solving the disappearance of a Wadena woman missing for nearly four decades. 

In 1987, Carla Beth Anderson was a 23-year-old vulnerable adult living in her own apartment in Wadena.

On Friday, Nov. 13, of that year, she returned home around 8 p.m. after having dinner and renting movies with her family. She was scheduled to work the next day at noon, but didn’t show up and hasn't been seen since. 

Despite thousands of hours and hundreds of interviews, investigators haven’t figured out what happened to Anderson. No arrests have been made.

The nonprofit Spotlight on Crime is now offering a $25,000 reward for information that leads to Anderson’s whereabouts.

“We have pursued, reexamined and exhausted hundreds of tips and leads, but someone knows what happened,” said Wadena Police Chief Naomi Plautz at a news conference in Wadena on Monday. “Someone knows."

At the time of her disappearance, Anderson was just 4 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 80 pounds.

Her apartment door was locked, and her purse was still inside. There were no signs of a struggle. 

Only her apartment keys and her Hardee’s jacket were missing. One of the rented movies was still inside the VCR.

Investigators say they don’t believe Anderson would have chosen to disappear, and don’t know anyone who had a motive to harm her.

Carla’s brother, Dan Anderson, described her as a good person and fiercely independent, who loved living on her own and earning her own money. But she also loved spending time with her family, he said, including a young niece who was only a few years old when Carla disappeared.

“Now obviously, there’s more nieces and nephews that she’s missed out. We’ve missed out on that,” Dan Anderson said. “Her whole future’s gone.”

Since it was created in 2001, Spotlight on Crime has offered more than $1.4 million in rewards for 30 cases. 

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said investigators hope the reward will encourage someone to come forward with information to help them find Anderson.

“We fully believe that somebody knows information that will help solve this case,” Evans said.

Anyone with information should contact the Wadena Police Department at 218-631-7700 or the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension at 877-996-6222, or email bca.tips@state.mn.us.

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Kirsti Marohn

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Carla Anderson disappeared from her apartment in November 1987. Despite thousands of hours and hundreds of interviews, investigators haven't figured out what happened to her.

Three images of one girl are stitched together.

Reward offered in case of Wadena woman who vanished in 1987

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