Family of missing 22-month-old still hope for his safe return

PINE CITY, Minn. (KMSP) - It's been nearly three decades since Aaron Anderson of Pine City went missing. And after all this time, his family is still holding out hope for his safe return. During the 27 years he's been missing the Anderson's even once hired a private investigator to look into the case.

Yet, Aaron's mother, Paulette Anderson, still stands by what she's sensed all along -- her son was abducted and someone out there knows where he is today. "I had checked on him several times and saying good boy stay right there."

Aaron was last seen on April 7 th , 1989 playing in the yard of his family home he was just 22-months-old.

"The neighbors were getting in their car ready to leave and I thought I better go over there and ask them before they're gone," Paullete said. "I asked them have you seen Aaron? And they said you didn't leave him outside alone did you, oh that river!"

The Anderson's bordered the Snake River, which was particularly high that spring.

At the time Anderson says the Pine County Sheriff thought Aaron fell in and drowned, but after combing the river banks, and surrounding area there was no sign of Aaron.

Missing Children Minnesota executive director Teresa Lhotka hopes the public will share Aaron's photos and take a close look at what he'd look like today.

"Aaron's hats never showed up, his boots never showed up there was no trace of him," Lhotka said. "Aaron deserves to be found."

Today, Aaron would be 28-years-old. He has points on the back of his ears, a white birthmark on his lower right abdomen, light brown hair, and dark brown eyes with a prominent forehead.

Aaron has three siblings who have prayed to reunite with him for decades.

"It'd be cool to actually meet the person you hear so much about and see pictures of and have him apart of our life," Aaron's sister Abriana Anderson said.

"He's so loved and he always was and we miss him and we all want to see him come home," his mother smiled.

If you know anything about what happened 27 years ago in Pine City call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.