MI MI - Marvel Ann Anderson, 16, pregnant, St. Ignace (UP), May 1994

[waunakeegan]

Marvel Anderson was a 16 year old high school sophomore that was 5 months pregnant at the time of her disappearance. When Marvel disappeared after last being seen May 2nd, 1994, police initially believed she was a runaway that may have headed to Texas to stay with a friend.
However, when bear hunters found Marvel's skeletal remains a year and a half later on Sept. 3, 1995 about 10 miles north of St. Ignace in the Hiawatha National Forest, Marvel's case turned from a missing persons case to a homicide investigation. Police said that "it appeared the killer or killers were familiar with the area where the body was found."

I haven't been able to find many details about the circumstances surrounding Marvel's murder, but authorities do consider her death to be a homicide. It looks like a cold case task force reopened her case back in 2008 hoping that they could make some breaks in the case, but it sadly appears as though there's been no developments since.

Teen's Disappearance

 

[Brotherfudz]

Never heard of this case, always intrigued by anything in Michigan

 

[Brotherfudz]

Obviously would be looking to talk to the guy who got her pregnant

 

[waunakeegan]

Obviously would be looking to talk to the guy who got her pregnant

Yes, that's definitely who I'd bet my money on. None of the articles I found mention anything about him or say whether the police have cleared him or not. I suppose there's a chance that they may not even know who the guy is too.

 

[RookieInvestigator]

There was a man in MI that raped and murdered a female in a different national forest...He's on federal death row...Even though MI is a non-death penalty state, she was killed on federal land so they sought the death penalty and got it...

Marvin Gabrion

 

[marissajaza]

I’d be interested to know whether there was any indications of fetal remains. Not much info here.

 

[Fede]

Some questions: it says "When Marvel disappeared after last being seen May 2nd, 1994"... who was the last one to saw her?

In the article of the skeleton finding said that there were suspects. Who were they? Why were they dismissed?

 

[Tigerlily81]

I grew up in the St. Ignace area and this is actually a pet case of mine that I check up on a few times each year. There were lots of rumors flying around about her boyfriend who is basically considered by a lot of locals to have gotten away with murder due to ties to law enforcement working the homicide case as well among other things. One of my friends older brothers had been a really close friend of Marvel's and said he got pulled over one day and questioned about her. They said that they were just going around clearing anybody who knew her well and getting alibi's. The case got a couple very small mentions in the local newspaper and then just nothing for years. I was hopeful when LE made the announcement that they were reopening the cold case and testing DNA but then they just went silent again-no updates since. It's always bothered me how a pregnant teen was murdered and the case barely got mentioned in the press and almost immediately went cold. The last time I was home for a visit I noticed that her framed school picture was still on the wall with the other missing and endangered kids flyers inside the local grocery store. Really made me sad.

 

[Scoopahloop]

Tigerlily81
Please get in touch with me! I'm from St. Ignace as well and I'm actually working on a cold case story about Marvel, who I used to be neighbors way back in the day. [email protected]

 

[KmDiekema]

Obviously would be looking to talk to the guy who got her pregnant

Never heard of this case, always intrigued by anything in Michigan

My husband Trooped out of St. Ignace at the time she was murdered.
The information that he was told, was that the baby's father, and grandfather. Who was the victim rights advocate in St. Ignace at the time of her death, were responsible. Everyone knew it. Unfortunately they couldn't prove it. I don't understand why they can't solve this. It's weighed on my mind since they found her.

 

[Brotherfudz]

Such a small town, would have to think they have a good idea of who did it, just don’t have the evidence to prove in court

 

[Tigerlily81]

My husband Trooped out of St. Ignace at the time she was murdered.
The information that he was told, was that the baby's father, and grandfather. Who was the victim rights advocate in St. Ignace at the time of her death, were responsible. Everyone knew it. Unfortunately they couldn't prove it. I don't understand why they can't solve this. It's weighed on my mind since they found her.

That fits pretty much with what they were saying around my area too anytime anybody mentioned it. I guess police can't very well solve a case covered up by someone working in the courthouse. I've been in there several times over the years to the records office and for a couple weddings and it's always struck me as being really dark and empty. I imagine that nobody would think twice about a victims right advocate pulling a victims file to "look over" or something. I was so hopeful that enough years had passed that when they said they had a new team on it that they maybe could get to the bottom of things with help from new people who didn't have any ulterior motives to shelve the case. I swear nothing ever gets done up there when guys hurt or kill their girlfriends or wives. So stupid and sad.

 

[Iameven]

This caught my attention as she was initially thought to be a runaway, which is what happened to a case I’m following in California .

I imagine that since was thought to be a runaway that little investigation or resources were put forward as a priority.

I’m not as familiar with this case and I’m wondering if anyone knows why Marvel was thought to be a runaway. Did the family support that theory? Was there any indication to suggest she was leaving or planning to do so such as packed bags ect?

I’m trying to research more about this quick “runaway” label as it applies to how perhaps police at the time were trained or if it is something else like lack of experience.

 

[Buffy60]

I also grew up there, but had left home before this happened. I heard she went to the baby’s fathers home and was killed by his father after an argument got out of hand. Why have they never gone after them??
Maybe someone else needs to take over that investigation before everyone involved is passed.

 

[wagonburner]

I know this is old, but my mother and Marvel's were friends when this happened. They definitely knew she wasn't a runaway. She wasn't a bad kid. When they found her, there were remains of the fetus, too (I believe her mother confirmed, but I'm not 100%).

Most residents at the time knew that it was the baby's dad and his father, they just couldn't find enough evidence. It wasn't a secret he didn't want his son to be a father. Apparently he was very angry about it. This tiny town covers for its own, though. Always has.

 

[Brotherfudz]

Is the baby’s father and family still local?

 

[Nina Michigan]

the anniversary of her disappearance is this week.

 

[Tigerlily81]

the anniversary of her disappearance is this week.

It would be nice if the cold case investigators that took over the case would say something publicly each year at this time. Even if it's just to show her family and friends that they're still working on the case and to keep it fresh in the public's minds. I guarantee in a town that small that somebody remembers something useful even if they may not realize it. It's maddening that it's still unsolved.

 

[Buffy60]

I’d be interested to know whether there was any indications of fetal remains. Not much info here.

There were fetal skeletal remains

 

[Buffy60]

I’ve spoken with a psychic who believes a male named Christian “hurt” her. Any idea if this is the boyfriends/baby’s father’s name? If not maybe she knew a Christian? She stated he moved out of state shortly after her disappearance.