Man Accused in Kidnapping and Murder of 5-year-old Minnesota Girl Indicted

Zachary Todd Anderson's next court appearance is set for Dec. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

A Cass County grand jury has indicted a Coon Rapids man on Friday, October 28, 2016, for the murder of 5-year-old, Alayna Ertl this past August.

The initial criminal complaint alleged that Zachary Todd Anderson abducted 5-year-old Alayna Ertl and stole a 2002 GMC pick-up from the girl’s family in Meeker County, prior to 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 20. An Amber Alert was issued for the girl, as the search went statewide.

Anderson was located at a cabin owned by his family in rural Cass County, after his father called authorities reporting his son had asked for permission to go on the property. Anderson was located and arrested in a swamp a short distance away. He then led authorities to a nearby area, where they discovered the victim submerged in knee deep water and covered by brush and debris.

A preliminary autopsy revealed that the cause of death was homicidal violence due to strangulation and blunt force trauma. The medical examiner also found evidence of sexual assault upon the victim.

The grand jury handed down a 19 count indictment against Anderson, who was previously being held on charges including 2nd Degree Murder, Kidnapping, and 1st Degree Criminal Sexual Conduct alleging the abduction, sexual assault and death of a 5-year-old Meeker County girl.

The indictment issued includes 8 counts of murder in the first degree, 1 count of 2nd degree intentional murder, 4 counts of kidnapping, 2 counts of 1st degree criminal sexual conduct, 1 count of 2nd degree criminal sexual conduct, 1 count of theft of a motor vehicle, and 2 counts of interference with a dead body.

Anderson’s bail is set at $3 million without conditions and $1.5 million with conditions.

Anderson’s next court appearance is scheduled for December 12, 2016 at 1:30 p.m.