New Jersey teenage brothers lure 12-year-old girl into home, then murder her

By Greg Goodsell
10/24/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Victim was just shy of 13th birthday; no motive for killing as of yet

A 17 and 15-year-old brother have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 12-year-old girl. According to police, the youngest brother lured little Autumn Pasquale of Clayton, New Jersey into their home with the promise of bicycle repairs when the oldest brother strangled her and stuffed her body into a recycle bin.

12-year-old Autumn' Pasquale's body was found Monday morning in a recycling bin on a vacant property next to the home where the boys live, police said. The suspects had attended a community vigil for her shortly before the discovery.

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LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Autumn had been reported missing since this past weekend. She was last seen riding her BMX bike Saturday, a little more than a week before what would have been her 13th birthday. She appeared to have been strangled, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton said.

The boys' mother had come forward with information about a posting on a son's Facebook account. Authorities wouldn't say what was on the Web site or discuss a possible motive for the killing. There were no signs of sexual assault.

The brothers apparently lured Autumn into the house they shared with their mother and stepfather for the purpose of getting parts for her treasured BMX bike. Autumn rode the bike frequently and talked about on her Facebook pages.

Both brothers have been charged with first-degree murder, body disposal and tampering with evidence. The 15-year-old has also been charged with luring.

Dalton says his office is considering trying to have the case transferred to adult court. The boys, who have remained unnamed as they are juveniles, turned themselves in with their attorneys.

Autumn's body was found Monday morning in a recycling bin on a vacant property next to the home where the boys live, police said. The suspects had attended a community vigil for her shortly before the discovery.

Autumn's BMX bike and other belongings were recovered from the boys' home. A backpack matching a description of the girl's was also seen being taken out.

Neighbors also said the house was a place where teens frequently hung out and had parties.

The home is just blocks from Autumn's house and from the town hall, where thousands of people gathered for the tearful candlelight vigil to pray for her safe return in this town of 8,000 about 25 miles south of Philadelphia.

� 2012, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: Murder, teenagers, New Jersey, search, BMX bike

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1 - 5 of 5 Comments

http://www.facebook.com/#!/Von642
6 months ago
Wait... am I readingg these comments right? Vance... why do you want them tried as adults? Wulfrano- are you seriously callin for the death penalty for a 17 year old and a 15 year old?
...is someone going to suggest praying for the victim, the killers and both families?
Elysha
6 months ago
It is so difficult to understand why someone would inflict this type of evil on her. My heart breaks for her family. I will be praying for little Autumn.
Lindangel
6 months ago
This is what our society has come to, we have removed GOD and the Ten Commandments from our lives, and we have kids killing kids over bike parts. What a sad situation. And this current president has hypnotized my fellow Catholics into voting for him again. and this man who is for the murderer of late term babies and states that marriage is NO LONGER between a man and a women. My fellow Catholics-"you will reap what you sow!"
Wulfrano Ruiz Sainz
6 months ago
Give these two sickos the electric chair so that other sickos that might be out there think it twice before doing the same thing.
vance
6 months ago
This article illustrates how low our nation has declined. This is one out of many stories like this around the country. This is a heinous crime committed by two kids who are devoid of any form of conscience or moral compass. They deserve to be tried as adults because these two punks will be just as dangerous behind bars as they on the streets.

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