Justin Robinson admitted in court Wednesday that he murdered 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale inside his family's home in Clayton, N.J.
Robinson was 15 years old when he was arrested for her murder along with his older brother Dante, who was 17 at the time.
Police say Autumn was riding her bike on her way to a friend's house on Oct. 20, 2012, when the Robinson brothers allegedly lured the girl into their home with the promise of trading bike parts.
Two days after her disappearance, the girl's body was found stuffed into a recycling bin a few blocks away from her home.
In court Wednesday, the now 16-year-old Justin Robinson pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and took sole responsibility for her murder.
Camden County Prosecutor Warren W. Faulk said about 25 members of Autumn's family were in Superior Court today, as Justin admitted to choking Autumn in the basement of his family's home.
Prosecutors say Robinson's mother and stepfather were not home at the time.
"Autumn's death was senseless and it shook the community to its core. There will never be punishment commensurate with her brutal killing," said Faulk.
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The 16-year-old entered his plea today as an adult. "In our opinion, the nature of the crime demanded that Justin Robinson be sentenced as a adult and face adult penalties," said Faulk.
Robinson's plea carries a 17-year sentence, Faulk said, and requires that he serves at least 85 percent of that time before he's eligible for parole.
The case against his brother, Dante, is still pending in Juvenile Court. Faulk couldn't comment on that case.
