Autumn Pasquale's father has filed a civil lawsuit against the parents of the girl's killer claiming they were negligent in supervising Justin Robinson, who "posed a risk to third parties."

Anthony Pasquale, Autumn's father, filed the lawsuit in Gloucester County Superior Court on Sept. 23. Pasquale claims Justin Robinson's parents Anita Saunders and Alonzo Robinson knew or should have known before Autumn's murder in October 2012 that their son was "possibly engaging in the theft of bicycles;" required remedial treatment for pre-existing emotional, psychological and neurodevelopmental problems; and had been negatively impacted by witnessing domestic abuse in the home.

"If you're going to raise a murderer, you're going to take responsibility for it," said Kathleen Bonczyk, Anthony Pasquale's attorney for the civil complaint.

Justin Robinson, now 16, was arrested last fall and charged with Autumn's murder. The Clayton teen pleaded guilty in August to aggravated manslaughter after admitting he lured the 12-year-old Clayton Middle School student to his house under the pretense of discussing bicycle parts, then strangled the pre-teen.

He was sentenced last month to serve 17 years in state prison, of which 85 percent, or at least 14.5 years, must be served before he will be eligible for parole.

His brother Dante, 18, who was also arrested and charged with murder last year, was released from the Camden County Youth Correctional Facility last week after pleading guilty in juvenile court to an obstruction charge. He was released with time served. Justin Robinson admitted in his guilty plea that he acted alone in the luring and murder.

With one son jailed, Saunders and Alonzo Robinson could be asked to answer to a Superior Court judge.

A spokesman for Saunders could not be reached Tuesday.

"Saunders had a duty to reasonably supervise the actions of her son ... (and) could reasonably have foreseen that without proper treatment and proper supervision that her son, defendant J. Robinson, posed a risk to third parties," the lawsuit alleges.

The count of negligent supervision is accompanied by a count of wrongful death against Justin Robinson and his guardians. Autumn's father is seeking restitution for pain and suffering and for funeral and burial expenses, according to court papers.

"This is not about money. It's not about anything but raising awareness of what happened to Autumn," Bonczyk said.

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It's also about getting some answers for the girl's family and catching the attention of lawmakers, Bonczyk said, noting that Saunders and Alonzo Robinson have been served with the lawsuit and are likely to be deposed in January. Dante and Justin Robinson are also expected to be deposed, the attorney said.

"Our objective is to depose all of these defendants, to sit across from (Justin) in jail and say, 'what happened that day?' To ask Anita Saunders, 'what happened that day? ... and how they raised Justin, his control and supervision," Bonczyk said.

In addition, Bonczyk said the hope is for lawmakers to consider legislation that would hold parents of offending minors liable in criminal court, not just in the civil division, which is Anthony Pasquale's last option.

"It's not the community, it's not the school. It's not the police department's primary responsibility to control your bad kids," Bonczyk said. "These kids were able to run wild in Clayton with little to no supervision by either of their parents, and raised in a way that is irresponsible. You need to take responsibility."

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Contact staff writer Carly Q. Romalino at 856-686-3655 or cromalino@southjerseymedia.com