North St. Paul teen found stabbed to death in Maplewood park

Patrick Hurd last saw his 16-year-old daughter late last week when a friend picked her up at their North St. Paul home.

On Sunday, authorities confirmed she had been stabbed to death, her body discovered early Saturday morning on a path in a Maplewood city park.

Whoever killed his daughter Anna, "robbed me blind," Hurd said Sunday night. "They stole something from me that was my most prized possession."

Responding to a neighbor's call, Maplewood police found Anna Hurd dead in Hillside Park, near McKnight Road and Ripley Avenue, about five blocks from the family home.

Preliminary autopsy results from the Ramsey County medical examiner's office on Sunday indicate Hurd died from several stab wounds, said acting Maplewood Police Chief Dave Kvam.

Kvam said no arrests have been made, but police are no longer seeking an unidentified white male with blond spiked hair, whom a caller saw leaving the area Saturday. Kvam said investigators are reviewing the evidence to develop another suspect. He would not comment on whether the girl's body was clothed but said police have a possible motive.

Hurd said his daughter had been expelled from North High School in January after fighting another girl and accidentally hitting a female teacher. Anna planned to return next fall, he said.

"We will have our school social workers, psychologists and counselors on hand to talk with any student who may need to speak to a caring adult," McNeil said. "It's just very sad."

Chandra Pickett, a friend of Anna's for the past three years, said Anna had a bubbly personality. She said she last saw her friend Tuesday.

"I'm not sure what she was doing out in that park," Pickett said Sunday night.

Kvam said no further information would be provided Sunday on the murder weapon, or the severity or location of stab wounds.

Police and agents from the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension continue to investigate the homicide.

Anna apparently left his house, about six blocks from Hurd's home, the night she was killed.

Hurd said he thinks someone his daughter knew killed her, but doesn't suspect her boyfriend.

Hurd said Anna was a "popular, fun-loving girl who didn't ask for much and liked hanging out with her friends watching music videos."

Hurd said his daughter loved playing volleyball, and used to play clarinet and other instruments in the school band before they moved here from Texas, where her mother and two sisters still live.

"I don't know why anybody would want to hurt her," Pickett said. "She was a great friend."