Family friend faces kidnapping, murder charges in death of girl, 5

Alayna Ertl, the sandy-haired 5-year-old girl who went missing from her Watkins home early Saturday morning, was found dead in rural Cass County later that afternoon.

A preliminary autopsy by the Ramsey County Medical Examiner said Alayna Ertl died of “homicidal violence.”

Zachary T. Anderson, of Monticello, is being held without bail in the Crow Wing County jail in Brainerd awaiting charges this week. The 25-year-old is being held on probable cause murder and kidnapping.

http://www.startribune.com/murder-kidnapping-charges-await-man-accused-of-killing-friend-s-5-year-old-daughter/390842441/