Remains of man who vanished 20 years ago found in car submerged in reservoir

The case of a missing man who vanished on his way to his family’s cabin more than 20 years ago has finally been closed.

Human remains recovered last year from a Utah reservoir belonged to missing Steven Willard Anderson, Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced on Tuesday.

Anderson’s body was discovered in a submerged car in the reservoir and required DNA testing to confirm its identity.

The then 46-year-old left his home in the city of Murray in 2004 to make a more than 200-mile drive to his family’s cabin in Flaming George, Utah.

He had planned to do some painting at the lodge, but he never arrived.

When Anderson failed to answer frantic phone calls from his family, his father went to the cabin to find him.

It is believed Anderson had leased a vehicle to make the hours-long drive before he disappeared without a trace, according to the Utah Department of Public Safety.

He was reported missing but the case soon went cold and his family and friends were left contemplating why Anderson had vanished.

Now Anderson’s remains have been recovered, the medical examiner’s office says no foul play is suspected.

His son Axel told Fox13: ‘[It’s] just been a wound that, you know has continuously been opened over the past 20 years just not knowing.

‘It’s good to have some closure for the family and I’m excited for the future now.

‘The search is over, the questions are answered and we can start a new chapter.’

Cold case sleuths helped police solve the mystery.

Doug Bishop from United Search Corps, a nonprofit that specializes in missing person cases, and Dave Sparks used helicopters and mountain crews to track down places where Anderson’s vehicle may have gone off the road.

Bishop said his team used SONAR systems for detecting submerged objects to locate Anderson’s car in the Utah reservoir.

It took multiple agencies and a complex rescue operation to drag out the care where Anderson’s remains were found.

His brother Kevin added to the family tributes to Anderson and the police: ‘It’s good to have some closure for the family and I’m excited for the future now.

‘The finality of it all but also the closure of it all that provides all of us with the abilities to say, “OK, this is what’s happened”.

‘Nothing but gratitude and appreciation for everyone that’s helped and has provided this amazing gift of closure.’ 

In a statement, the sheriff’s office said: ‘The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to Anderson’s family and thanks all agencies involved in the recovery process for their dedication and professionalism.’

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