New warrants show evidence from digital devices being used in case where 12-year-old was found dead
The second and third search warrants in the investigation into the death of a 12-year-old girl in Enfield were unsealed on Monday, revealing new details into what investigators have found.
The first of the three search warrants was unsealed on Thursday. The newly unsealed warrants — both dated March 20 — show more information about the Samsung cell phone and Amazon tablet investigators seized under the first warrant.
Police were called to an Elm Street home on March 18 on a report of an unresponsive 12-year-old female. The child was found on the floor of a bedroom with lividity, rigor mortis, and blood and fluids coming from her nose. She was also found naked from the waist down with a blanket over the lower half of her body. Based on these circumstances, the medical investigator stopped her examination, according to an arrest warrant.
On April 2, the 12-year-old’s stepfather, Anthony Federline, was arrested and charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury. The charges came after a sexual assault kit and DNA buccal swabs indicated that Federline’s DNA was likely to be on the child, according to an arrest warrant.
Federline was also a bus driver for Enfield Public Schools, employed by Smyth Bus Company.
According to the second search warrant, the 12-year-old’s mother told investigators that her child had played the online game Roblox and talked to people online using Discord. The mother also told investigators that she has seen her child have sexual conversations with others online.
Some details regarding Roblox and Discord were redacted, but the warrant does state that the 12-year-old’s mother was “unaware of this and did not realize the deceased had snuck out of the house.” She also said she wasn’t sure if her daughter had met anyone from this “incident.”
“[Investigators] know from training and experience that the game Roblox and Discord are commonly used by child predators to communicate with underage children,” the second search warrant stated.
The new warrants also revealed details into the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner’s Post Mortum Examination of the 12-year-old girl.
On March 19, during the medical examiner’s examination, it was determined that the 12-year-old had signs of vaginal penetration one to three days prior. No signs of trauma or injuries were noted during the medical examination. The second and third search warrants state that investigators are still awaiting toxicology test results and a sexual assault kit. A cause of death cannot be determined without those results.
The black Samsung cell phone investigators seized belonged to the 12-year-old’s 17-year-old brother and was found in the room next to the 12-year-old’s, the second search warrant stated.
“[Investigators] believe that information contained in the Samsung cell phone will provide information into the activities of the deceased in the days and weeks prior to that will aid in the investigation,” the second search warrant stated. “That, through training and experience, [investigators] know that cell phones can contain a substantial amount of information relevant to the investigation of a case.”
The cell phone is now secured within the property of the Enfield Police Department, and investigators believe it could lead to evidence that could charge Federline with murder, the third search warrant stated.
The third search warrant revealed details about the black Amazon tablet with a purple case that investigators seized from the 12-year-old’s bedroom. The tablet was positioned as if it had been recently used, the third search warrant stated.
Investigators believe the tablet could help provide information about the 12-year-old’s activities in the days and weeks prior to her death, according to the third search warrant.
The tablet is also now secured within the property of the Enfield Police Department, and investigators believe it could lead to evidence that could charge Federline with murder, the third search warrant stated.
Federline did not post his $1 million bond and remains in custody. He has not been formally charged with murder.
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