CLAYTON, N.J. -
It was pure emotion Tuesday night at the Clayton Baptist Church as scores of residents honored the memory of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale.
Authorities say the girl was strangled to death allegedly by two teenage brothers, ages 17 and 15, who were seen on exclusive FOX 29 video heading to court to answer murder charges.
The 12-year-old's body was found on East Clayton Avenue inside a recycling container by the house of the two teens.
In addition to first-degree murder charges, they are accused of conspiracy, luring and theft involving her white BMX bike.
Autumn was last seen riding her bike away from her house Saturday.
Prosecutors say the teen brothers lured Autumn to the house Saturday to exchange parts on her bike. She was then allegedly strangled.
Her bike and other belongings were found in the boys' home, prosecutors said.
It's at the very house where prosecutors say she died that a family member of the suspects would only say this Tuesday night: "Tell the family we give them our prayers but we don't have no comment."
Sadness is the biggest emotion by far in Clayton.
"It's been a little tough," one woman said. "But we're hoping that with tonight, and with our prayer service, this will begin the healing process that we need."
Another woman said, "It's a small town. Something like this doesn't ever really happen to us, so it's a little heartbreaking."
And neighbors who live by the crime scene that are angry and in shock.
One teen girl said, "I think it's a little pathetic. It's sad. We want to know reasons why."
"To find out that it's actually somebody across the street from my house was actually a little unnerving," said another woman.
FOX 29's Dave Kinchen was live in Clayton on Tuesday night, where neighbors gathered for the vigil.
