Phoenix, Arizona – Phoenix detectives have made a major breakthrough in the 2005 murder case of a baby found deceased at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, as reported by True Crime Arizona.
The victim, known as “Baby Skylar,” had remained a cold case for nearly 20 years until recently. Through DNA and genealogy analysis, detectives were led to 51-year-old Annie Anderson in Washington, who is now facing first-degree murder charges and will be extradited back to Arizona.
On October 10th, 2005, the deceased newborn was discovered in a trash can in the women’s bathroom on the ticketing level of Terminal 4 at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, in a black bag. This unfathomable discovery led investigators to believe Baby Skylar lived for just 24 hours and was then left behind by her mother, leading to her tragic and mysterious story.
It took years for the investigation to lead to a grand jury, but eventually, Anderson was indicted on first-degree murder charges and is currently awaiting extradition back to Arizona. The investigative process that led to Anderson’s arrest will be detailed by Phoenix PD at an upcoming press conference.
Retired cold case homicide detective Troy Hillman, who worked on this case for years, expressed his emotional response to the case, stating that Baby Skylar could have had a chance at life if her mother had dropped her off at a Safe Haven or hospital.
The use of DNA and genealogy analysis led police to a possible match to Skylar’s mother in 2021. Hillman emphasized the importance of the technological advancements in solving cases like this, ensuring that killers will eventually be found.