Prosecutors: Murdered girl 11, was stabbed, bound with cord, sexually assaulted

KEANSBURG, New Jersey -- An 18-year-old neighbor charged in the murder of an 11-year-old New Jersey girl who had been reported missing appeared in court Monday.

Andreas Erazo was brought into the courtroom in shackles to face murder charges and two weapons counts after his arrest in July in the death of AbbieGail Smith.

The girl's body was found July 13 wrapped in a comforter near the apartment building where they both lived in Keansburg, N.J.

Monmouth County prosecutors said that Erazo, who lived in an upstairs apartment, admitted to stabbing the girl and binding her with a computer cord. Prosecutors said he then wrapped her body in the comforter and hid it on a nearby roof.

Prosecutors said she was also sexually assaulted.

The next step is for evidence gathered by investigators to be presented to a grand jury to decide how the case will proceed.

AbbieGail had moved with her family to the United States from her native Jamaica in 2007 and lived in Highlands, NJ before moving to Keansburg two years ago.