Family of missing Dakota County woman "disappointed" in lack of information from investigators
RANDOLPH TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Two weeks after a Dakota County woman disappeared, her family isn't giving up hope.
Troy Haro says he's desperate for answers about what happened to his sister, Nikki Anderson.
"It's terrible," he said. "Lot of sleepless nights."
Anderson's been missing since three Saturdays ago.
Doorbell camera footage shows her leaving her mother's house in Randolph in Dakota County. She was barefoot, without her phone or medication.
"You wake up, you check your phone, hope for a text from her, a text from anyone," Haro said. "You think about her, every time in your mind, it comes around and comes around."
There was a glimmer of hope last week during a police search, only for it to be quickly snuffed out.
"They'd found a slipper, we thought it might've been hers but it wasn't," Haro said.
Haro says he mostly feels in the dark about what investigators are up to.
"They don't share any information with me," he said. "Really disappointed in the Dakota County Sheriff's Department. Very frustrating."
The last public update from the sheriff's office more than a week ago said Anderson's boyfriend was a person of interest.
He was picked up and is now in jail on an unrelated warrant. Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko says he is no longer a person of interest.
Haro believes his sister was abducted and says he's investigating a suspect of his own.
"I'm searching for him at this time," Haro said. "He was stalking her. He was a stalker."
Even as Haro says he's hopeful, he also speaks about his sister in the past tense.
"Keep your eyes open and watch your own family," he said. "If it can happen in Randolph, it can happen anywhere."
Leko released the following statement to WCCO:
We continue to urgently investigate Nikki's disappearance sifting through data and tips including surveillance videos captured in the area, data received from warrants, and reviewing statements. We have investigators who are solely dedicated to this case and that's all they are doing. We have conducted additional searches utilizing drones and on foot in the Randolph area looking for any sign of her. At this time, we cannot say we have a person of interest, however that could change with new information.
Despite the family and public feeling they are not receiving updates on our efforts, that does not mean we are not diligently working this case. It is under investigation and we cannot share details that could jeopardize the case. That includes sharing investigative information with the family unfortunately. We have been in contact with Nikki's brother and mother almost daily updating them on what we can share.