Second Brother Released in Autumn Pasquale Killing

The older of two Clayton boys charged with the murder of 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale has been released from jail into the custody of his mother, and will not be charged in her death.

Eighteen-year-old Donte Robinson, whose younger brother, Justin, confessed to the killing and was sentenced to 17 years in state prison last month, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a fourth-degree obstruction of justice charge in the case.

Both were minors at the time of the incident; Donte Robinson was 17, and Justin was 15.

Superior Court Judge Colleen Maier accepted Donte Robinson's plea and sentenced him at the same time to bring the case to an end without an additional court date.

The maximum sentence for the obstruction charge is six months imprisonment; as Donte Robinson has spent the last 330 days in jail, he was free to go on the payment of a $30 fine.

Attorney Chris Hoffner offered the following statement on behalf of the Robinson family:

"Donte Robinson was released from custody today. He admitted to no crime. This confirms what we always knew: Donte did not hurt the decedent and was not involved in her death or the moving of her body.

"People may not want to believe it, but the truth prevailed today and Donte is home."

In his guilty plea, Justin Robinson indicated in a signed statement he had acted alone, and his older brother had no idea what was going on. 

Justin Robinson also said his mother and stepfather weren't home when Pasquale was killed.

“I lured a girl I knew was Autumn to the house with Facebook messages,” Justin Robinson said in court. “I put my hands around her neck to choke her. I realized it could've caused her death, and I understand it did.”

Earlier this month, Judge Walter Marshall upheld the 17-year sentence recommended in Justin Robinson's plea agreement; the teenager must serve 85 percent of it before he is parole-eligible.

“This was a horrible tragedy for all involved,” the judge said at the time, expressing his sympathies to both families.

Pasquale was killed in October 2012. The Clayton community launched a massive search for her when she was reported missing after leaving home to ride her bike. Her body was found in a recycling bin days later.