Shortly after the video was shown, Kristen’s family members spoke with her 5-year-old son, who claimed he was at his dad’s house the morning following his mom’s disappearance. He said when he walked into the living room, he saw his mother sitting on the couch, but she did not talk to him. He also said she felt cold when he touched her.
While the police determined their next move, Kristen’s uncle decided to question James again. James once again told a completely different story, claiming he had given Kristen $500 and sent her to Florida. Kristen’s uncle was unconvinced but left with plans of returning later.
When Kristen’s uncle returned, he knew something was wrong. One of James’ friends was standing in the front yard, obviously shaken. When Kristen’s uncle went into the house, he discovered James had taken a shotgun and shot himself in the head, but not before allegedly bragging to his friend that he had murdered his wife and that her body would never be found.
Shortly after James’ death, police interviewed a prostitute from Wheeling who told them that James had offered to pay her to help him dispose of evidence, including his wife’s body. He allegedly said that he had a garage that he owned in East Wheeling and that he needed help burying his wife in cement next to the garage.
Police did, in fact, find that James Anderson owned a garage and that there was a fresh patch of cement next to the building, but cadaver dogs did not pick up any scent and the cement was left undisturbed. The dogs did, however, pick up a scent on a shovel found in James’ van, but according to the family it was not impounded and later towed to a junkyard.
One nagging circumstance continues to bother Kristen’s brother, Ed: He saw a large metal barrel beside his sister’s house next to the river before she went missing, and the barrel disappeared shortly thereafter. He now wonders if James could have put his sister in the barrel and dumped it in the Ohio River.
Anyone with information in Kristen Anderson’s disappearance should contact the Martins Ferry Police Department at +1-740-633-2121.
