A chilling case of infant abandonment and alleged murder has come to a close after nearly two decades, thanks to advancements in DNA technology and persistent investigative work. Annie Anderson was taken into custody in Washington state on December 21st, 2023, in connection with the death of an infant found discarded in a trash can at Arizona’s Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport in 2005.
The heartbreaking discovery of the newborn, who became known as Baby Skyler, sent shockwaves through the community. Baby Skyler was found wrapped in newspapers, a towel, and a plastic Marriott bag inside a bathroom trash can. Despite efforts to save the infant, Baby Skyler was pronounced dead at the scene.
Image of a baby wrapped in a blanket
Medical examinations determined the cause of death to be suffocation, indicating the baby had been alive for a period of time after birth. This tragic detail fueled the determination of law enforcement to find the person responsible for Baby Skyler’s demise.
Years turned into decades, and the case went cold, leaving a lingering sense of injustice for Baby Skyler. But the pursuit of truth never ceased. The FBI held onto DNA evidence collected from Baby Skyler, hoping that one day, advancements in technology might lead them to the answers they desperately sought.
That day came when the FBI’s DNA database, CODIS, yielded a match. The DNA profile pointed directly to Annie Anderson.
Image of a police officer
Armed with this crucial lead, investigators traveled to Washington state in 2022 to question Anderson. During the interview, she confessed to being Baby Skyler’s mother and provided her account of the events that unfolded in 2005.
Anderson claimed she gave birth to Baby Skyler in an Arizona hotel room. She alleged that the baby was stillborn, delivered into a bathtub filled with water. However, this account contradicted the medical examiner’s findings, which confirmed Baby Skyler had lived for some time after birth.
Further investigation and Anderson’s alleged statements suggested that she panicked after the birth, fearing the repercussions of having a baby she was not prepared for. She allegedly placed Baby Skyler in a backpack and disposed of it in the airport trash can before boarding a flight to Washington state.
Despite the years that had passed, the weight of her alleged actions caught up with Anderson. When police arrived at her residence with an arrest warrant for homicide, she seemed unsurprised. Body camera footage captured the moment officers approached Anderson, who calmly acknowledged the situation, stating, “I knew this was coming, in a roundabout sort of way.”
Image of a police car
As officers prepared to transport Anderson to jail, her mother rushed to gather shoes and a jacket for her daughter. The emotional scene played out as Anderson, now in handcuffs, expressed concern for her belongings and requested to make a phone call to handle financial arrangements for her attorney.
Throughout the arrest, officers exhibited professionalism and patience, allowing Anderson to make necessary arrangements and speak with her mother before transporting her to jail.
Anderson was initially booked in Washington state as a fugitive from justice. This week, she was extradited back to Arizona to face charges related to Baby Skyler’s death.
Maricopa County Sheriff Russ Skinner released a statement commending the collaborative efforts of the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, Phoenix Police, and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office in bringing this nearly two-decade-old case to a close. He emphasized their commitment to community safety and justice, stating, “This reaffirms our vow to community security and justice.”
Annie Anderson currently faces charges of first-degree murder, child abuse, and abandoning or concealing a dead body. The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office will now handle the prosecution of this case, seeking justice for Baby Skyler.
