5-Year-Old Girl Was Allegedly Kidnapped and Murdered by Father's Co-Worker, Police Say

A 25-year-old Minnesota man has been arrested on suspicion of allegedly abducting and murdering his co-worker's five-year-old daughter Saturday and leaving her body in a swampy, wooded area, authorities confirm to PEOPLE.

Zachary Todd Anderson of Coon Rapids, Minnesota, was arrested Saturday night on probable cause for the alleged kidnapping and murder of Alayna Jeanne Ertl, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Her body was found in a rural area of Cass County, more than an hour away, at about 5 p.m. Saturday, say authorities.

In preliminary autopsy results released Sunday night, the Ramsey County Medical Examiner’s Office said Alayna died of homicidal violence, according to the Minnesota DPS.

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Alayna's parents called Meeker County sheriff's deputies at 10 a.m. Saturday to report her missing. The parents – whose names authorities have not been released – told police that two hours prior, they had realized that she and Anderson, who had stayed overnight, were missing along with Alayna's father's GMC Sierra truck and cell phone, according to authorities.

Anderson, a friend and co-worker of Alayna's father, "had previously been to that residence and spent a night here and there, so he's not a stranger and not new to the residence, but was just there for the night," Meeker County Sheriff Brian Cruze told reporters Saturday night.

Authorities issued an Amber Alert after 1:00 p.m. while they searched for the little girl. Later that day, Cass County sheriff's deputies located Alayna's father's stolen truck on property owned by Anderson's family in rural Cass County, which is more than an hour away.

K-9 officers found Anderson at about 4:24 p.m. about a quarter of a mile from a cabin on the property. "Anderson did not attempt to flee," according to the Minnesota DPS. "He did not have a weapon and did not resist arrest."

Anderson provided police with information that led them to Alayna's remains in a swampy wooded area a few hundred yards from the cabin, according to the Minnesota DPS. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police have not said anything about a possible motive.

Anderson remains in custody at the Crow Wing County Jail in Brainerd, Minnesota. He is expected to appear in court on Monday or Tuesday. He has not yet entered a plea and it is unknown if he has retained an attorney.