Minnesota man jailed in death of co-worker’s 5-year-old girl

A 25-year-old man has been arrested in Minnesota after the body of a missing 5-year-old girl was found in a wooded area.

“Information provided by the suspect” and other “investigative efforts” led officials to Alayna’s remains in a wooded, swampy a few hundred yards from the Anderson family cabin, the statement said.

Ertl had last been seen by her parents at 2 a.m. on Saturday when they put her to bed, but at 8 a.m. she was missing along with Anderson, who is referred to as a “guest who had spent the night”.

Authorities had information that Anderson may have been in Todd County about 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

Anyone with information should still call the Meeker County Sheriff’s Office at 320-693-5400.

Before announcing that Alayna Jeanne Ertl had been found dead, police said they were intensifying the search for the missing girl.

Alayna Ertl, 5, of Watkins, Minnesota, was abducted from her home in the middle of the night and murdered.

Anderson is accused of driving Ertl away in her father’s vehicle, with her dad’s cellphone still in the auto, officials said.

The Ramsey County Medical Examiner released a preliminary autopsy report late Sunday which states Ertl died of “homicidal violence”.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert early Saturday afternoon.

Twenty-five-year-old Zachary Anderson, of Coon Rapids, is being held in jail in connection to the weekend death of Alayna Ertl. Ertl’s father’s pickup was also reported recovered.

Records show that Anderson’s only run-ins with the law prior to Saturday had been for traffic violations. KARE 11 reached out to the family of Alayna Ertl who politely declined an interview request.

A Facebook profile under Kayla’s name added a photo without comment Saturday morning: Alayna among pink, puffy clouds.

A 5-year-old girl was abducted from Meeker County.

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The suspect in her disappearance, family friend Zachary Anderson, 26, has been arrested and a vehicle found, police said. The Meeker and Cass County sheriff’s offices are continuing to work together on the ongoing investigation.