Man Who Raped, Killed Keansburg Girl, 11, Gets Life Sentence

FREEHOLD, NJ — The upstairs neighbor who admitted sexually assaulting and killing an 11-year-old Keansburg girl in 2017 has been sentenced to life in prison, Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni announced.

Andreas Erazo, 20, of Keansburg, was sentenced Friday by Judge David F. Bauman to life in prison. A life term is 75 years in prison, the Monmouth County prosecutor's office said. The sentence is subject to the provision of the No Early Release Act, so Erazo must serve 85 percent of the term, or 63 years, before he is eligible for parole, the prosecutor's office said.

Erazo pleaded guilty Feb. 26, to first-degree murder and first-degree aggravated sexual assault in the death of Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith, who was found dead on July 13, 2017, just hours after she was reported missing from her Hancock Street apartment.

The plea agreement was made after consultation with the victim’s family, the prosecutor's office said.

Erazo was charged after Keansburg police responded to 16 Hancock St. at 9:24 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2017, after receiving a report that Smith was missing. Keansburg police immediately launched an investigation and involved the prosecutor's office. About 10:20 a.m. on July 13, detectives from the prosecutor's office were behind the apartment complex in the back yard and saw an object wrapped up in what appeared to be a blanket or comforter up on a roof. Upon closer inspection, they found what appeared to be Smith's body. The autopsy found she had been sexually assaulted and fatally stabbed.

Police ultimately identified and charged Erazo.

A life sentence in New Jersey is considered to be 75 years, which means Erazo would be required to serve 63 years, nine months and three days before becoming eligible for release on parole.

Erazo also was sentenced to 50 years in prison for aggravated sexual assault, which will run concurrently to the life sentence. Upon release, Erazo would subject to the provisions of parole supervision for life, and Megan’s law.