Accused Keansburg Killer Andreas Erazo 'Had Demons,' Friend Says

KEANSBURG, NJ — The 18-year-old accused of stabbing 11-year-old Keansburg girl Abbie Smith to death last week "had demons," his friend told NJ.com. Accused murderer Andreas Erazo was described as controlling, paranoid and as someone who would frequently lash out at people when he got angry, she said.

"He literally had demons he was fighting," his friend, Bobbie Burdick, 19 told Star Ledger reporters Saturday.

Erazo was born in Orlando, but grew up in Middletown. He went to New Monmouth Elementary School and Thorne Middle School. He moved to Eatontown when he was 16 and then to Keansburg. He lived in the same apartment building as his alleged murder victim. He lived with his mother in a second-floor unit and often fought with her, Burdick said. His mother, Kaleena Santos, works at the nearby Family Dollar in Keansburg. His father lives in Orlando, and is not in his life.

Bryce Ballew, who described himself as a close friend of Erazo's mother, said his mother "tried to save him" by letting him move in with her about six months ago.

Erazo is accused of stabbing Abbie to death sometime after she disappeared from her apartment last Wednesday, July 12, after 9 p.m. He then wrapped her body in blankets and hid it on the roof of a shed in the backyard, prosecutors said. Police combing the area with dogs found her body at about 10 a.m. the next day, Thursday. By Friday morning, Erazo had been arrested and charged with the crime. Related: Keansburg Girl Allegedly Stabbed To Death; Suspect Held Without Bail

Erazo was controlling and paranoid, his 19-year-old female friend said. He often thought people were against him. Burdick said she met Erazo while he was a student at Middletown High School. They once attended a high school dance there together and Erazo became angry at her because he thought her dress was too short. She said he yelled at her in front of a group of friends until she went in to change.

Erazo was once a good student, who played intramural football and basketball, but Burdick said he changed in his junior year at Middletown. He started hanging out with a group of teens who used drugs.

Read the entire NJ.com report here. Erazo has been held without bail on a first-degree murder charge in Abbie's death. His next court appearance will be this Wednesday, July 19.