Autumn Pasquale’s Death Leads Authorities to Bike, Other Evidence [UPDATE]

On Monday night, authorities discovered the body of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale in a recycling bin in her hometown of Clayton, New Jersey. Pasquale, of Clayton had been reported missing on Saturday night after having been last seen riding her bike that afternoon. On Tuesday morning, authorities removed a bike, two blue, bike rims, and other bags of evidence from a Clayton home where teenage boys live. The bike appeared to match the description of the one Pasquale had been riding. Authorities have not yet said how Pasquale died or whether or not they have a person of interest. [Inquirer]

UPDATE: Law enforcement officials held a press conference to announce that a pair of brothers, 15 and 17 respectively, have been arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and related charges. The boys’ mother contacted authorities about a post one of the boys made on Facebook. Police then executed a search warrant which lead to the discovery of Autumn Pasquale’s personal items in the boys’ home. Authorities have preliminarily ruled the cause of death as blunt force trauma consistent with strangulation. Officials are considering charging the boys as adults.