Five-year-old Anna Christian Waters went missing from her family’s home near Half Moon Bay, California on January 16, 1973. The local paper, “Half Moon Bay Review,” described the search for her as “the greatest in coastside history.”
After 35 years, her family and friends continue to keep up hope and search for new clues. One of the “Lead Internet Investigators,” Maureen, spoke with Crimejunkies for the latest news...
WHERE WAS ANNA LAST SEEN?
Anna was last seen inside the fenced area of her yard. It is now believed that Anna was taken from her yard, or that she may have walked up to the mailboxes on the road and taken from there.
WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON TO SEE HER?
A family friend and co-worker of Anna's stepfather arrived around 2 pm to visit just minutes before Anna went missing. He had seen Anna in the fenced in area of the yard and said "Hello" to her.
WHAT WAS SHE WEARING WHEN SHE WENT MISSING?
Anna was wearing blue Levis; blue and white striped t-shirt; black rubber boots.
NO CLUES WERE FOUND DURING THE SEARCHES?
The creek that ran thru the property which was flooded on the day Anna went missing was searched many times in the six months after her disappearance. No trace of Anna, or any article of clothing was ever found. It was not until the search of the creek was completed that the detectives decided the disappearance was an abduction. Later, in 2005, Anna's case was brought to the internet to an online crime-solving website, Websleuths.com. Today with over 6,670 posts, the search for Anna continues.
CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME ABOUT ANNA'S BROTHER RECALLING HOW A COUPLE TRIED TO LURE HIS SISTER INTO A CAR WEEKS BEFORE SHE WENT MISSING?
Here is Anna's older brothers' memory. "As far as I remember it, here is the accounting of the incident with the people in the car luring Anna towards it: It seemed like the middle of the day. Maybe it was a Saturday or Sunday. We used to like to walk towards the end of the canyon down the road heading east. The house where we lived was about 1.5 miles from the end of the canyon. We were approximately 1/4 mile from our house when a car passed us and pulled in front of us about 25 ft. Saturn, the dog barked at the car as a woman wearing a loose fitting white shirt with embroidery on it and long dark hair opened up the back door. She spoke to us from within the car, a 4 door american sedan that was a dark green or gold. Somehow I remember it as a chevy impala late 60s - it was not new. I know cars pretty well. I thought it had the old style Washington plate - white with green letters - I can't be sure about that."
"When we got the dog settled down she made small talk and addressed Anna primarily - I believe. I answered for her but she continued to address Anna with small talk and questions - do you live here?, where do you go to school?, do you walk down the road often? At that point she asked if she wanted her (us - I can't remember) to ride to the end of the road with her. This creeped me out sufficiently to turn our party around and head back home. The woman closed the door and the car scooted off quickly towards the end of the canyon. I don't remember if and how I relayed the story at the time to my parents."
"I didn't think much of it. I knew some creepy people would travel down that road every once in a while. A body was dumped closer to the entry of the canyon earlier that year. I just knew there was no way any of us was going to get into a car with people we didn't know and kind of put it behind me. I wish now I have payed closer attention to everything."
I READ ON THE WEBSITE THAT THERE IS AN ON-GOING SEARCH FOR SOMEONE WHO WAS ADOPTED IN 1973 AND LOOKING FOR THEIR BIRTH PARENTS. ANY POSSIBLE LEADS?
I am constantly looking for females born around 1967 who were adopted. Several adoptees have been reunited with birth families on Anna's behalf. Later part of 2006 an adoptee was brought to our attention as a possible match for Anna. The detectives ordered a DNA test on the adoptee and Anna's mother and brothers. The wait was 5 months to find out there was no match.
WHERE CAN SOMEONE CONTACT IF THEY HAVE INFORMATION?
Anyone with information regarding Anna or wants to submit a tip may contact San Mateo County Sheriff's Office at 650-364-1811, Case Number: 73-0484. Or National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Jerry Nance, Case Manager, 1-800-843-5678, Case Number NCMC 601935
For more information about Anna Christian Waters please visit her family webpage: www.searchingforanna.com. Anna's mother has just completed a book about the search for her daughter that took 35 years to build up the courage to write.
