Back in 1999, Michael Anderson entered a Burger King in St. Charles, Missouri, and robbed the manager of about two thousand dollars while the day’s cash was being prepared for the bank. He was quickly apprehended and, following a jury trial, found guilty of armed robbery. The judge handed down a 13-year prison sentence.
However, when it was time to begin serving his sentence, no one came to take Anderson into custody. Nervous and anticipating the police’s arrival, he waited at home. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months, and eventually years. Due to an administrative mistake, state records incorrectly indicated that Anderson was already behind bars. The Department of Corrections never issued the order to revoke his bond, effectively causing the system to lose track of him.
Anderson didn’t flee or go into hiding. Believing the issue had somehow been settled or erased, he quietly began to build a stable life. He married, launched a construction business, became a father, and dedicated his free time to mentoring at-risk youth to help them avoid the errors he once made. To those around him, he was a respectable and law-abiding citizen.
For thirteen years, Anderson lived in good faith, assuming his case was closed. Then, in 2013, the mistake was uncovered. While preparing paperwork for his release from prison, officials discovered he had never been incarcerated. The Missouri Department of Corrections promptly dispatched officers to arrest him and enforce the original sentence.
The news shocked Anderson and his family. Taken into custody, he was informed he would have to serve the full 13-year term. At the hearing, overwhelmed by the situation, he shared how profoundly his life had changed and how he had stayed on a lawful path ever since the robbery.
The story quickly captured public attention. Many argued that imprisoning him now served no real purpose, especially since the state’s own error allowed him to live freely and turn his life around. Others insisted the law must be upheld regardless of the delay.
Ultimately, the judge showed leniency. Acknowledging Anderson’s sincere rehabilitation and the system’s fault, the court ruled he would not have to serve time in prison. Instead, he was free to return to his family and continue the life he had rebuilt.
This case stands as a powerful reminder of how mistakes within the justice system can alter a person’s destiny—and how personal transformation can defy past convictions. A man once convicted of armed robbery emerged as a symbol of redemption and second chances.
