BRAINERD, Minn. - The question remains the same today as it did six years ago - what happened to Peter Achermann?
Peter Achermann, who at the time was 82, left his residence on July 24, 2009, to run errands and was last seen on Warner Road, by the Crow Wing River Bridge between noon and 1 p.m. His vehicle, described as a light blue 1995 Chevrolet Caprice Wagon, was located off Cass County Road 32, at the end of a minimum maintenance road on July 25, 2009. Despite extensive searches of the area, no trace of Achermann has been found.
"It's frustrating," Cass County Sheriff Tom Burch said Tuesday as the sixth anniversary passed last week of the unresolved disappearance of Peter Achermann. "I have to keep telling the family the same thing ... That their loved one is still missing.
"We've had several leads over the years that we've followed up, but we've turned up nothing and haven't been able to solve it."
However, Burch said the sheriff's office is not giving up on the case until Achermann is found. He said the sheriff's office continues to work closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and is committed to solving the disappearance. Investigators continue to follow up on leads and conduct interviews.
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The family thanked volunteers and the community for all their support over the years.
"We are diligent about bringing Dad home and our work is not yet finished," Franz Achermann said.
Peter Achermann is a white man, about 5-foot-9, 175 pounds and has a black and gray beard and generally walks with a cane. The family said their father had no enemies or money to provide a motive for anyone to want to do anything to Peter Achermann. Peter Achermann also had no medical issues.
Burch said the reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person/persons responsible for the disappearance, if the disappearance is the result of foul play, will be extended.
Burch encourages anyone with information, tips or leads on Achermann's whereabouts to contact the sheriff's office at 800-450-2677, 218-547-1424 or 911.
