Zachary Todd Anderson, 25, who was staying over at Ertl’s home that night, was also gone – along with Ertl’s father’s pickup truck.
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A family friend is accused of kidnapping and murdering a 5-year-old girl in Minnesota.
A friend of the suspect in the kidnapping and murder of 5-year-old Alayna Ertl shed light Monday onto the relationship between the jailed man and the victim’s family, and the reason the suspect was likely staying at the Ertl home Friday night.
An Amber Alert for Alayna was issued at 1:12 p.m. on Saturday.
Zachary Todd Anderson, of Monticello, is now being held in the Cass County Jail in Walker awaiting charges later this week in connection with the death of Alayna Ertl.
The suspect in her disappearance, family friend Zachary Anderson, 26, has been arrested and a vehicle found, police say.
Police are not saying how Alayna died, but the medical examiner has ruled the child’s death the result of homicidal violence.
The BCA said no investigation is the same and in this case, there was plenty of confusion surrounding where the young girl was and if she had been abducted. Efforts are also made to contact the cell phone provider to locate the suspect. Alayna’s father’s white GMC Sierra truck was also missing with his cell phone inside.
The cell phone in the auto he was driving was last pinged in Todd County at 9 a.m. Police say the vehicle was later located in Cass County and they have the suspect in custody. He didn’t attempt to flee, had no weapon and didn’t resist arrest.
Alayna Ertl’s body was found around 5 p.m. Saturday near the cabin, about 100 miles north of her Watkins home.
Eight hours after she vanished, Alayna’s remains were found in a wooded, swampy area, officials said.
Local residents told KSTP that they saw an expansive search for the girl, with helicopters overhead combing the largely wooded area. Funeral director Tom Ertl is a cousin of Alayna’s grandfather Rick Ertl.
“We have no known motive”, Cruz said.
No other details were immediately available.
Deputies conducted a neighborhood canvass for Alayna.
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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.
