A tragic incident has emerged from Connecticut, where a young girl has died under mysterious circumstances, found with pills around her after allegedly being sexually assaulted by her stepfather.
Twelve-year-old Eve Rogers was discovered lifeless on her bedroom floor, with traces of blood visible from her nose, in her Enfield home last month.
Her stepfather, 39-year-old Anthony Federline, has since been charged with first-degree sexual assault and risk of injury to a minor, in connection with Eve’s tragic death.
The Enfield Police Department responded to the home shortly after 10 a.m. on March 18, as detailed in an arrest affidavit obtained by the Daily Mail.
Eve’s mother, Melanie Federline, informed authorities that her daughter had retired to her room around 10 p.m. the prior evening and had locked her door, which was typical behavior for Eve.
The following morning, at approximately 10 a.m., Melanie attempted to wake Eve but received no response to her knocking, which she reported as unusual according to the affidavit.
Panicked, Melanie pried open the lock with a butter knife and found Eve unconscious with a blanket over her lap and her laptop open to YouTube, police said.
Pills had spilled onto the floor next to her dead body, but have not been identified. Police said one was pink and the other had a white powder inside.
Eve Rogers, 12, was found dead in her bedroom on the morning of March 18
Anthony Federline, 39, was arrested after police found evidence of his DNA while performing a rape kit on the victim, according to the arrest report
Eve’s mother found her face-down on her bedroom floor with a blanket around her lap
Another pill, which appeared to be labeled as Aspirin, was sitting on Eve’s desk.
Melanie called her husband for help and eventually phoned 911, per the affidavit.
According to police, when officers arrived, Federline ‘was overcome with emotions and appeared to be angry.’
At first, Federline declined an interview and allegedly told police he ‘wanted to break things.’
When officials examined Eve, they discovered that she was naked from the waist down and exhibited signs of sexual assault.
Examiners performed a sexual assault kit as police requested DNA samples from her mother, stepfather and siblings who were present at the time, per the CT Mirror.
Federline said the request ‘felt like salt in the wound,’ read the affidavit. DNA tests pointed to Federline as a ‘contributor.’
The cause of Eve’s death has not been determined as police await her autopsy and toxicology report, which could take weeks, reported the CT Insider.
Eve’s mother Melanie Federline found her daughter unresponsive. She is pictured with stepfather Anthony Federline
Eve’s cause of death has not been determined. Police found multiple pills lying next to her dead body
Eve was autistic, had been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome and was in the process of being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, police said.
She was a student at Enfield Public Schools before her mother began homeschooling her in 2022.
Amid Eve’s shocking death, friends of the family started a GoFundMe to support them through the heartbreak.
According to a tribute to Eve on the fundraising page, the girl was ‘filled with passion, justice and light.’
‘This tragedy has left them heartbroken and struggling to cope with the sudden emotional and financial burdens that come with such a loss,’ it read.
‘As they navigate this incredibly difficult time, they are in need of support from their community to help them get through the days ahead.’
Eve has been diagnosed with autism and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Her parents said she was amidst a bipolar disorder diagnosis
Her obituary said Eve was ‘unforgettable’ and was ‘uniquely herself.’
‘She cared about justice, about people, about the world as a whole,’ it read. ‘She stood up for what she believed in, even at a young age and carried a sense of empathy that was both powerful and rare.’
Eve had five siblings, whom Enfield Chief of Police Alaric Fox told WTNH are in ‘good, safe and appropriate places’ following the shocking revelation.
Federline worked as a school bus driver for Smyth Bus Company. Enfield Public Schools contracted the organization. He has since been fired from the position.
Federline is being held on a $1,000,000 bond and is set to be arraigned on April 6.
The Daily Mail contacted the Connecticut Medical Examiner for more information.
