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Timeline Of Events In Lead Up To Alayna Ertl's Murder

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- WCCO has learned new details about the hours leading up to the kidnapping of Alayna Ertl.

Zac Anderson, who has been charged in the 5-year-old's murder, had drinks with her parents the night before.

Dad Matt Ertl and Zac Anderson arrived together at Riverside Tavern in Forest City on Friday night around 10:30 p.m.

They came after a softball game. The team, The River Rats, is sponsored by the bar. Matt and Zac are regulars on Friday nights after softball.

On Aug. 19, they played the jukebox and hung out. Zac had two beers in about two hours. He paid in cash. The bar closes at 1 a.m., and that is when they left. The two had a driver.

From there, the group arrived at Gordie's Bar in Watkins around 1:30 a.m., just blocks from the Ertl home. Alayna's mom, Kayla, was also there.

Alayna Ertl
Alayna Ertl (credit: Minnesota BCA)

Zac bought the Ertls a beer or two. He drank Vodka Red Bulls. The bar only takes cash. They joked around and told stories.

Zac talked about how he loves to hunt at his family cabin, the same cabin where police later found him, and discovered Alayna's body.

The group ordered a pizza and took it to go. The bar closed at 2 a.m., they stayed until about 2:30 a.m. According to the statement of probable cause, that is the same time Kayla Ertl moved Alayna to her bedroom.

That is the last time she saw her. Matt Ertl got home around 2:30 a.m.

Zac arrived between 3:30 a.m. and 3:45 a.m. He and Matt talked until about 4 a.m., when Matt "retired for the evening."

By 8:30 a.m., Alayna and Zac were missing.

By all accounts, people said this was a typical Friday night out among trusted friends.

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