Boyfriend is focus of Dakota County investigation into disappearance of missing woman

The boyfriend of a Dakota County woman missing since last weekend is the focus of the investigation into her disappearance, officials said Thursday.

Nicole “Nikki” Irene Anderson, 56, of Randolph Township was last seen about 10 a.m. Saturday walking from her home, the Sheriff’s Office said. Her family reported her missing two days later.

“She left her phone, wallet, glasses and medication behind, and has not been heard from since,” the Sheriff’s Office said in what it labeled as an “Endangered Missing Person Alert.”

On the day Anderson was reported missing, investigators searched her home, property and surrounding area using dogs, drones and helicopters, the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

On Wednesday, investigators searched her 42-year-old boyfriend’s home in Randolph with a court’s permission and while he was not present, the statement continued.

The boyfriend is a “person of interest and [his] property was one that Ms. Anderson frequented,” according to the statement

The man, who was wanted in Le Sueur County for a probation violation stemming from a felony drug conviction in 2022, surrendered at his home shortly afterward and was questioned about Anderson’s whereabouts, the Sheriff’s Office said. He was booked into the Le Sueur County jail late Thursday morning.

Although the Sheriff’s Office identified the boyfriend in its statement, the Star Tribune generally does not name suspects before they are charged.

“We continue our exhaustive efforts to locate Ms. Anderson,” the Sheriff’s Office statement added.

Anderson is described as white, 5 feet 6 inches tall, 135 pounds, with blond hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing, dark pants, sandals and a long-sleeve gray sweatshirt, the alert read.

Anderson’s brother, Troy Haro, posted on Facebook that “she is a cancer survivor and needs her medication.”

The Sheriff’s Office said it is receiving tips about Anderson’s whereabouts by phone at 651-438-TIPS, via email at crimeandwarranttips@dakotacounty.com and at cognitoforms.com/dakotacountymn/reportatip.