UPDATE: Neighbors shocked by killing of 'friendly, kind' 11-year-old

KEANSBURG -- A missing 11-year-old Keansburg girl has been found dead, officials say.

Authorities found the body of Abbiegail "Abbie" Smith at about 10:45 a.m. Thursday in "the back area" of the Hancock Arms Apartments in Keansburg, where Smith lived with her mother, according to Monmouth County Prosecutor Christopher J. Gramiccioni.

Gramiccioni spoke at a news conference in front of the apartment complex Thursday early afternoon to announce the body had been found by investigators from the prosecutor's office.

The death is being investigated as a homicide, officials said.

Gramiccioni said authorities do not suspect an immediate family member to be involved in Smith's death. He also said the death is believed to be an "isolated crime," adding that parents have no reason to be worried.

"We have no reason to believe that you or your child should be worried," Gramiccioni said to a father at the news conference.

The apartment complex was cordoned off with yellow crime scene police tape.

"It's a punch in the gut for all of us in this community, especially with law enforcement," Gramiccioni said at the news conference.

Smith was last seen in her apartment Wednesday at about 7:45 p.m., according to officials who believe Smith's mother was the last to see her.

The mother of Smith called police to report her missing around 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, officials said.

At around 5 a.m., investigators with the prosecutor's office got called involved in the investigation.

Jasmine, a neighbor who requested her last name be withheld, said Smith's family moved into the Hancock Arms Apartments about three or four months ago.

She said Smith's mother was strict and did not allow her daughter to leave the apartment without adult supervision.

"She's not allowed to even walk to the store by herself," Jasmine said.

Matthew Reid, 27, who lives in a building behind the apartment complex, said nothing like this has happened in the 16 years he has lived in the community.

He said between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Thursday, police came to his door and told him that he had five minutes to leave his apartment, as authorities were clearing the area.

Authorities were focusing their investigation on the back porch of an apartment in the complex Thursday.

K-9s were also being used to assist in the search in the morning on Thursday.

The Keansburg Police Department posted on its Facebook page a missing poster for residents to pass around the area.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Wayne Raynor of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office at 1-800-353-7443 or Keansburg police Officer Joe Jankowski at 732-787-0600.

Staff writer Spencer Kent contributed to this report.

Alex Napoliello may be reached at anapoliello@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @alexnapoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.