Buckeye offers reward, seeks tips on murder that killed teen who escaped trafficking

Buckeye police are asking for tips surrounding the homicide of 16-year-old Anaiah Walker, who was found deceased on I-10 in 2020.

Based on her injuries, investigators determined she had been hit by a car. Detectives believe that the unknown suspect was likely driving a 2016 to 2018 Honda Civic in “midnight burgundy pearl,” according to police analysis of car parts at the scene.

Anaiah in 2018, at age 13, and another teen ran away from a group home, according to reports. The teens consequently met with two men who held them against their will at a Payless Inn Motel.

Police and court reports outline that both girls were forced into sex trafficking and drug dealing. They were also physically and sexually assaulted. The girls were able to escape after five days by running to a Circle K for help.

After this incident, reports claim Anaiah never recovered and lived a life in fear of the men she ran from.

Detectives have followed up on every lead in efforts to track down the vehicle involved in the crime and identify the suspect responsible for Anaiah’s death, according to Buckeye Police. In 2022, the department partnered with Silent Witness to increase the potential reward for information to $12,000.

Buckeye police are featuring the Silent Witness information on electronic billboards along I-10 near Miller Road for the third consecutive year. The billboard message is active now through May.