On January 16, 1973, Anna Christian Waters vanished while playing in the backyard of her family’s home in San Mateo County, California.
She had arrived home at 1:00 p.m. from kindergarten at Alvin Hatch Elementary School. Once home, she changed her clothes and went outside to play. Her mother and stepfather were both inside the house.
Anna’s mother noticed that she was no longer in the yard at 2:20 p.m. She searched for Anna and then called the police at 3:00 p.m. when she couldn’t find her.
In January 1973, a creek was flowing on the family’s property, and it was in the process of overflowing. Authorities searched the creek, thinking the little girl might’ve fallen in, but there was no trace of Anna.
As the case continued to progress, signs began to point to a possible kidnapping. A neighbor reported seeing two men in a white van on the road just minutes before Anna disappeared.
One of the men was much younger than the other. However, the men were never identified.
Later, Anna’s half-brother recalled that a man and a woman attempted to lure Anna into their vehicle about a month before she went missing. The car was a 1960s Chevrolet Impala with license plates from Washington.
The woman had long, dark hair and wore a loose-fitting white shirt with embroidered details. Anna’s brother couldn’t remember what the man looked like. Anna had refused to get into the vehicle. The couple was never identified as well.
Over the years, theories have surfaced about what might’ve happened to her. One of them centers on George Henry Waters, Anna’s biological father.
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George was a doctor and began behaving erratically after Anna’s birth. Eventually, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. His family did not want to have him committed to a mental hospital; otherwise, he would’ve lost his medical license.
George had a relationship with an older man named George Brody, which is what led to his divorce from Anna’s mother. Anna’s family described Brody as manipulative, and he seemed to hold George in a sort of trance.
After the divorce, George moved into a cheap hotel in San Francisco, California, with Brody. He financially supported Brody and reportedly consulted him on every decision.
Brody also had an interest in Anna and claimed that she was the reincarnation of a woman he had lived with for decades. She had died about a month before Anna’s birth.
He made Anna’s mother legally change Anna’s middle name to “Eifee.” The word had no meaning. Brody just wanted his name to match numerologically with hers.
Following Anna’s disappearance, George never reached out to his ex-wife to express concern or ask for updates on the case. Apparently, the only known reaction he had was to ask his lawyer if he could stop paying child support.
In December 1981, Brody died of cancer. His death certificate did not include his birthdate, social security number, or any relatives.
George had been in charge of his care, and after Brody died, he destroyed most of the documents related to himself, Brody and Anna.
He took his own life by consuming poison about two weeks after Brody’s death. The police investigated George and Brody for evidence of their involvement in Anna’s disappearance, but they were unable to find anything connecting them to the case.
Anna was last seen wearing a blue and white T-shirt, blue trousers, and black rubber boots. She has dimples and a mole on her cheek.
If anyone has information regarding Anna’s disappearance, they are urged to contact the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office at 1-650-363-4911.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
