The Murder of Autumn Pasquale
For this episode I watched an episode of Web of Lies. It’s season 2 episode 1, titled ‘Lost Rider.’
A 12 year old girl disappears while riding her bike.
Background
Autumn Pasquale
Autumn Pasquale lived with her dad Anthony, brother A.J., and sister Natalie, in the small town of Clayton, New Jersey. Her parents had gotten a divorce when she was just three, and it wasn’t really said if she was close to her mom or not. Her grandma, Mary, said she was Autumn’s “mother figure.”
Autumn’s family described her a happy little girl, who was always smiling and very active. Autumn loved playing sports, and her latest obsession was BMX bikes. She had just gotten a brand new BMX bike for her 13th birthday, which unfortunately, she wouldn’t get to celebrate.
Just a Girl and Her Bike
In July 2012, Autumn had posted about her brand new bike on Facebook. In this episode, her family and friends said that Autumn loved social media. Her family would talk to her about being careful online, and they said she was very responsible.
Autumn liked to stay up late, and one night in the early morning hours, Autumn was online looking for new parts for her bike. She scrolled through her social media, and saw one of her friends had brand new handle bars for a bike. She reached out to this friend, and they made plans to put those bright blue handle bars on her bike.
The Disappearance
On Saturday, October 20, during homecoming weekend, Autumn told her dad that she had plans with a friend. Anthony invited Autumn to go to her brother’s football game with them, but she declined. Anthony told Autumn to be home by 8pm, and she agreed. Anthony said he told Autumn he loved her, and he watched her ride off on her bike.
Later that night, Anthony came home around 8pm. He said he called out for Autumn, but no one was home. He said she was very responsible, and gave her until 8:30pm. However, by 8:30pm she wasn’t home, and he said started to think something was wrong.
Anthony tried to call Autumn’s friends, but no one had seen her. Anthony called the police, but they said that Autumn was probably a runaway, and would be home tomorrow. Anthony refused to wait, he went out to look for her, he checked the skatepark, woods, and several family friends homes. There was no sign of Autumn or her bike.
The Investigation
On Sunday, October 21, the police canvassed the neighborhood, and searched various homes. The news of Autumn’s disappearance spread throughout the small town.
Barb DeFrance, a family friend, was out looking for Autumn, when she noticed a white bike against a tree in a nearby town called Franklinville. She called Anthony to come look at it, but it turned out not to be Autumn’s bike. Anthony was devastated.
Autumn’s family created a Facebook page, and many people wrote it to help search for Autumn. There were also various searches, and a vigil for Autumn. The Pasquale family hired a missing persons investigator named Joe Nick, who had been involved in over 200 missing persons cases.
A Dead End
During another search for Autumn, about 30 hours after she disappeared, a cadaver dog hit on her scent. The dog led the investigators to a home that looked abandoned. There were broken windows, and the grass was overgrown.
The home was owned by a man who lived alone. He was unnamed in this episode, but his neighbors said he was very active on Facebook, and mostly communicated with teenage girls.
The man came home while the police were there, and he agreed to let them in. They searched the home top to bottom, and there was still no sign of Autumn. The man ended up being ruled out as a suspect.
The Robinson Boys
On Monday, October 22, about 40 hours after Autumn disappeared, Joe Nick received a tip about two teenagers. The teenagers were named Dante, 17, and Justin, 15. Joe asked several people about the Robinson’s, and everyone said that they would take bikes, not fix them. They didn’t think Autumn even knew the boys, even though they lived nearby.
Dante and Justin Robinson
Joe went to speak to the Robinson boys, and Dante told him that his brother had been Facebook messaging Autumn on the day she disappeared. Joe asked Dante if he could see the messages, and Dante agreed.
Justin was revealed to be the person that told Autumn to come meet him, so he could give her the new handle bars for her bike. On that Saturday, Autumn asked Justin where he lived. Justin told Autumn that he lived in the blue house with the number 77.
House #77
Joe knew that the Robinson home wasn’t blue, and it wasn’t number 77. House number 77 was an abandoned “factory,” that led to the backyard of Dante and Justin’s home. In the backyard, Joe found thin tire tracks that led to the backdoor. Joe had more questions for Dante.
Joe asked Dante where he was on Saturday. Dante said he was in the basement working out. Joe asked to see them, and Dante agreed. Dante led Joe to the basement, where he found more tire tracks. The tire tracks seemed to lead to another door, and Joe asked to look inside. Dante told him he couldn’t go in there. Joe reported everything to the police, and 57 hours after Autumn disappeared, police were inside the Robinson home.
A Horrific Discovery
While the police were searching the outside of the home, they made a discovery. Autumn Pasquale was found dead, upside down in a recycling bin behind Dante and Justin’s home. She had suffered blunt force trauma, and her cause of death was strangulation. Autumn’s phone was also found in the basement, taped behind a toilet. Her BMX bike was found in the room that Dante wouldn’t let Joe search.
Justin Robinson confessed to killing Autumn. The theory is that Autumn and Justin were messaging, he invited her over, and told her to go near the abandoned factory where there would be no witnesses. Once Autumn was inside the home, Justin killed her to steal her bike.
The Robinson home
Convictions
On September 12, 2013, Justin accepted a plea. He pleaded guilty to aggravated manslaughter and was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
He said he didn’t kill Autumn over a bike, and that he was sorry.
Justin in court
Dante Robinson pleaded guilty to fourth degree obstruction, but was released for time served.
When their dad Alonzo Robinson was asked about Autumn’s death, he said:
“I think someone wanted the girl’s bicycle. Maybe she wanted her bike, and resisted, and of them snatched her off her bike.”
Or maybe your children are just evil.
Other
In May 2017, Dante Robinson and four other people, broke into a home in to steal money and guns. Dante was shot during the incident and arrested the next day. He was sentenced to 35 1/2 years.
FINAL THOUGHTS
This case broke my heart. A 12 year old girl, who was very trusting, was killed because someone wanted her bike. It’s surprising to me that these teenage boys hadn’t gotten into trouble before this. It just seems like a very heavy crime to commit for your first crime. However, if everyone in the neighborhood knew that they liked to steal, they probably just didn’t get in much trouble.
If you ask me, the sentences are WAY too light. Dante could have easily killed someone during this home invasion, and he deserves to be locked up in prison forever. I don’t think they will ever learn their lesson or be rehabilitated.
Sources
https://madmikesamerica.com/2019/08/when-we-were-twelve-the-tragic-death-of-autumn-pasquale/
https://www.nj.com/news/2018/03/a_killer_explains_slaying_of_a_child_i_didnt_kill.html
