Anaiah Walker entered the Arizona foster care system at age 13. Before her 14th birthday, she was trafficked by adults posing as teenagers online. By age 15, she ran away from several group homes and was officially listed as a missing child with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Just after her 16th birthday, she was supposed to testify against her abusers in court, but on May 22, 2020, Anaiah was found dead in a ditch on Interstate 10 near Watson Road. Her cause of death was high-velocity impact. She has never received justice.
The Buckeye Police Department is searching for a 2016 to 2018 Honda Civic EX or LX in the color Midnight Burgundy Pearl. They say the owner may have replaced the driver’s side door mirror cover, the front bumper, and the left front fog light cover after Anaiah’s death.
Anyone with information about Anaiah’s death or whereabouts before her death is asked to call Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. You can also submit tips online at silentwitness.org
Sources
“Billboards in Buckeye Latest Plea for Information in Anaiah Walker's Death.” KTAR.com, 4 Apr. 2023, https://ktar.com/story/5480423/billboards-in-buckeye-latest-plea-for-information-in-anaiah-walkers-death/.
“Buckeye Police Release New Evidence in Anaiah Walker I-10 Homicide Case.” YouTube, ABC 15 Arizona, 6 May 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRZJX9Kh_cg.
“Buckeye Police up Reward to $12k for Tips in Fatal Hit-and-Run of 16-Year-Old.” KTAR.com, 30 Nov. 2022, https://ktar.com/story/5370121/buckeye-police-boost-reward-to-12000-for-tips-in-fatal-hit-and-run-of-16-year-old-girl/.
The Center for the Rights of Abused Children, https://www.thecenterforchildren.org/.
Clark, Lauren. Reward Increased in Teen's Hit-and-Run Death in Buckeye. FOX 10 Phoenix, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/reward-increased-in-teens-hit-and-run-death-in-buckeye.
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Joaquin Palomino, Sara Tiano. “California Uses out-of-State Youth Facilities Marred by Rampant Abuse.” The Imprint, 11 Dec. 2020, https://imprintnews.org/child-welfare-2/california-ends-out-of-state-placements/50095.
Landers, Jamie. “Buckeye Police Closer to Finding Vehicle That Hit, Killed 16-Year-Old Anaiah Walker on I-10 in 2020.” The Arizona Republic, Arizona Republic, 6 May 2021, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2021/05/06/buckeye-police-narrow-search-car-hit-killed-anaiah-walker-interstate-10-in-2020/4975444001/.
Landers, Jamie. “Buckeye Police Closer to Finding Vehicle That Hit, Killed 16-Year-Old Anaiah Walker on I-10 in 2020.” The Arizona Republic, Arizona Republic, 6 May 2021, https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/southwest-valley-breaking/2021/05/06/buckeye-police-narrow-search-car-hit-killed-anaiah-walker-interstate-10-in-2020/4975444001/.
Olsen, Darcy. “Foster Care Children Are Easy Prey for Predators: They Disappear without a Real Search.” USA Today, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 24 Feb. 2022, https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2022/02/24/children-disappear-foster-care-trafficking/6829115001/.
“Reward Increased in Phoenix Murder of Anaiah Walker.” YouTube, ABC 15 Arizona, 30 Nov. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcGCWO1ADZs.
“Two Teens Located after Being Reported Missing from Behavioral Health Facility for Five Days.” ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), ABC15 Arizona in Phoenix (KNXV), 18 Dec. 2020, https://www.abc15.com/news/region-phoenix-metro/north-phoenix/two-teens-located-after-being-reported-missing-from-behavioral-health-facility-for-five-days.
United States, Congress, Office of Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Human Trafficking, Office of Arizona Attorney General, 2019. https://www.azag.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2019-12/Human-Trafficking-Parents-Teens_v5.pdf.
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