Curtis Dean Anderson was born on February 15, 1961, in the United States. Details about his early life remain sparse, but he eventually became a taxi driver in the San Francisco Bay Area. His occupation provided him with extensive knowledge of local streets, which he later exploited in his criminal activities. Anderson's criminal behavior escalated over time, leading to a series of heinous acts that would later classify him as a serial killer.

Anderson's criminal activities came to light in 2000 when he kidnapped 8-year-old Midsi Sanchez in Vallejo, California. Sanchez managed to escape, leading to Anderson's arrest. During the investigation, authorities linked him to the 1999 kidnapping and murder of 7-year-old Xiana Fairchild. Anderson was convicted and sentenced to over 300 years in prison for these crimes.​

In November 2007, a month before his death, Anderson confessed to the 1988 abduction and murder of 7-year-old Amber Swartz-Garcia. He claimed to have abducted her from her front yard in Pinole, California, sedated her with root beer schnapps, and killed her in a motel near Tucson, Arizona. He stated that he disposed of her body in the desert near Benson, Arizona. Despite extensive searches, Amber's remains were never found.

Anderson also claimed responsibility for several other murders, including victims in California and Mexico. However, authorities could not corroborate all his confessions. He died of liver and kidney failure on December 9, 2007, while serving his sentence in prison.