BUCKEYE, Arizona — Five years after 16-year-old Anaiah Walker was found dead on an Interstate 10 median, Buckeye police, Silent Witness, and Anaiah’s grieving mother are joining forces to renew their call for tips in the unsolved homicide. On April 22, 2025, authorities announced they’re still searching for the driver who struck Anaiah and left her to die on May 22, 2020, at around 4:30 PM. A reward of up to $12,000 is being offered for information leading to an arrest, as the case remains a painful open wound for her family and the community.
Anaiah’s body was discovered on the I-10 median west of Watson Road in Buckeye, her life cut short by a hit-and-run. Investigators determined she had been hit by a car, and vehicle parts left at the scene pointed to a 2016 to 2018 Honda Civic LX or LE, painted in a factory color called “midnight burgundy pearl”—a rare shade that could help identify the suspect. Despite years of following leads, the driver remains at large, leaving Anaiah’s loved ones desperate for answers. Her mother, Sherika Rhymes, has publicly shared her anguish, saying in 2022, “You left as if my daughter was trash, and she belonged to me and I loved her very much.” Anaiah had dreams of working in the medical field, but those dreams were stolen in an instant.
Buckeye police have been relentless in their pursuit of justice, partnering with Silent Witness since 2022 to boost the reward to $12,000 and using electronic billboards along I-10 to keep Anaiah’s case in the public eye. The billboards, now in their third year, are displayed near Miller Road, urging anyone with information to come forward. Anaiah’s background adds another layer of tragedy—she had been a victim of sex trafficking in 2018, escaped, and was living in a group home when she went missing in December 2019. Her family believes her death may be connected to trafficking, a theory police have explored but cannot yet confirm.
Silent Witness is offering anonymity for tipsters, encouraging anyone with information to call 480-WITNESS (480-948-6377) or 480-TESTIGO (480-837-8446) for Spanish speakers. Tips can also be submitted anonymously at silentwitness.org, with the potential to earn the cash reward if the information leads to an arrest or indictment. The Buckeye community is rallying behind this renewed push, hoping someone will finally come forward to help solve this heartbreaking case and bring closure to Anaiah’s family.
Published by State Gleam
Keywords: Anaiah Walker, Buckeye Homicide, Silent Witness, 2020 Hit-and-Run, Honda Civic, I-10 Median, $12000 Reward
