By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

GARYVILLE – Mikivon Anderson has been missing for 19 days, almost the same number of days as the number of years he has lived.
According to his mother, Sheila Bryant, and aunt, Patricia Eugene, Anderson was a student in Leon Godchaux Alternative Program. Both agreed that Anderson was a quiet child who liked playing basketball and computer games. Forty-nine-year-old Eugene said she was the one who reported him missing on March 26, and she has heard a lot of conflicting information in the community concerning Anderson whereabouts and the circumstances of his disappearance — so much so that she is not sure what to think.
“He was only 17 years old. What could he have done to somebody that was that bad, for them to harm him,” asked Eugene.
Anderson’s mother said home life has not been the same since her son has gone missing. She said that she was extremely angry and thinks her son should have more news coverage than he has received thus far.
“I don’t know where my son is, and I want him back,” said Bryant. “If anybody knows anything, just come forward. Let me know where my son is,” she pleaded.
Eugene speculates that Anderson’s friends may have played a major part in his disappearance. According to her, Anderson regularly hung around a younger boy. Anderson was last seen with the boy in question at the end of Little Hope Street in Garyville, waiting for a ride to Mt. Airy on the evening that he went missing. Eugene feels that the silence of his friend is the most damning factor.
“I’m really hurt. His friends were the last ones he was seen with, so how do they not know where he is? One of his friends he was with all day. He used to come here everyday — never missed a day, everyday. After Sunday (the day he went missing), he didn’t come and look for him. Not at all. He didn’t come and look for him. He didn’t call for him. He didn’t do anything.”
Detectives at the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Department have pursued many tips in the search for Anderson, but so far to no avail. Investigators suspect Mikivon Anderson may be victim of foul play. Louisiana State Police even conducted an aerial search of the wooded areas near Garyville and Mount Airy last Tuesday.
Eugene said she doesn’t know what the motivation would be for anyone to harm Anderson but went on to say, “I know this much — a friend would come and look for you, a friend would come and help search for you too, if you’re missing.”
“We need a closure. if y’all have harmed him, it’s done already. We can’t change what has been done, but give us closure. Give us his body back so we can put him to rest and we can rest too,” said Eugene.
Anderson is a black male, medium complexion, approximately 5-feet-8-inches tall. He has scars above and below his left eye. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Anderson should call St. John Parish detectives at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.