Investigation Renewed in 1994 Death
Marvel Anderson Case

Marvel Anderson

Fourteen years after the death of 16-year-old Marvel Anderson of St. Ignace, the U.P. Cold Case Team is planning to use advanced

DNA

testing on existing evidence to refresh the investigation, and is asking for the public's help in providing any information that may solve the case.

"We are looking at this case again from the beginning," said Mackinac County Prosecutor Fred Feleppa May 12. "We believe there are individuals who have important information and we are asking anyone with any information to please contact investigators to help us bring closure for Marvel's family.

"We're hoping new technologies used with the old evidence, along with improved police procedures, will help us bring a fresh eye to this case," Mr. Feleppa told The St. Ignace News. "DNA testing has leaped forward in the last 10 years and there are evidence samples already in labs awaiting analysis."

Although he declined to comment on specific evidence to be tested, Mr. Feleppa said he expects the testing process to take from six months to a year.

Miss Anderson was last seen in the late afternoon of Monday, May 2, 1994, after leaving LaSalle High School in St. Ignace. She was reported missing that evening by her mother when she failed to return home. Miss Anderson was five months pregnant at the time she disappeared. Her remains were discovered by bear hunters September 3, 1995, on federal land in the Hiawatha National Forest approximately 10 miles north of St. Ignace.

The Cold Case Team is a format used by Michigan State Police and other investigators to call together officers to work on a specific unsolved case. The team in this case is comprised of 10 officers with Michigan State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigations, the U.S. Forest Service, and St. Ignace city police.

Investigators have "used this cold case format in other cases in the state with success," Mr. Feleppa said, "and the team members have already met several times to work on this case."

"We have already investigated many tips in this case, but we are still looking for the missing piece of information that will break everything open."

Anyone who may have information about Miss Anderson's death is asked to call the Cold Case Team toll-free at (866) 901- 8477.