NORTH HARMONY, N.Y. — The recent discovery of two sets of human remains in Chautauqua County put the families of missing women in that area on the edge of their seat.
Corrie Anderson's mom Vicki Acquisto, of North Harmony, is flipping through old family photos. Thirteen years ago this month, Corrie went missing, but is never far from Vicki's thoughts. The time apart: Immeasurable.
"It's almost like there isn't a length to it,” Vicki said. “She's always in your mind."
Corrie was last seen leaving a car dealership in Jamestown. Her family became suspicious when she didn't pick up her son from school. Her car was found two days later in a wooded area near her home.
"Thirteen years, I mean, to some, is a long time,” Vicki said. “It is a long time but, I don't look at it in a period of time."
Vicki recently got a call from State Police, as she has before, that a set of remains were found, this time on the Rails to Trails in the town of Portland.
"You think, ‘is this the time?’” she said. “I happened to be in the car and I pulled over because I just cried because it brings back a lot of memories."
Shortly after, she heard investigators found a second set of remains, yards away from the first. She was then told that second set was too new to be Corrie, while the first set may be too old.
"You get your hopes up high and then they're dashed," Vicki admitted.
Chautauqua County Sheriff James Quattrone confirms that dental records determined neither set was Corrie.
"The anguish that they have to go through every time a body is found, just knowing that their loved one is still out there some place,” Sheriff Quattrone said. “I can't personally imagine what they're going through.”
To keep busy, Vicki enjoys making things for her family. She is also thankful for the support she's received after all these years from this tight-knit community.
"I can still go someplace and somebody will say, you know, ‘We're thinking about you. We’re praying for you. We're looking. We've got our eyes open,’” Vicki said. “And that makes you feel really great that you live in a community where people really care."
Vicki is equally grateful to police and remains hopeful that one day when her phone rings, it'll be the news she's been looking for.
"Yes I would like to have closure but then, still a lot of questions,” she said. “A lot of questions. Whether she's here or not, she's with the Lord. That's where my hope is, my strength is in knowing that he has her."
Quattrone says the sheriff's office is teaming up with the Chautauqua County District Attorney's Office and other law enforcement partners to set up an unsolved crime division, which will include the Anderson case.
While there have been no arrests in connection with Corrie's disappearance, State Police say that her ex-husband, Ken Anderson, is still a person of interest in the case.