Anderson was last seen leaving a residence in Iron River, Michigan at approximately 1:30 p.m. on June 17, 1974. He was accompanied by Richard Kyllonen at the time of his disappearance. The two men had been close friends until that month, when Anderson separated from his wife and Kyllonen moved in with him. Anderson agreed to testify against Kyllonen in a 1971 case both of them were involved in, but he disappeared before the trial.

Kyllonen has refused to take a polygraph about Anderson's disappearance. Authorities believe Anderson was the victim of a homicide, but no charges have been filed in his case.