The search for a NJ girl missing since Saturday seems to have ended, as authorities discovered a body in a recycling container in Clayton, NJ. The Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office said that the body, found at 10 p.m. last night, "has been preliminary determined to be that of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale."
The prosecutor's office added, "This is a very sad day for the Pasquale family. Our hearts go out to the family and to all the residents of Clayton who stood together in support of this young girl."
Autumn was last seen at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, riding her bicycle near her home in Clayton, NJ. According to CBS News:
A friend, 11-year-old DeAnna Edwards-McMillen, said Autumn was at her house Friday night and they exchanged text messages on Saturday. She said she received the last text at 1:22 p.m. and didn't believe it was intended for her. She said it read, "don't be like that."
DeAnna's mother, Debi McMillen, said Pasquale was often at their house and that she always went home before her 8 p.m. curfew. It wasn't until about 9:30 p.m. that she was reported missing—90 minutes past her 8 p.m. curfew, said Paul Spadofora, a family spokesman, the uncle of Autumn's father and the girl's godfather.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers and thousands of volunteers searched for her, and the authorities interviewed dozens of people— and accounted for area sex offenders—but did not find a suspect. Authorities even offered a $10,000 reward.
It's unclear how authorities found the girl's body.
