Kristen Lee Anderson was 24 when she left Wheeling, West Virginia, for Martins Ferry, Ohio, in late summer 2006 with her two young sons to escape a controlling, abusive marriage. The family stayed temporarily at JayCee Manor Apartments. On the morning of October 1, 2006, her estranged husband James came to the apartment and an argument followed. When the friend woke later that morning, Kristen was gone; her purse, wallet, cigarettes and her children were left behind.

Surveillance footage obtained during the investigation reportedly shows James carrying what appeared to be Kristen’s lifeless body to the trunk of his car. James later died by suicide and left a note saying Kristen’s body would never be found. Investigators recovered a blanket and gloves with briars and burrs in his dryer, and one of the couple’s young sons later told his grandmother he had seen his mother on the couch that morning and she felt very cold. Extensive searches in Ohio and West Virginia have not located her remains.

The case remains an active missing persons investigation focused on locating Kristen’s remains so the family can have closure. If anyone has information about Kristen’s whereabouts or possible disposal sites, please come forward.