ALBANY, WI – A Wisconsin father who stands accused of killing his newborn daughter and leaving her body in a snow-covered wooded area is set to face trial more than three years after the tragic incident.
Logan Kruckenberg Anderson, now 21, was a teenager when authorities allege he fatally shot his infant daughter, Harper, and attempted to conceal her body near his hometown of Albany, a small community roughly 30 miles south of Madison. The case, which shocked the Green County area, is now headed to court as legal proceedings begin this fall.
Investigators say the events began when Kruckenberg Anderson’s girlfriend, then also a teenager, delivered the baby in a bathtub at a private home on January 5, 2021. Days passed before the newborn was reported missing. According to law enforcement, the infant’s father called 911, claiming at the time that the baby’s mother had taken the child from the house and that he did not know the infant’s whereabouts.
Detectives from the Green County Sheriff’s Office questioned both teenagers about the disappearance. During questioning, the girl reportedly told authorities the pair had agreed they could not care for the child. Initially, Kruckenberg Anderson told investigators they had arranged to hand over the newborn to a third party known only as “Tyler,” who he claimed had agreed to deliver the baby to an adoption agency in exchange for $60.
As the investigation progressed, however, Kruckenberg Anderson’s version of events shifted. Law enforcement officials say he ultimately confessed to taking Harper to a wooded area, where he left her unclothed body and covered her with snow. He admitted he could still hear the baby crying as he walked away, according to statements documented by investigators.
Further examination of the scene by forensic experts revealed the baby had not only been abandoned but also shot. Following additional interviews, authorities allege Kruckenberg Anderson admitted to shooting Harper twice in the head before leaving the area.
The investigation took another turn when a firearm was surrendered to the sheriff’s office by a local juvenile who said Kruckenberg Anderson had handed it off just days after the disappearance. Ballistics testing confirmed that the weapon matched two bullets discovered at the scene.
Kruckenberg Anderson faces charges of first-degree intentional homicide and of hiding a child’s corpse. If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Court records show he appeared before a judge on Tuesday for a final pretrial hearing, with his trial scheduled to begin on October 27.
Authorities said no charges have been filed against the baby’s mother in connection with the case. The legal proceedings are expected to draw attention throughout Wisconsin as the community grapples with the devastating details surrounding Harper’s death.
As the trial date approaches, both prosecutors and defense attorneys are preparing for what is expected to be an emotionally charged examination of the events leading to the infant’s tragic fate.