2 teens charged in death of girl, 5, found in trash
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) - Two teenagers charged in the death of a 5-year-old girl whose body was dumped in a trash can were arraigned Tuesday, one on charges he killed the child.
Authorities said neither 16-year-old John Freeman nor 18-year-old Tyler Best entered a plea in Niagara Falls City Court before being sent back to jail until their next court date on Sept. 7. An autopsy on Isabella Tennant is also scheduled for Tuesday.
The teens were arrested after Best went to police Monday morning and led them to the garbage can and a trash bag holding Isabella's body. He told them he helped Freeman dispose of the body after Freeman killed her, police said.
Isabella's family had called police Monday morning to say she was missing from her great-grandmother's Niagara Falls home, where she was staying overnight while her mother worked at a corner bar just a few blocks away. Isabella's great-grandmother said she'd last seen her Sunday night with Freeman, a neighbor and family friend.
Police said they believe Freeman killed Isabella with his bare hands, but they haven't detailed the attack.
At a news conference Monday afternoon, Niagara Falls Chief Detective William Thompson said the girl was injured but there was no indication of sexual abuse.
"As far as we know, he was a trusted family friend," Thompson said. "It's a terrible crime. It tears at your heart."
Of Best going to police, Thompson said, "I imagine it was his conscience."
Freeman has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder. Best is charged with evidence tampering. Freeman and Best were in custody and couldn't be reached for comment. Their home phone numbers weren't listed, and no information about attorneys was available.
Messages left Tuesday morning for Niagara County Attorney Michael Violante weren't returned.
Authorities said neither 16-year-old John Freeman nor 18-year-old Tyler Best entered a plea in Niagara Falls City Court before being sent back to jail until their next court date on Sept. 7. An autopsy on Isabella Tennant is also scheduled for Tuesday.
The teens were arrested after Best went to police Monday morning and led them to the garbage can and a trash bag holding Isabella's body. He told them he helped Freeman dispose of the body after Freeman killed her, police said.
Isabella's family had called police Monday morning to say she was missing from her great-grandmother's Niagara Falls home, where she was staying overnight while her mother worked at a corner bar just a few blocks away. Isabella's great-grandmother said she'd last seen her Sunday night with Freeman, a neighbor and family friend.
Police said they believe Freeman killed Isabella with his bare hands, but they haven't detailed the attack.
At a news conference Monday afternoon, Niagara Falls Chief Detective William Thompson said the girl was injured but there was no indication of sexual abuse.
"As far as we know, he was a trusted family friend," Thompson said. "It's a terrible crime. It tears at your heart."
Of Best going to police, Thompson said, "I imagine it was his conscience."
Freeman has been charged as an adult with second-degree murder. Best is charged with evidence tampering. Freeman and Best were in custody and couldn't be reached for comment. Their home phone numbers weren't listed, and no information about attorneys was available.
Messages left Tuesday morning for Niagara County Attorney Michael Violante weren't returned.
Oh, come on and smile for you pretty picture you POS.
What is this world coming to? I used to play in the streets in my neighborhood when I was a child. Times have changed so much that I will not feel comfortable with my daughter playing in the same streets I grew up on. I feel so sad for Isabella and her family. May she rest peacefully.Â
Prison dont take kindly to child killers. Hope they get whats coming to them. RIP sweet child
That kid is just creepy looking. I hope the poor girl didn't suffer.
@Tattooed_Angel yeah he is
A dog that bites someone can be put down, why cant these two scum be too???
Video games have no repercussions.
 @sliverpicker Really?Â
A little 5 Year old girl ??? Dude wtf wrong with you . Please send him to general population . they will know exactly what to do with him . Yes of corse that would be cruel and inhumane , then send him out to locate mines , or test new medical procedures or...ya ya I know. What is wrong with this troubled little planet???
Yeah I was hoping they'll be charged as adults. No reason for these disgusting pigs to even be alive!
These "teen" maggots should be put down like any sick, diseased, evil thing. They should be injected with poison and burned. . . . period.
After reading this news, people who took a small part in a criminal activity may be hesitant to report the crime. The police should let Best go.
@Happi I'd hardly call helping dispose of a body "a small part."....but I'd agree that he was right to go to the police and tell them. I'm betting he's put on probation.
yeh that is no small part, I think that Best will get probation as well, or at least a minimal prison sentence in one of the more cushier prisons in the state. Â There is no reason at all why anyone regardless of age should be putting their bare hands around the throat of a small child. Â There really isn't enough to this story... Â I am sure that as the weeks go by, and the medical examiner's report is made available, the whole story will unfold.
How about some charges against the grandmother? Leaving a 5 year old girl with these guys?
 @TheBronze For leaving a 5 y/o with the 16 y/o children of a long time family friend. She has probably helped raise Freeman. There is no fault in the grandmother.
 @Jalharad  @TheBronzeFamily friend or not, girl raped or not, that guy screams child molester.Â
Somebody needs to throw this guy in the trash.
Too much to the story we don't know. Sounds likes an accident caused by Freeman and then he tried to cover it up. I bet he ends up with manslaughter charges.
 @Seattlebcc The police are referring to it as an attack and saying that they believe he killed her with his bare hands, sorry, that does not sound accidental to me.Â
I want to vomit. Just despicable...
If  Best had no direct involvement in the actual murder, but only helped his friend move the body, I do hope that they give him credit with coming forward on his own. Mind you I am not saying he is blameless, but he seems to have realized his mistake quickly and he did the right thing going to the police. There is a whole lot more to this yet.  Â
 @oldster70 I agree. He may have helped, but he also went to the police and fessed up. I think he should be given a punishment of community service rather then any jail time.
@oldster70Â You also have to wonder if he helped out of fear for himself and went right to the police as soon as he could get away from the friend.Â