Zachary Todd Anderson is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail in the death of Alayna Ertl.
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Nine hours later, authorities found Alayna’s body in Cass County by Wilderness Park, outside Motley, authorities said. Anderson is expected to appear in court today or Tuesday.
Deputies searched the neighborhood, canvassed businesses and examined video surveillance, but couldn’t find Alayna.
Authorities believe Ertl was taken from her Watkins home early Saturday morning by a friend and co-worker of Alayna’s father.
At 10 a.m. Saturday, Kayla and Matt Ertl filed a missing person report with the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle was later found 150 miles away in Cass County, where Anderson’s family had a cabin. Anderson, unarmed, did not flee or resist arrest.
“Information provided by the suspect” and other “investigative efforts” led officials to Alayna’s remains in a wooded, swampy area a few hundred yards from the Anderson family cabin, the statement said. Police have not said how she died. K-9 officers searching the property found Anderson just before 4:30 p.m. Saturday. Her body’s discovery was reported by Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze at 6:02 p.m. Saturday and the Amber Alert was cancelled. They also said the suspect in her disappearance and murder spent the night at their home. The two men work for Vanngard Utility Partners, but do not work together on the same crew.
When the Amber Alert went out, it said the suspect was possibly wearing a black shirt that said Riverside MN Softball. Law enforcement continues to seek information from anyone who encountered Anderson or the stolen vehicle on Saturday at 320-693-5400.
“We have no known predatory sexual offender information on him or anything like that. We are at loss as to why this happened at this time”, Sheriff Cruze said. “I’m just sick about it, and I’m going to be sick about it and everybody I know is going to be sick about it for quite a while”.
“There’s a lot of people supporting them at their home – that was good to see. The community support for the family is very strong, and something like this certainly shakes the community”, Nett said.
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A GoFundMe page has been set up for those wishing to donate in Ertl’s honor and help with funeral expenses.
