Kristen Anderson: The Mystery of Kristen’s Missing Body

Kristen’s family is very certain of her death, but her body is still nowhere in sight.

October 1, 2006


WHEELING, W. Va. – One early morning of the first day of October, a terrible incident occurred. Everyone who learned of it got so disturbed, and yet public officials didn’t heed those first few pleas for help.

At Jaycee Manor Apartment in Martins Ferry, Ohio, where Kristen, her kids, and a friend of hers were living, Kristen arrived at their place while all the tenants of the said apartment were still sound asleep. By 2:00 a.m. that morning, Kristen’s friend suddenly roused from sleep when she heard Kristen’s loud voice telling James, her husband who arrived there to woo her back and bring her home, not to hit her.

After a few moments, a chilling silence filled the whole apartment.

Aside from Kristen’s friend, Kristen’s son also heard every single word of the verbal sparring of his parents.

When the yelling stopped, and after a minute of silence, James Anderson walked in his son’s room, checking if he woke up from the noise.

Slept came to Kristen’s friend again, but she awoke the second time when she heard Kristen’s child’s crying, looking for her mother. Because her friend couldn’t bare the sobs of Kristen’s son, she stood up and looked for her friend, but she couldn’t find her.

Aside from Kristen’s cellphone that James Anderson took when he left the premises, nothing was lost from the missing woman’s belongings.

Certainly, James Anderson tried to harm Kristen. If she is dead by that time, no one knew. Her family is in a lot of confusion but they are very sure of the person to pinpoint on their family member’s absence: James Anderson, the estranged spouse of Kristen who had this history of hitting his wife even during the early stages of their marriage.

On that day that Kristen disappeared, her close family relations tried reporting the incident to the Martins Ferry Police Department. But it was no use. The police officers did not listen to their pleas for help, and refused to believe them.

They said they will not look for a person unless the reported person doesn’t show up after twenty four (24) hours has passed.

A day passed but the policemen still disregarded Kristen’s absence, and even laughed about it - telling Kristen’s mom that Kristen probably needed a few days away… like a vacation of some sort.

Since the start, Kristen’s family didn’t approve of James Anderson. Their first impression of him was that he is a very manipulative man.

Later, certain incidents prior to Kristen’s absence had shown that James really has an unfavorable attitude. The worst of the worst. When he and Kristen married, it wasn’t long before he showed his violent side by hurting and beating up Kristen.

Because of consistent physical abuse from her husband, Kristen decided to move out and leave Anderson. She wanted to seek a safer place to live, and she decided that her mom’s home could be her place of refuge.

However, Kristen later got back to Anderson’s house, because police officials came – accompanied by Anderson – said that she had to go back or she can be sued for kidnapping the kids.

Kristen had no other choice but to go back. And the beatings continued.

When she got back, she was treated as a roommate by Anderson, and was expected to pay rental fees to James even though they are officially married. He even had his computer password-protected so she wouldn’t be able to use it. Things got worse everyday for Kristen as she lived with James.

When Kristen has had enough of Anderson’s behavior, she decided to move out again, and decided to take her children away from their abusive father.

It was September then when she found a warm welcome in Jaycee Manor Apartment located in Martins Ferry, Ohio and started to live in peace with her friend and kids.

She was happy that she finally had a better life with her kids.

However, things never lasted that way as Kristen had hoped for.

Anderson came back. He went to Kristen’s apartment, and begged her to come back home with him, but Kristen couldn’t be swayed by his pleas, and didn’t want to reunite with him again. She was tired of the beatings and other abusive behavior that Anderson usually directed at her.

Feeling more strong and certain of her decision not to go back, she continuously refused. No more reuniting with him will ever happen again. She doesn’t want more of the physical abuses, the lies, and the pain. She didn’t want Anderson to be a part of her life again.

But her refusal led to unwanted consequences. She didn’t know that Anderson wanted her to come back or else…

Before going there, Anderson already had formulated a plan. And after Kristen’s disappearance, investigations said that he bragged to a friend of his about his planned murder for Kristen - that he will never leave even a single trace as to where they can find Kristen’s body. She will just disappear, which was what Anderson wanted to happen.

When the missing persons report was finally made, Kristen’s family asked the policemen to start the investigations with Anderson. But, Anderson told them a different story that the police officials had no choice but to let him go.

So, Kristen’s family decided to ask Anderson on their own, but he made up various stories.

At first, he said he didn’t go to the apartment that day. After that, he confessed he was really there and left after some arguments. Because of his misleading statements, it was impossible for Kristen’s family to make James admit that he is the reason for Kristen’s absence.

Mary Dailey, the loving and caring mother of Kristen, thought of a solution. She borrowed the surveillance tape from the Jaycee Manor Apartment. There, they found the answers to the numerous questions that led to Kristen’s absence.

On the tape, they saw that Anderson went to the apartment, and upon coming out, was carrying Kristen’s body with him. Kristen was killed but her body was missing.

The tapes were given as evidence to the police officers of Martins Ferry but still they didn’t arrest Anderson, and even informed Kristen’s family that Anderson had to turn himself in to the authorities – voluntarily. Where’s the justice to that?

However, peace finally came when Anderson soon killed himself using a shotgun that he bought from a pawnshop. And because of his death, no one knew where Kristen’s body can be found. He even told a friend that no one will ever find out.

The answers are yet unknown. But the search for her body still goes on. Though the Martins Ferry is dropping the case, hope will always be there as long as the family, close friends, and colleagues of Kristen believes that Kristen’s body will soon be found, and the case will finally be laid to rest.