Achermann was last seen in Staples, Minnesota on July 24, 2009. He left his residence to run errands and was last seen on Warner Road by the Crow Wing River bridge, between noon and 1:00 p.m. He was expected home by 2:00 p.m., but he never arrived and has never been heard from again. The next day, Achermann's light blue 1995 Chevrolet Caprice station wagon was found stuck in the mud in a wooded area at the end of a minimum maintenance road off County Road 32, ten miles from Achermann's Leader, Minnesota home. A photo of the car is posted below this case summary. Groceries Achermann had bought were inside it, as well as prescription medication for his wife, but there was no sign of him at the scene and his cane and the car keys were also missing.

Achermann's family stated he is in good health and does not suffer from Alzheimer's Disease or any other form of dementia. He had been married for fifty years by the time of his disappearance, and has eight children, thirteen foster children and twenty-three grandchildren. He had planned to speak at his granddaughter's wedding, which was scheduled for the day after his disappearance. Since he went missing, there's been no activity on his bank account or credit cards. An extensive search of the area turned up no sign of him. Foul play is not suspected in his case, but it remains unsolved.

Above: Achermann's car