The person at the center of this case
Ida Dean (Richardson) Anderson
Justice for Ida Dean (Richardson) Anderson — the trail went cold in 1958, but the truth hasn't.
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Did Ida appear in court on September 19, 1958, or did she disappear before the hearing?
Who last saw Ida on September 18, 1958, and under what circumstances?
Why did Ida maintain constant contact with family via mail but suddenly vanish before a crucial custody hearing?
Ida Dean (Richardson) Anderson, a 21-year-old woman, vanished on September 18, 1958, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, just before a critical court hearing where she was expected to regain custody of her children. She had been fighting to reunite with her two children after her estrangement from her husband and hospitalization earlier that year, and had made arrangements to fly her family to Florida immediately after the court date. Her disappearance remains unexplained—whether she never appeared in court, what happened to her that day, and where she went are all still unknown.
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Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
What happened to the planned family trip to Florida—were travel arrangements made that might provide leads?
Where was Ida's estranged husband on September 18-19, 1958, and what was his involvement in the custody dispute?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
September 18, 1958 Ann Arbor, Michigan Ida Dean (Richardson) Anderson, a 21-year-old white female, was last seen on September 18, 1958, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was due in court the next day for her parental rights case and was to be awarded custody of her children, but due to conflicting court documents it is unclear if she showed up.
Ida had left her husband in March 1958 and was hospitalized soon after for various illnesses. As a result, her estranged husband placed their children in a boarding home and moved to Chicago while Ida was in the hospital.
The state of Michigan took custody of the children and Ida had been fighting to get them back since she was released. Arrangements had been made for Ida and her children to fly to Florida to visit family after the September 19, 1958, court date but she did not show.
Prior to her disappearance, Ida remained in constant contact with her family via mail. Anyone with information regarding Ida’s disappearance is asked to contact the Ann Arbor Police Department.
Remarks: Ida Dean (Richardson) Anderson usually wore dresses, long skirts, and button-up shirts.
Ida Dean Anderson left her husband in March 1958
Ida was hospitalized for various illnesses shortly after leaving her husband
Ida Dean Anderson was last seen on September 18, 1958, in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ida was due in court on September 19, 1958, for her parental rights case to be awarded custody of her children; she did not appear