A Connecticut man has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting his 12-year-old stepdaughter before she was found dead in their? home, and newly unsealed search warrants reveal investigators are examining digital devices that could lead to additional charges — including murder.
Us Weekly breaks down everything to know about Eve Rogers’ death and Anthony Federline’s arrest, below
Eve Rogers, 12, Found Dead at Home
Rogers was found unresponsive by her mother, Melanie Federline, on the morning of March 18, 2026, in their Enfield, Connecticut, home. The Enfield Police Department announced that officials responded to a report of an “unresponsive female party” at the residence around 10:25 a.m. Upon arrival, officers confirmed the 12-year-old had died.
“The cause of death was not immediately apparent,” the department’s release stated.
Rogers was found face down on the floor of her bedroom, naked from the waist down with a blanket covering the lower half of her body, according to an arrest warrant obtained by Us. Police said blood and fluids were coming out of her nose, and her muscles had started to stiffen — signs of lividity and rigor mortis.
Melanie told police she knocked on Rogers’ door to wake her up and had to unlock the door with a butter knife when the child didn’t answer. She then found Rogers face down and called her husband, Anthony, for help.
The mother told police that Rogers had autism and POTS, a condition that causes an increased heartbeat when someone stands up. Police also noted that two pills were found in the room, which included aspirin, per the arrest warrant.
DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest of Anthony Federline
Following Rogers’ death, a search warrant was executed on the home. Authorities conducted a sexual assault exam of Rogers and collected DNA from all household members due to unspecified evidence found at the scene.
Melanie, Anthony and Rogers’ three siblings all complied with police and provided their DNA. However, Anthony reportedly told investigators that having to give his DNA felt like putting “salt in the wound.”
As the investigation continued, authorities determined that Anthony’s DNA matched the sample taken from Rogers’ body. He was arrested on April 2, 2026, and charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a child.
Anthony is being held on a $1,000,000 court-set surety bond and was scheduled to be arraigned at Hartford Superior Court on April 6, 2026. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
He has not been charged in connection to Rogers’ murder.
Medical Examiner’s Findings on Eve Rogers’ Death
During the medical examiner’s examination, it was determined that the 12-year-old had signs of vaginal penetration one to three days prior to her death, according to NBC Connecticut. No signs of trauma or injuries were noted during the medical examination.
Investigators are still awaiting toxicology test results and a sexual assault kit, according to the outlet. Rogers’ cause of death cannot be determined without those results.
Digital Devices Under Investigation Amid Eve Rogers’ Death
The second and third search warrants in the case were unsealed on April 6, 2026, and revealed new details about evidence gathered from digital devices. Both warrants were dated March 20, 2026, and include information about a Samsung cell phone and Amazon tablet that investigators seized under the first warrant.
According to the second search warrant, Rogers’ mother told investigators that her child had played the online game Roblox and talked to people online using Discord. She also said that she had seen Rogers have sexual conversations with others online.
Some details regarding Roblox and Discord were redacted, but the warrant does state that Roger’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 black Samsung cell phone that investigators seized belonged to Rogers’ 17-year-old brother and was found in the bedroom next to hers.
“[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 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. The third warrant stated that investigators believe the device could lead to evidence that could charge Federline with murder.
The third search warrant also revealed details about the black Amazon tablet with a purple case that investigators seized from Rogers’ bedroom. The tablet was positioned as if it had been recently used. Investigators believe the tablet could help provide information about Rogers’ activities in the days and weeks prior to her death.
