Neighbor, 25, Suspect in Girl's Murder: Police

Police have a 25-year-old suspect in custody

"What a horrible tragedy," said Souderton Police Chief James P. Leary. "What a terrible waste of a darling little girl's life."

The search for a missing 9-year-old has ended, according to Souderton Police. The body of Skyler Kauffman was found near her home in Souderton, Montgomery County.

Police discovered the body around midnight Tuesday --  three-and-a half hours after Skyler's mother reported her missing -- near the Hillside Cemetery at 2nd and Chestnut Streets in Souderton.

Police reportedly followed a trail of the girl's bloody clothes and found her body wrapped in a blanket and placed in the dumpster of the apartment building.

Police say the girl appeared to be strangled and possibly sexually assaulted.

Skyler was last seen in that area around 5:30 Monday evening playing with friends.

Police took a suspect into custody. He was later identified as 25-year-old James Troutman who was a neighbor of the girl though they don't believe that the two knew each other.

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