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

The boyfriend of a Dakota County woman missing since Saturday 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 and reported missing by her family two days later, the Sheriff's Office said.

"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 that day Anderson was reported missing, investigators conducted an extensive search of her home, property, and surrounding area on foot and by air using dogs, drones and helicopters, a Sheriff's Office statement issued Thursday read.

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 statement classified him as a "person of interest, and [his] property was one that Ms. Anderson frequented."

In response to a warrant for his arrest in Le Sueur County for a probation violation stemming from a felony drug conviction in 2022, the man surrendered at his home shortly afterward and was questioned about Anderson's whereabouts, the Dakota County Sheriff's Office said. He was booked into the Le Sueur County jail late Thursday morning.

While the Sheriff's Office identified the boyfriend in its statement, but the Star Tribune generally does not identify 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.