The Disappearance of Peter Achermann
82 year old Peter Achermann was last seen in Staples, Minnesota on July 24, 2009. He disappeared after leaving home to run some errands.
Background
Peter Achermann was born on May 21, 1927 to Heinrich and Berta Achermann in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, Switzerland.
He married his wife on April 13, 1953, and they moved into a farm in Leader, Minnesota in the 1960s. They have eleven children, thirteen foster children, and twenty three grandchildren.
He suffers from jaundice and walks with a cane, but is otherwise is good health. He had plans to give a speech at his granddaughter’s wedding the day after he went missing.
Disappearance
On July 24, 2009, Peter Achermann left home in his light blue 1997 Chevrolet Caprice station wagon to run some errands.
Security footage shows him grocery shopping at Ernie’s in Staples, then picking up his wife’s medication. He was last seen getting into his station wagon in the parking lot. He was expected to return home around 2:00 pm.
Peter never returned home and hasn’t been heard from since.
Investigation
There has been no activity on Peter’s credit cards or bank account since he went missing.
On July 25, 2009, Peter’s vehicle was found stuck in the mud in a wooded area of a middle maintenance road near 85th Avenue Southwest off County Road 32 in Becker Township, ten miles away from his home in Leader.
His keys, wallet, and walking cane were missing, but the groceries and medication he had picked up the previous day were found inside.
There area where his car was found was tough terrain, and it’s unlikely he would have been able to get far on foot.
An extensive search of the area was conducted with the help of the Minnesota National Guard, but turned up no further clues as to his whereabouts.
It’s unclear why Peter ended up on the road where his car got stuck, as it was not his normal route. “He had no reason whatsoever to be on this road. He always went from town, straight home,” Sheriff Welk told CBS News.
While there’s no evidence of foul play in Peter’s disappearance, authorities say it can’t be ruled out.
Peter was declared dead by his family on July 24, 2013 for legal reasons, and they hosted a funeral for him in 2018.
Whereabouts
The location of Peter Achermann, as well as the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, remains unknown. His case is classified as endangered missing and remains unsolved.
Appearance
White male born on May 21, 1927. Peter has gray hair, brown eyes, stands 5’7 tall, and weighs 170 pounds. He had a beard at the time of his disappearance and walks with a cane.
Peter has has multiple hip replacement surgeries and has a strawberry birthmark on the back of his neck. He has a full set of dentures and wears eyeglasses.
Clothing & Accessories:
Peter was last seen wearing a tan and brown cotton button down shirt, tan cargo pants, boxer shorts, a leather belt with a Native American saying imprinted on it, tan socks, a white and blue beret, silver crucifix necklace, and brown Dr. Scholl’s velcro shoes.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Peter Achermann please contact the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at (218) 547-1424, or Crime Stoppers of Minnesota at (800) 222-8477.