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Neighbor of slain 11-year-old girl held on murder charge

Neighbor of slain 11-year-old girl held on murder charge | iNFOnews.ca
Investigators work at the scene where the body of 11-year-old Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith was found Thursday, July 13, 2017, in Keansburg, N.J. Authorities in New Jersey say the11-year-old girl reported missing was found dead near her apartment complex, and police are investigating her death as a homicide. (Patti Sapone/NJ Advance Media via AP)

FREEHOLD, N.J. – An 18-year-old neighbour charged in the slaying of an 11-year-old New Jersey girl who had been reported missing made his first court appearance Friday and was ordered held without bail pending a hearing.

Andreas Erazo is charged with murder and two weapons offences in the death of Abbiegail Smith.

The girl’s body was found Thursday morning wrapped in blanket or comforter near the apartment building where she lived in Keansburg. The Monmouth County prosecutor’s office says Erazo lived in an upstairs apartment.

Smith was last seen in her apartment Wednesday night and was reported missing by her mother about an hour later. She was fatally stabbed, an assistant county prosecutor said in court Friday.

A phone message left with Erazo’s attorney on Friday hasn’t been returned.

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Abbey Westbury

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