Missing Canton girl, 7, found slain

Metro Atlanta

Missing Canton girl, 7, found slain

Photos: The body of 7-year-old Canton girl Jorelys Rivera was investigated was found Monday afternoon in a large metal trash bin.

Ryan Brunn, 20, of Canton was arrested Wednesday in the murder of Jorelys Rivera, 7.

GBI chief Vernon Keenan announced the arrest of Ryan Brunn, 20, for killing Jorelys Riviera during a press conference at the Cherokee County Administrative Offices in Canton on Wednesday.

Tips from the public led investigators to Ryan Brunn, according to the GBI.

Cherokee County Sheriff deputies arrest Ryan Brunn in the Jorelys Rivera murder on Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011. The 7-year-old Canton girl's body was discovered Monday.

"We are confidant that Brunn is the killer, that's why he's in custody," Keenan said, when asked if there are any other suspects.

Brunn has been charged in the killing of Jorelys Rivera and may face additional charges from the Cherokee County District Attorney's Office.

Canton Police Chief Jeff Lance address the press.

Leocadia Pablo and her 4-year-old daughter Lucia watch the scene from across the street where the body of Jorelys Rivera, 7, missing since Friday, was found on Monday afternoon.

Laura Jennings, a relative of 7-year-old Jorelys Rivera, and other family members have fashioned memorial pins from their favorite photographs of Jorelys.

Flowers were placed at the playground where Jorelys Rivera was last seen alive.

Investigators search through bags of garbage from a bin where the body of Jorelys Rivera, 7, missing since Friday, was found beaten and sexually assaulted in Canton on Monday.

Residents gather across the street from where the body of Jorelys Rivera, 7, missing since Friday, was found beaten and sexually assaulted in Canton on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011.

Georgia State Patrol troopers stopped and searched cars entering and exiting the River Ridge apartment complex on River Ridge Drive in Canton on Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 before where 7-year old Jorelys Rivera's body was found. Levi Brookshire (left) waits for Trooper M. Campbell (right) to check his truck.

On Monday, Georgia Department of Corrections Tack Squad members C. Ware (left) and P. Crowder were posted at the playground at River Ridge apartment complex in Canton where Jorelys Rivera was last seen alive.

A 50-member team, made up of GBI agents, Georgia State Patrol troopers, Department of Natural Resources rangers and other state officers found the body of Jorelys Rivera in a metal trash bin.

A team of state law enforcement officials specially trained in child abductions was brought in Monday to join the search for a 7-year-old Canton girl who has been missing since Friday. The 50-member team was helping look for Jorelys Rivera, last seen at an apartment complex in Canton.

Canton police Lt. Jeff Hall (left) explained the operation Monday as Cherokee Sheriff PIO, Lt. Jay Baker (right) listened.

Officials plan a search strategy Monday.

Police treated the case as a child abduction.

Officials used a Carmike Cinemas parking lot as the command center for the search.

GBI Director, Vernon Keenan (center) directs operations Monday.

Officials discussed their search strategy.

Jorelys Rivera was last seen at the playground at the Canton apartment complex where she lived.

Search teams were made up of members from a variety of agencies.

Public safety officials gathered for the search.

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Ryan Brunn, 20, of Canton was arrested Wednesday in the murder of Jorelys Rivera, 7.

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