Authorities in Nashville say a local mother crossed a line that no parent ever should, allegedly using the identity of her long-missing daughter to collect government food-stamp benefits. The arrest has torn open old wounds for the family of Jodie “Brooke” Anderson, who vanished in June 2017 and has not been heard from since.
Arrest and charges
Davidson County court records show multiple General Sessions cases tied to 51-year-old Shannon Jean Anderson, with charges that include food-stamp fraud and alleged violations of sex-offender registration. According to Davidson County court records, Anderson appeared on the review docket on May 29, and several of the listed cases carry $1,500 bonds.
Local coverage reports that prosecutors accuse Anderson of using her missing daughter’s name on SNAP applications and benefit claims over an extended period, as outlined by WSMV.
Family stunned and hurt
The arrest has been a gut punch for Brooke’s loved ones, who have spent years searching for answers. Brooke’s sister, De’anna Anderson, told the New York Post that finally locating Brooke “would take a huge load off of me,” adding that the family is still seeking both answers and justice.
Brooke’s disappearance remains a cold case
Jodie “Brooke” Anderson was last seen in mid-2017. Missing-person resources place her last known contact around June 5–6, 2017, and list the Dickerson Pike area as her final known whereabouts. She was 18 when she disappeared, and foul play is suspected, according to the city’s Nashville Cold Case file and The Charley Project.
Legal context
The docket shows several separate General Sessions cases for the same defendant, including listings for food-stamp fraud and sex-offender registration violations, along with routine review hearings. More broadly, SNAP and EBT fraud have drawn increasing scrutiny from state officials and advocates, with the Tennessee Department of Human Services and local outlets reporting on both benefit scams and stolen funds in recent years. For details on SNAP fraud investigations in Tennessee, see prior coverage from WSMV, and refer to the current court docket for case-specific information.
What’s next and how to help
Court records indicate that Anderson’s cases are scheduled for further review in Davidson County General Sessions Court and remain pending.
Meanwhile, the disappearance of Brooke Anderson is still an open cold case. Anyone with information about her whereabouts or what happened to her is urged to contact Metro Nashville Police or the cold-case team listed on the city’s missing-person page at Nashville Cold Case ([email protected]; 615-742-7463).
