CLAYTON, N.J. – Two teenage brothers were charged Tuesday with murdering a 12-year-old girl who had been missing since the weekend, prompting a frantic search by her small hometown until her body was found stuffed into a home recycling bin.

The boys' mother played a part in cracking the case involving Autumn Pasquale, Gloucester County prosecutor Sean Dalton said at a news conference. She came forward with information about a posting on a son's Facebook account, leading police to the boys, Dalton said.

The girl appeared to have been strangled, he said. She had been riding her bicycle before she disappeared and was lured to the boys' house, where belongings including the bike were found, Dalton said.