Boy, 15, Charged Over Rape And Murder Of Girl

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with murder, kidnapping and rape in connection with the death of an eight-year-old girl in California.

Santa Cruz police said Adrian Jerry Gonzalez lured Madyson Middleton into his family's apartment from a courtyard where she had been riding her scooter last weekend.

According to a charging document, once inside, he tied her up, sexually assaulted and killed her.

Gonzalez has been charged as an adult, and if convicted could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Madyson's body was found in a recycling bin on Monday evening.

"Unfortunately, the search for Maddy ended in the worst way possible," Santa Cruz District Attorney Jeffrey Rosell said.

When asked about a motive, he added: "People do things for lots of reasons, sometimes we understand it, sometimes we don't."