NIAGARA FALLS - Police believe they know who killed 5-year-old Isabella Tennant, and the coroner determined how the little girl died.
What puzzles them, and everyone else connected to the case, is why?
Police have said that John R. Freeman, 16, killed Isabella with his bare hands late Sunday or early Monday and then put her body in a trash can in an alley near her great-grandmother's house. They said Tyler S. Best, 17, helped move her body.
"The cause of death was a mechanical obstruction of the airway and compression of the neck," said Niagara County Coroner Cindy Lou Joyce.
Joyce was unable to comment on what was used to cause the obstruction and stop the girl from breathing, but did confirm that it was not considered a "total strangulation."
Isabella's family sat tight lipped in court. Nearly 50 people originally were in the courtroom, but Acting Niagara County Court Judge Angelo Morinello ordered court officers clear the room, allowing only immediate family members to stay. Isabella's parents and grandparents remained in a room outside of the courtroom while the two teens were arraigned.
Morinello said both remain eligible for Youthful Offender status until they plead guilty or are convicted by a jury and he made additional efforts to protect their identities and suppress the release of any statements to the general public.
Freeman's attorney Robert Viola said in court that he will also seek a competency hearing.
Best will be represented by attorney James J. Faso. Both attorneys were assigned by the public defender's office.
But the motive crime remains a mystery, according to police
On Sunday night, Isabella had been left in the care of her great-grandmother, Sharon Lascelle, who lives in the 400 block of Sixth Street while her mother worked overnight in the city. Lascelle told police she went to bed at about 11 p.m. leaving the little girl in the care of Freeman whom she called, "a trusted, family friend." She told police that it was not uncommon for Freeman to be in the home, unsupervised, around Isabella.
She was reported missing by family at 6:20 a.m. Monday, but the body was not found until Best turned himself in to police and led them to the body just after 9 a.m.
Police found Isabella's body under a garbage bag, in a garbage can in an alley in the 500 block between Third and Fourth streets. There were no signs of sexual abuse and she was found fully clothed.
Best's mother, Kelly Best, said she went with her son to the police department when he told her what had happened.
"I know it was wrong, but he's a good kid. He just made some wrong choices and got in with the wrong people," said Best.
She said her son lived in Buffalo, but often stayed in Niagara Falls with his friend, Freeman.
Phillip DiDonna of Niagara Falls was at the courtroom Tuesday. He said John Freeman had been one of his cadets in the city's Junior Military Academy when he was 14. DiDonna said the group was designed to keep kids out of trouble and take responsibility for their own actions.
"I'm shocked. I'm heartbroken that one of my cadets would do this after learning all he did in the cadet program," DiDonna said. "He was a squad leader. He never had any violent tendencies. I had great hopes for his future.
Isabella, who would have entered kindergarten in September, was remembered by hundreds in a candlelight ceremony at Sal Maglie Stadium Stadium Monday night.
Her pre-kindergarten teacher Allison Brackiowski remembered her online in the Buffalo News, writing: "She was the sweetest. Very loving and such a happy child. As soon as she walked off the bus she was always smiling and could make everybody's day. I hope these two boys are held accountable for the unthinkable act of violence they have done. My thoughts and prayers are with the family. She will be greatly missed."
