Two brothers have been charged in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old New Jersey teen.
Autumn Pasquale, of Clayton, N.J. went missing last weekend in her neighborhood. She was last seen riding her bicycle. Her body was found Monday in a recycling bin in her neighborhood. Hundreds of people, including police and volunteers, extensively searched for Pasquale for two days.
ABC News says the boys accused of her murder, ages 15 and 17, were Pasquale's neighbors. The two turned themselves in to authorities yesterday afternoon. The boys even attended a vigil Monday held for Pasquale.
LA Times said the two were charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with evidence and disposing of a body. The teenagers' names cannot be released because of a New Jersey law. The Times said they are set to appear in court Friday, and a Gloucester County prosecutor will likely ask the case be moved from juvenile court to adult court.
"This is a very sad day for the Pasquale family," said prosecutor Sean Dalton, ABC reports. "Our hearts go out to the family and to all the residents of Clayton who stood together in support of this young girl."
The girl's father said he last saw her riding a white BMX bike around noon Saturday. ABC says he reported his daughter missing nine hours later.
It was a Facebook that led authorities to suspect the two accused killers. Mercury News said the boys' mother became concerned over a Facebook post her son made. She alerted authorities, who are not revealing what the post said. Police arrived at the boys' home where they found Pasquale's bike, backpack and other belongings, according to Mercury News.
"We all thought that he was some creep luring children," said Joyce Fisher, who lives across the street from the boys who were charged.