SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A neighbor was formally charged with murder and kidnapping Thursday in the case of Destiny Norton, the 5-year-old girl who was missing for eight days before her body was discovered in a basement just two doors away from her home.

Craig Roger Gregerson, 20, is accused smothering the child the night of July 16 after luring her to his home, then sexually assaulting the body and storing the remains in a plastic container in his basement, Assistant District Attorney Bob Stott said.

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"He persuaded her to come inside his residence. Destiny wanted to leave and became very vocal," Stott said.

Stott said Gregerson told authorities he put his hand over Destiny's mouth to quiet her, then she went limp.

The aggravating circumstances in the murder charge come from kidnapping the child and desecrating the body, Stott said.

Gregerson could face the death penalty if convicted.

"Before any sentence can be given we have to get a conviction," Stott said.

Gregerson was scheduled to make his first court appearance Friday morning.

Destiny's family reported the child missing the night of July 16. Police and volunteers searched for eight days before the girl's body was found in Gregerson's basement Monday night.

Family and friends were outraged after the search ended and accused police mishandling the investigation. The Norton family, who had been told of the charges Thursday, issued apologies Wednesday and thanked police for their work.

Police searched Gregerson's home early in the investigation, but did not find the body. It was unclear whether the early search included the basement, where the body was later found in a plastic container. Stott and Police Chief Chris Burbank would not elaborate.

"It was concealed in such a way that we could not locate it," Burbank said.

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