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Ten years ago today, a Salt Lake City girl was attacked and killed outside her house. Her killer has never been found, and police are again turning to the public for help.
Anna Palmer was stabbed multiple times on the front porch of her house. It happened in broad daylight. On this anniversary of her death, police hope there will be a break in the case.
Colleen Hackett remembers the brutal murder of the 10-year-old like it was yesterday. She lived across the street from Anna. She said, "I think about it. I think about her."
On Sept. 10, 1998, Anna's mother found the girl with multiple stab wounds on the front porch of their home. It was 7:30 at night but still light out. Police believe the attack happened less than 30 minutes before.
Anna's friend was the last one to see her alive. Lara Jones, with the Salt Lake City Police Department, said, "We know that she was alive at 7 o'clock because she and a friend made it a habit to walk each other halfway home."
Over the years, police named several persons of interest, but there wasn't enough to make an arrest. The case grew cold, but detectives aren't giving up on it.
"This is a 10-year-old child, a 10-year-old girl. All child cases, detectives become very protective of the victims they're working on behalf of," Jones said.
The murder has baffled police and neighbors, like Hackett. She often wonders how the killer managed to attack Anna in broad daylight then escape unseen. She said, "She was such a little sweetie. Oh, it gets me, it does. It really does."
She hopes police will get some answers soon and put this case to rest. "I just hope they do find who did it, I really do. I'd give anything if they did, ‘cuz it's not right," Hackett said.
Police are offering a $6,000 reward. You can phone in tips anonymously to 799-INFO.
The murder of Anna Palmer and another girl, Rosie Tapia, are the only two unsolved murders in Salt Lake involving children.
E-mail: syi@ksl.com
