Brothers Charged in Death of NJ Girl Identified Left to right, Dante Robinson, 17, Justin Robinson, 15
Two teen brothers have been arrested for the murder of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale. Police say the girl's body was found at the home of Justin Robinson, 15 and Dante Robinson, 17. NBC10's Harry Hairston reports.
Two teenage brothers have been charged with the murder of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale.
Autumn went missing on Saturday after telling her parents she was headed over to a friend’s house. That was around noon. She left on her white, BMX bike, but never got to that friend’s house, so her parents called police around 9:30 that night. Her father, Anthony Pasquale, told us that when she didn’t make it to her friend’s house and didn’t call, he knew something was wrong.
By Monday, the search for Autumn had grown to several hundred people and stretched as far North as New York and down South into Delaware. Investigators interviewed convicted sex offenders in the community in Gloucester County and talked with scores of friends and family members. That night, the community held a vigil, praying for Autumn’s safe return. Shortly after, around 10:30 p.m., her body was found just five blocks from her home in a blue, home recycling container outside a property in the 300 block of E. Clayton Street.The next morning, investigators brought out several bags full of items from the home. Neighbors gasped when an investigator pulled a white bike out of the home; a bike that looks just like the one Autumn was last seen riding.
Friends of the residents say three teenage brothers live at the house and one liked to trade BMX bike parts.
Autumn would have celebrated her 13th birthday next week. She attended Clayton Middle School, where counselors were available today to talk with students.
A press conference on Autumn’s death began at 4 p.m. outside the Gloucester County Government Services Building. During the press conference, officials announced two teenage brothers, ages 15 and 17, were charged with Autumn's death. Neighbors and friends identified the brothers as 15-year-old Justin Robinson and 17-year-old Dante Robinson.
The boys are charged with first degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, disposal of a body, tampering of evidence and theft. Justin is also charged with one count of luring. Both are currently in police custody.
Police believe the boys lured Autumn to their home, promising her parts for her BMX bike. During their investigation, the mother of the teens contacted police regarding postings on the Facebook account of one of the suspects, according to officials. Law enforcement used this and other evidence which led to the discovery of Autumn's body and ultimately the arrest of the teen boys.
The Gloucester County Medical Examiner's Office preliminarily determined the cause of death to be blunt force trauma, consistent with strangulation. Investigators also say there are no signs of sexual assault.
