Disbelief, Anger In Keansburg After Girl Found Buried In Her Backyard

KEANSBURG, NJ — The scene in the tiny town of Keansburg, New Jersey, is one of disbelief, anger and grief Thursday afternoon. The body of 11-year-old Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith was discovered this morning, buried just feet from where she lived on Hancock Street.

She was found by detectives with the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office who had been searching in the muggy heat since the sun came up today. The girl was first reported missing by her mother Wednesday night.

"We unfortunately uncovered her remains at about 10:45 a.m. this morning right in the backyard of the apartment complex where she lived," Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher Gramiccioni, who is on the scene, told Patch. "Her mother reported her missing last night, and today, with the benefit of daylight, we sent our child abduction response team out at 5:15 a.m. Unfortunately, when they started to dig and canvas this area, they found her remains."

Abbie was last seen by her mother Wednesday night in their apartment. She lived with her mother and possibly her mom's boyfriend in an apartment complex across the street from the McGrath Towers, a public housing complex on Hancock Street. Her father lives nearby. Her mother last saw her at 7:45 p.m. at home. The girl left her home sometime after 7:45 p.m. Her mom called police at 8:50 p.m. Wednesday to report her missing.

"At this point in time we have no reason to believe that the immediate family was at all involved in any type of foul play," the prosecutor added. "Sadly, they lost their lovely 11-year-old daughter, and we're really hopeful we can solve this crime for them."

Gramiccioni previously said authorities consider it an isolated crime.

The county's top law enforcement officer said they have not identified a person of interest yet, but are "talking to a number of people, including members of the family, friends, acquaintances and people who live in the neighborhood. We're conducting an active homicide investigation right now. We really encourage anyone to call us if they know anything."

He seemed very sad by his team's discovery this morning.

"We were really hoping we could find her," he said.

The girl's body was taken to the medical examiner Thursday afternoon, and her autopsy will be done Friday morning. The prosecutor refused to comment on any cause of death or possible sexual assault until the autopsy is done.

A crowd of people and media are gathered outside the crime scene Thursday afternoon.

"It's really sad," said Tyler Gogon, 19, who sat watching on his bike. He lives in Keansburg and said he would bike to Abbie's building all the time to visit a friend. "I would see her in the yard playing all the time, and she would always smile and wave. She seemed like a really nice little girl."

Abbie was a student in the Keansburg public school system.

Call the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 800-533-7443 if you know anything. Anyone who wishes to make an anonymous report can call the Monmouth County Crime Stoppers’ confidential tip line at 1-800-671-4400. Tipsters can also text “MONMOUTH” and their tip to 274637. Detective Wayne Raynor is the lead detective on the case.

Related: Missing Keansburg Girl, 11, Found Dead