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   Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk reports during the next month, officials will revisit the area of 85th Ave SW in Becker Township, rural Staples MN, in Cass County Minnesota, where missing person Peter Achermann’s vehicle was located on July 25th, 2009. 

   Sheriff Welk reports that over the past 14 years since the disappearance, numerous tips have been received and leads followed up on but nothing significant to the ongoing investigation has been revealed. During this time, the landscape and terrain of the area that Achermann’s vehicle was located in has changed. The ongoing drought has provided an opportunity to search dried ditches and lowlands that were once filled with water, and timber harvesting has been done on neighboring parcels, with some parcels changing ownership.  Initial Investigators assigned to this case have retired or moved on, both at the County and State level, and reassignments to the case have been made.  Revisiting the initial search area will give officials an opportunity to learn about and reorient themselves with the area and the search that was done for months following the disappearance of Peter and the locating of his vehicle. 

   Sheriff Welk reports that it is important to note that while nothing significant has been recently learned about the case, the public will see officials and a number of agencies searching in the area this fall as the foliage changes. The Sheriff’s Office is not requesting any additional assistance from the public while searching and revisiting the area over the next month. While many of the original staff who responded to the disappearance and search of the area are still involved, several new staff have joined departments and agencies. Working together to re-familiarize ourselves with the area and investigation that has been conducted will give agencies the opportunity to continue to work together to seek answers to this case and hopefully someday bring closure to the Achermann family, Welk states. 

   Peter Achermann, age 82, was last seen in the Staples Motley area on July 24, 2009. His vehicle was located the following day on a minimum maintenance road in Becker Township in Cass County. Any information regarding the disappearance or case can be directed to the Cass County Sheriff’s Office at 218-547-1424 or by submitting an anonymous Crime Stoppers Tip through a web portal at http://crimestoppersmn.org

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