Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP120154) and 1 other source
On a day in September 1999, a 22-year-old man named Craig E. Anderson vanished from Yakima, Washington. The young man, a Caucasian male with black hair and brown eyes, stood at approximately 5'8' and weighed around 180 pounds. The last confirmed sighting of Craig was on September 11, 1999, after he finished his shift at a local Burger King. He was reportedly seen walking in the direction of the Naches River, near Rimrock Lake, a detail that would become central to the initial theory surrounding his disappearance. After that moment, he was never seen or heard from again, leaving a void of information and a family desperate for answers.

The immediate aftermath of Craig's disappearance led to the presumption that he may have tragically drowned in the Naches River. This theory, while plausible given his last known location, could never be substantiated as his remains were never located. The lack of physical evidence left the investigation in a state of limbo. Despite the efforts of the Yakima Police Department, who were assigned to the case, no significant leads or developments have emerged over the many years that have passed. The circumstances surrounding what happened after he left his job remain a mystery, with very little detailed information ever coming to light.

The case of Craig Anderson is a somber illustration of the challenges and heartaches associated with long-term missing person cases. With no new information, his case has grown cold, a painful reality for his loved ones and the investigators involved. The official narrative remains that he went missing after work and was last seen near the river, with a prevailing but unproven theory of drowning. The lack of any witnesses to what might have happened, coupled with the absence of his remains, has left a collection of unanswered questions. The investigation, while technically still open, is largely inactive, awaiting any new information that might finally shed light on what became of Craig E. Anderson.

Last Seen: Sep 11, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

78%Possible
John Doe — Naches, Washington
UP96189 • Found Apr 18, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'8"
77%Possible
John Doe — Issaquah, Washington - unidentified case UP8582
John Doe — Issaquah, Washington
UP8582 • Found Jan 15, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 76%96 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'8" vs 5'8"
75%Possible
John Doe — Pasco, Washington
UP153296 • Found Sep 24, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%183 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 15%Red vs Black

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.