A 25-year-old man who was considered a family friend was charged Tuesday with kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing a 5-year-old girl from central Minnesota – leaving her body submerged in a swamp and covered with debris.
Authorities say Zachary Todd Anderson abducted Alayna Ertl early Saturday from her home in Watkins, about 70 miles northwest of Minneapolis. The girl’s body was found later that day.
A preliminary autopsy found the child was strangled. There was also evidence of blunt force trauma to her head and sexual assault. Officers call it an intentional and violent death.
Anderson, of Coon Rapids, was charged in a Minnesota courtroom with multiple counts including murder, sexual assault,kidnapping and theft of a motor vehicle.
His bail was set at $2 million, or $1 million with conditions.