Charges Pending Against Monticello Man in Amber Alert Case

LITCHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — A Minnesota man is jailed on suspicion of first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of a co-worker's 5-year-old daughter.

Twenty-six-year-old Zachary Todd Anderson, of Monticello, is being held in the Crow Wing County Jail in the death of Alayna Ertl, who was reported missing from her home in the central Minnesota town of Watkins Saturday morning. Her disappearance led authorities to issue an Amber Alert.

Alayna's body was found nine hours later in a rural area near Motley in Cass County. Authorities arrested Anderson in the same county.

Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze says the suspect was a family friend and co-worker of Alayna's father who spent the night with the family in Watkins.

Investigators have not disclosed details of how the girl died. Autopsy results are pending.