Two teenage brothers were charged on Tuesday with murdering a 12-year-old girl who had been missing since the weekend, prompting a frantic search in this South Jersey community until her body was found stuffed into a home recycling bin.
The Gloucester County prosecutor, Sean F. Dalton, said the boys’ mother played a part in cracking the case involving the girl, Autumn Pasquale. She came forward with information
about a posting on a son’s Facebook account, leading the police to the boys, Mr. Dalton said.
Mr. Dalton said the girl appeared to have been strangled. She had been riding her bicycle before she disappeared and was lured to the boys’ house, where belongings including the bicycle were found, he said.
The authorities did not discuss a motive. There were no signs of sexual assault, he said.
The names of the boys, who are juveniles, were not released, but Mr. Dalton said his office was considering trying to have the case transferred to adult court.
Both brothers were charged with counts including first-degree murder, body disposal and tampering with evidence. One of them, a 15-year-old, was charged with luring.
Three teenage brothers live at the home where the body was found, said Na’eem Williams and Jodie Robinson, both 16. One of the teenagers in the home traded BMX bicycle parts, according to a young man, Corey Hewes, 19, who said he was among those who traded with him. The house was a place where teenagers frequently hung out and had parties, some neighbors said.
Autumn’s body was found around 10 p.m. on Monday in the bin, just blocks from her house and from Borough Hall, where thousands of people had gathered earlier in the evening for a candlelight vigil.
Mr. Dalton called Clayton a safe community but said parents should continue to keep close watch on their children.
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