Petition to try brothers that killed 12 year old Autumn as adults

11 years ago

I have not seen the petition online until today; has anyone else seen it? I live fairly close to where this happened; her aunt is my neighbor.

According to what I read; it's been around since late October :( From what I hear; if laws have not changed in the last 10 years... They can only be detained until age 18 if tried as juveniles. If they're tried in juvenile court they don't have the right to bail or a jury trial. They would probably go to Jamesburg if found guilty. If tried as adults I believe the standard is 30 yrs for first degree murder

Petition on change.org Superior Court Judge Colleen A Maier Try Defendants as ADULTS in the murder of 12 year old Autumn Pasquale

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Comments (12)

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
11 years ago
No, you are not accurate as far as sentencing goes-at least not in many states. 21, not 18 would be the age of the oldest inmates in a juvenile facility. I am not sure if it is true everywhere, but I do know that in some places, 40 years is the maximum for first degree murder in juvenile court. The child is kept in a juvenile facility until age 21 and then transferred to an adult facility.
cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)
11 years ago
Should have included: Cases like this are always so heartbreaking. I cannot imagine what any of these parents are going through. So sad.
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Oakley
11 years ago
Awful crime, but I'm really torn on trying children as adults. It's been proven that our brains don't mature until we're around 25, and the part that takes longer to mature is the part of our brain that teaches us consequences. Which is why so many teens behave as if they're indestructable, especially boys.
theroselvr
Original Author
11 years ago
Cyn; thanks for clarifying. A friend of mine told me that; there is also talk that they may be out in under 3 years. It's very heart breaking. I know people that were searching for her; my town was crawling with people. What's weird is that I did not put my recycling out that night. I always put it out; no clue why I did not. To hear they found her in one is what I think of when I roll it to the curb.

Oak; I've read that too with a similar case. This could be either of my kids; what I always come back to is the fact that this girl did not live to see her 13th birthday & she did not get another chance. The brothers were known to steal. From what I know; they sold her ipod on craigslists & used her cell phone; it pinged at a pizza place I use that's not really close to their house. Ultimately; it will be the DA's decision. Her family is still so very raw & rightfully so. I can't imagine my daughter; niece killed over bike parts.

I've read Jessica Ridgeway's killer is facing the same thing. To think he may walk out in a few years is unreal. The cases while similar are different.
lizbeth-gardener
11 years ago
Oak: I can understand the brain maturation argument being used in a lesser crime such as vandalism, etc., but I don't think this case fits. I believe one who would intentionally kill someone by strangling them (not in a fit of passion, but in order to steal her bicycle) has no moral compass, no respect for life, and even more callous to dump her body in a trash bin!
Oakley
11 years ago
You all are probably right. I'd give the 15 year old more leeway...maybe. I have to wonder if the 17 yr. old was in "charge?"
User
11 years ago
This story is beyond horrible; I too feel awful for the parents and families from both sides. Of course this won't be the popular response, but I think it's wrong to set up petitions like this. I just don't believe children should be tried as adults because until they become of legal age "legally" they ARE children and "legally" they are entitled to the rights or protections provided to them because they aren't of legal age. Other than television or video games, children have no real concept of what the ramifications of their actions are. To try them as adults will also have no influence on other kids who have the potential to kill because kids aren't typically interested in these types of stories. If these boys really did what they are accused of doing then they are obviously in need of help. Entering a juvenile facility can provide some hope of rehabilitation that no adult facility could ever offer.

As awful as this situation is, I think it's wrong to ask strangers who know little to nothing about a case to sign a petition insisting that two minors be tried as adults. The whole thing just feels like a public lynching to me. Let the people involved who really understand the case in it's entirety make the decisions they've been hired to make.
tinam61
11 years ago
Lukki!! So good to "see" you here!! You bring up some good points. I had heard nothing about this case. I wouldn't feel right signing.

As for brain maturation - I'm not buying into that. This case is so horrorific, I'm sorry to say it, but I'm really skeptical that these boys will change.

I agree with Lukki's last sentence "let the people involved who really understand the case in it's entirety make the decisions they've been hired to make". I don't envy those people at all.

My heart breaks for those parents - all of them.

tina
Oakley
11 years ago
Tina, it's a scientific fact that our brains do not mature until we're in our twenties. And it's the part of our brain which teaches us "consequences." Why do you think so many teens die in car wrecks from their reckless driving? They think absolutely nothing will happen to them. Because they aren't mature. Not even 18 year olds are mature, even though we send them to fight our war's.

There's also a reason kids have to be 21 to drink. Because they're not mature enough.

Lukki, I'm with you in the camp of not signing a petition like that. It's like playing judge and jury on nothing we really know about except for what's been written in the news.
theroselvr
Original Author
11 years ago
Her killing was in people magazine; I'm surprised more have not heard about it. I've seen it posted on a lot of major news sites. I thought there was a post here when it happened but I could be wrong. She was strangled pretty bad from what I heard then shoved in the recycling bin. I don't know what would have happened has the dogs not tracked her to that location & the bin taken to the curb & picked up by the truck.

I wish I could find the timeline; but they went to a football game after killing her & made sure they were seen all over; including her candle light vigil. One even posted to her brother (they were FB friends) asking questions about the dogs that were brought in to find her. He also posted on his FB page that he'd be moving away but they got caught before he was able to leave.

Here is a link that might be useful: one article - People magazine
goldgirl
11 years ago
The N.J. Supreme Court recently raised the legal standard that a prosecutor must meet to show that a juvenile should be prosecuted as an adult.

Criminal laws are generally set by statute, which a judge must adhere to. Some statutes do include ranges so that a judge may have some discretion, but the ultimate decision is based on the attorneys' legal arguments, not online petitions. If people want to change the laws, they need to do so via their elected officials, not by petitions to the judge.
User
11 years ago
Hi Tina!!! I still poke my nose in when time allows!

Petition to try brothers that killed 12 year old Autumn as adults

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cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

cyn427 (z. 7, N. VA)

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Petition to try brothers that killed 12 year old Autumn as adults

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