ATLANTA, GA — A Georgia family is mourning the heartbreaking loss of Nicholas Anderson, a 24-year-old whose life was tragically cut short after a trip to Florida ended in mystery and sorrow.
Anderson, described by loved ones as the “glue” of the family, disappeared in April after traveling to Jacksonville, Florida, to meet someone he had connected with on a dating app. He never returned home.
In one of the last glimpses his family has of him, Nicholas is seen in a TikTok video — smiling, dancing, and full of life. That joy is now a painful memory for those closest to him.
“It broke us. It was hard. It was very hard for us,” said his aunt, Monica Tucker, speaking to 11Alive News.
More than six weeks after he was reported missing, authorities in Florida discovered skeletal remains near a retention wall along the St. John’s River, just outside Jacksonville, in May. DNA testing confirmed the remains belonged to Anderson.
Tucker said Nicholas had made the trip to meet a man he’d been talking to online. But when the time came to head home, he never boarded his return bus. Alarmed, the family tried contacting the man he’d planned to meet. According to Tucker, his shifting accounts raised suspicions.
“First, he said he didn’t see him. Then he said they watched movies at a hotel. Then he said they went to get cigarettes. And then he started talking about a pier,” Tucker recalled.
Despite the inconsistencies, Tucker said police later cleared the man of any involvement. Still, questions remain.
Anderson had been diagnosed with schizophrenia three to four years ago but was reportedly taking his medication regularly. His family firmly believes he would not have harmed himself.
“He would never hurt himself, and he knows how to swim. So there’s no way. I think it’s foul play,” Tucker said.
As of now, the cause of death remains undetermined, and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office confirms the investigation is still ongoing.
Nicholas Anderson’s family continues to grieve while holding onto memories of his light and energy. They say they won’t stop fighting until they know what really happened.
“We just want the truth,” Tucker said. “He deserved so much more than this.”
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