Body of missing man found in Starvation Reservoir, sheriff’s office confirms
Feb 11, 2025, 10:21 AM | Updated: 10:35 am
FILE - Steven Willard Anderson who has been missing since June of 2004. (DPS)
(DPS)
DUCHESNE — Authorities confirmed they found the body of a man who went missing in 2004 and determined no foul play in his death.
On Tuesday, the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office announced that 47-year-old Steven Willard Anderson was found in a submerged vehicle in Starvation Reservoir on Sept. 30, 2024.
“Anderson was reported to be missing in June 2004, and his case has remained an open and ongoing investigation for several years,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release.
It wasn’t until a collaborative recovery effort with a member of the United Search Corps, a non-profit group dedicated to finding missing persons, that authorities found the submerged car about 50 feet in the reservoir in September.
The sheriff’s office said human remains were found inside the car. After DNA testing from a private lab and an examination at the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner, it was determined the remains were Anderson’s, and no foul play was suspected.
“The Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office extends its condolences to Anderson’s family and thanks all agencies involved in the recovery process for their dedication and professionalism,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office has closed the case because no foul play is suspected.
