On a day planned for holiday preparations, December 2, 2000, 50-year-old Sharon 'Shari' Christine Anderson left her home in Stanwood, Washington, with the intention of Christmas shopping at the Everett Mall. She informed her husband, John, that she would be running errands and expected to return by 4:30 p.m. that afternoon, as they had plans to attend a motorcycle show and have dinner in Seattle that evening.
When she failed to return home and couldn't be reached, her concerned family began to search for her. Later that night, at approximately 10:00 p.m., her best friend discovered Sharon's locked pickup truck in the mall parking lot near the Mervyn's Department Store.
Inside the vehicle, investigators found her cell phone and a gun she carried for protection, but there were no signs of any Christmas presents, suggesting she may have never made it inside the mall. From the moment of her disappearance, there has been no activity on her bank accounts, credit cards, or Social Security number. Sharon was a dedicated social worker for the Department of Social and Health Services, described by those who knew her as a responsible and dependable person who was deeply devoted to her family, especially her grandchildren. Friends and family find it unfathomable that she would voluntarily leave without any communication. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a green jacket, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes. She also wore a distinctive, custom-designed wedding ring with a diamond flanked by black onyx set in white gold.
The investigation into Sharon's disappearance has been met with few leads, leaving her loved ones in a painful state of uncertainty. Extensive searches were conducted by both law enforcement and a large group of volunteers in the areas surrounding the mall, and her family tirelessly distributed flyers and checked with local pawn shops for her unique ring, all to no avail. Despite the passage of time, her case remains an active and open investigation. While authorities have suspected foul play, the lack of evidence has made it difficult to determine the exact circumstances of what happened to her that day. Sharon Anderson has been declared legally dead, a measure taken for legal and practical reasons, but for her family and friends, the search for answers and the hope of bringing her home continues. The case is a somber reminder of a beloved mother and grandmother who vanished on a routine holiday shopping trip, leaving behind a family desperate for closure.Last Seen: Dec 2, 2000
