Missing Girl's Body Found

Early Sunday morning, the body of Gabrielle Bechen was found in a shallow grave near her home.

The 12-year-old Greene County girl had gone missing after going for a ride on her all-terrain vehicle Tuesday morning.

Around 4 p.m. Saturday, a search party found the girl's ATV partially buried on a horse farm near the Bechen home.

Soon after, authorities took the farm's caretaker, Jeffery Robert Martin, into custody.

Twelve hours later -- at 4 a.m. Sunday -- Martin led police to a shallow grave.

Police said the Martin admitted to killing Bechen and burying her on the farm.

Martin has been charged with several crimes, including homicide.

Greene County Department Coroner Mary Lewis said an autopsy by Dr. Cyril Wecht showed Bechen died Tuesday. The cause of death was due to manual strangulation with the hands.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Martin told police that Bechen confronted him and accused him of "misconduct." He grew upset and grabbed Bechen's arm. She broke free and ran down the driveway but stumbled when she ran onto cinders. He said he then jumped on top of her, wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed until she stopped moving.

Police said Bechen knew Martin from her previous visits to the farm.

Last week, the FBI and more than 120 volunteers searched fields in a three-mile radius around her home.

Investigators said on Friday that there may have been suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance.

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers offered a cash reward of up to $2,000 in this case.

FUND ESTABLISHED The friends and family of Gabrielle have set up a fund at the community bank in Greensboro.

Donations can be made at any Community Bank.

Gabrielle M. Bechen Donation Fund 1993 South 88 Road Greensboro, Pa. 15338

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Previous Stories: June 18, 2006: Reward Offered For Missing Greene County Girl June 15, 2006: FBI Now Involved In Case Of Missing Girl June 15, 2006: No Sign Of Missing 12-Year-Old Girl June 14, 2006: Search Continues For Missing Girl June 13, 2006: Police Search For Missing 12-Year-Old Girl