Two teenage brothers have been arrested for killing a 12-year-old girl who had been missing since the weekend, prompting a frantic search by her small hometown until her body was found stuffed in a recycling container.
The mother of the boys, 15 and 17, played a part in cracking the case involving Autumn Pasquale, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton said at a news conference. She came forward with information about a posting on a son's Facebook account, leading police to the boys, Dalton said.
WATCH: DA Announces Arrests of 2 Teen Brothers in Death of Girl, 12
The girl appeared to have been strangled, he said. She had been riding her bicycle before she disappeared and was lured to the boys' house, where belongings including the bike were found, Dalton said.
Authorities did not discuss a motive. There were no signs of sexual assault, Dalton said.
The boys' names were not released because they are juveniles, but Dalton said his office is considering trying to have it transferred to adult court. The boys will have public defenders, but it wasn't clear yet who they were.
Both brothers were charged with counts including first-degree murder, body disposal and tampering with evidence. The 15-year-old was also 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 teens in the home traded BMX bike 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 teens frequently hung out and had parties, some neighbors said.
Autumn's body was found around 10 p.m. Monday in the bin just blocks from her house and from Borough Hall, where thousands of people gathered earlier in the evening for a tearful candlelight vigil to pray for her safe return.
"The search for Autumn is over," Dalton said Tuesday.
Autumn was last seen around 12:30 p.m. Saturday pedaling her bike away from the home where she lives with her father, her two siblings, her father's girlfriend and the girlfriend's children, authorities said.
Relatives said they believed she was heading to see a friend, and they became worried only after she did not return by her 8 p.m. curfew.
