Arrest photo

Five-year-old girl found dead in rural Motley

Suspect charged with murder, sexual assault
Investigation continues; anyone who may have seen Anderson is asked to call law enforcement

A 25-year-old Coon Rapids man has been charged with murdering, kidnapping and sexually assaulting his friend’s five-year-old daughter, Alayna Jeanne Ertl of Watkins. The girl was found dead Aug. 20, in the Wilderness Park area north of Motley.

Cass County Attorney Christopher Strandlie reported Aug. 23, that Zachary Todd Anderson has been charged with second degree intentional murder, first degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping; and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. 

The criminal complaint alleges that Anderson abducted the girl and stole a 2002 GMC pick-up from her family’s home in Meeker County prior to 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 20. The vehicle was discovered located at a cabin owned by Anderson’s family approximately three miles east of Leader in rural Cass County. Anderson was located and arrested in a swamp a short distance away. He subsequently led officers to a different area of the swamp where he said the girl’s body could be located under some debris. 

Law enforcement officials ultimately discovered the victim submerged in knee deep water and covered by brush and other debris. A preliminary autopsy ruled the cause of death to be homicidal violence due to strangulation and blunt force trauma. The medical examiner also found evidence of a sexual assault perpetrated upon the victim.

According to an earlier  press release from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alayna was last seen at approximately 2 a.m., when she had been put to bed. Her parents, Matt and Kayla Ertl, discovered she was missing at 8 a.m., as was Anderson, who had spent the night at their home. They also discovered that Matt Ertl’s white GMC Sierra work truck was missing, along with his cell phone.

Other details included in the criminal complaint note that on Aug. 19, Anderson and Alayna’s father  had played softball. After the game, the two had gone out with friends. Matt Ertl had arrived home at approximately 2:30 a.m. and Anderson arrived there between 3:30 and 3:45 a.m. The two visited until 4 a.m. and the father retired for the evening. Kayla Ertl advised officers that the last time that she had physically seen Alayna was at approximately 2:30 a.m. in her bedroom. She had fallen asleep on the couch earlier and Kayla Ertl carried her to her room at that time. She was wearing underwear and was sleeping with a pink Princess Elsa blanket from the Disney movie, “Frozen.” 

Alayna was discovered missing at approximately 8:30 a.m.; and the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office was contacted at approximately 9:56 a.m.

Meeker County Sheriff’s Office deputies conducted a neighborhood canvass for Alayna that morning. They also contacted the family’s cell phone provider to try to locate the whereabouts of Anderson. 

When Alayna was not located during the canvass, the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office contacted the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to request assistance with the investigation. BCA agents and sheriff’s deputies canvassed the area, knocking on neighborhood doors and checking video surveillance images from local businesses. Not finding any sign of Alayna or Anderson through these efforts, an AMBER alert was issued at 1:12 p.m.

At approximately 1:58 p.m., the Cass County Sheriff’s Office dispatch center was contacted by Anderson’s father who said he believed his son was the subject of an AMBER alert that had been sent out statewide. He stated that his son had called earlier in the day and wanted to have permission to go to the family’s cabin at 4926 Iroquois Loop Trail SW in Motley, located in the Wilderness Park Homeowners Association in Meadowbrook Township. Anderson’s father gave officers permission to enter his property and residence to aid in their search.

Cass County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Ratz and Collette were in the area and proceeded to the residence. Upon arrival, Deputy Ratz observed the white roof of a truck visible in a ravine and confirmed it was the stolen truck reported from Meeker County. 

No one was inside the vehicle or a cabin on the property. However, on the kitchen table, officers observed a single shot 20 gauge shot gun with multiple 20 gauge rounds spilled about. Officers also observed numerous 12 gauge rounds but no 12 gauge shot gun. Also on the table was an apparent suicide note with apparent blood on the upper corner. The keys for the stolen truck were also on the table. 

Additional law enforcement responded to the property and Anderson was located at approximately 4:24 p.m. by K-9 officers (including Deputy Bill Conner and K-9 Yankee) about a quarter mile from the cabin, in knee deep water in a swampy, wooded area. Officers observed that there were fresh lacerations to Anderson’s left wrist. Anderson did not attempt to flee, he did not have a weapon and did not resist arrest.

Information provided by Anderson as well as additional investigative efforts led law enforcement to Alayna’s remains in a swampy wooded area a few hundred yards from the cabin. Her deceased, naked body was discovered completely submerged in the water and hidden under some brush and other debris. 

An autopsy was performed on Alayna. Initial findings indicate that the cause of death was homicidal violence due to strangulation with other evidence of blunt force trauma to the victim’s head. The forensic examination of the victim also revealed evidence of a sexual assault including sexual penetration.

Due to the lack of space available at the Cass County Jail, Anderson was transported to the Crow Wing County Jail,  held on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping charges.

Further investigation revealed that Anderson was observed at approximately 8:30 a.m. at a convenience store in Browerville. He entered the store alone and purchased a bottle of water. He was wearing a softball type uniform. Subsequently, he appears in video surveillance obtained from a common clubhouse at Wilderness Park, dressed in the same attire. During the search warrant at the Anderson family’s cabin, officers discovered wet clothing that was consistent to the clothing observed in the video.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. Law enforcement asks that anyone who encountered Anderson or the stolen vehicle Aug. 20, to call 320-693-5400.

For five felony charges, Anderson faces maximum sentences of 40 years for second degree murder; 30 years for first degree criminal sexual conduct and a $40,000 fine; 40 years for kidnapping to facilitate felony or flight and a $50,000 fine; 40 years for kidnapping to commit great bodily harm/terrorize and a $50,000 fine; and five years and a $10,000 fine for theft of a motor vehicle. 

The presiding judge set bail at $2 million without conditions and $1 million with conditions. Anderson’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 10, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.

Family members spoke with 5 Eyewitness News Aug. 22, sharing emotional memories of the little brown-eyed girl who had brought so much joy to so many during her short time on earth.

“We called her our little peanut,” Alayna’s mom, Kayla, said, holding tight to a couple of stuffed toys that most likely belonged to her daughter. “She was loved by many and always had a smile on her face and a hug for anybody.”

Kayla’s dad, with tears in his eyes, said, “She was a happy little girl. She will be missed.”

Both sets of grandparents, Jeff and Mary Welle; and Rick and Kim Ertl, shared teary thoughts as well during the news segment. 

“She was a princess, our princess...she loved to sing ‘Frozen’ and ‘Let it Go,’” Mary Welle recalled. Grandpa Jeff Welle described how Alayna would dress up and dance around in her special outfits. “She was a little angel.”

A funeral for Alayna is set for Friday, Aug. 26, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Watkins. An ‘Alayna Ertl Memorial Fund’ has been set up at www.gofundme.com.

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