Albany, WI – A Wisconsin man who fatally shot his newborn daughter and left her body in the snow has been found guilty of first-degree intentional homicide and hiding the corpse of a child nearly four years after the horrifying crime. The verdict concludes a case that shocked the nation for its brutality and the young age of the killer when the crime was committed.
The Incident: Infant Shot and Left to Die in the Woods
According to court records, Logan Kruckenberg Anderson, now 21, was 16 years old when he took his days-old baby, Harper, into the woods in Albany, Wisconsin, on January 5, 2021. His then-girlfriend, a 14-year-old, had secretly given birth in a bathtub at her home.
Days later, after family members realized the baby was missing, 911 was called, sparking an investigation that revealed a chilling story. Prosecutors said Kruckenberg Anderson stuffed the naked newborn into a backpack, took her to the woods, shot her twice in the head, and covered her body with snow before leaving.
“It’s about one person fantasizing playing house. It’s about one person bent on erasing a problem, because that was what Harper was to him,” said Prosecutor Adrienne Blais during the trial. “A problem to screw up his life, so he got rid of her, so he just tried to make her go away.”
Investigation and Evidence: Teen’s Confession Leads to Discovery
Initially, Kruckenberg Anderson and his girlfriend lied to investigators, claiming they had arranged for someone named “Tyler” on Snapchat to take Harper to an adoption agency. They told police they paid him $60 to transport the child to safety.
However, when inconsistencies emerged in their story, Anderson later confessed to taking Harper into the woods and leaving her there to die from the cold. In a later interview, he admitted to turning back and shooting her twice in the head after hearing her cry as he walked away.
Authorities said that Anderson led investigators to Harper’s body, which was found partially buried in snow. Ballistics tests later confirmed that the bullets matched a firearm recovered during the investigation.
Court Proceedings: Jury Reaches Verdict in Two Hours
After years of pretrial delays, a Green County jury deliberated for just over two hours before finding Kruckenberg Anderson guilty on both counts — first-degree intentional homicide and hiding the corpse of a child.
During the trial, his defense attorney, Kevin Smith, attempted to cast doubt on the confession, arguing that the case relied too heavily on statements from “lying teenagers” rather than physical evidence. The jury, however, found the evidence and confession consistent with the facts of the case.
Prosecutors presented testimony that the baby’s mother was 14 years old when she became pregnant and that both teens hid the pregnancy from their families. Anderson had told his girlfriend that he was taking the baby to a better home, but instead, he executed her in what prosecutors described as a calculated act to “make her go away.”
Statements and Reactions: Prosecutor Calls Crime “Erasure of a Problem”
During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Adrienne Blais told jurors that Anderson viewed his infant daughter as nothing more than an obstacle.
“This was not panic. This was not confusion. It was a decision to erase a problem,” Blais said. “He wanted to go back to life as a normal teenager — and he killed Harper to make that happen.”
The court heard that Anderson showed little remorse during questioning, admitting that he “heard her crying” but decided to shoot her anyway.
Background Context: Teen Violence and Psychological Impact
Legal analysts have called the case one of the most disturbing examples of juvenile homicide in Wisconsin history. It has prompted renewed discussion about mental health resources for teens, as well as access to sexual education and family counseling to prevent similar tragedies.
Child advocates have emphasized that early intervention and support for young parents can prevent devastating outcomes when teens feel isolated or overwhelmed.
Ongoing Developments and Sentencing
Following his conviction, Kruckenberg Anderson now faces life imprisonment when he is sentenced on March 16, 2026. The first-degree intentional homicide charge carries a mandatory life sentence under Wisconsin law, while the charge of hiding a corpse may add additional prison time.
Prosecutors said they are satisfied with the verdict and believe it delivers long-awaited justice for baby Harper, whose life ended just days after it began.
Conclusion
The conviction of Logan Kruckenberg Anderson marks the end of a years-long legal battle over a crime that stunned Wisconsin. As sentencing approaches, prosecutors and the community hope that justice for baby Harper will serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of violence and neglect — even when committed by someone so young.
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