Father charged in girls' slaying

Krystal (left) and Laura were said to go everywhere together

The father of one of two young girls found stabbed to death in the US state of Illinois has been arrested on murder charges, prosecutors say.

Jerry Hobbs is accused of killing his daughter Laura, eight, and her best friend, Krystal Tobias, nine.

The girls' bodies were discovered in a wooded park in the town of Zion on Monday - a day after they went missing while cycling.

Mr Hobbs, 34, could face the death penalty if convicted.

His arrest came after a day questioning, prosecutors said.

Authorities became interested in Mr Hobbs - who was recently released from prison for assault charges - after he and his father-in-law discovered the girls' bodies on Monday.

'Heinous crime'

A makeshift memorial in the park has been surrounded by an ever-growing sea of flowers and cuddly toys.

"This is a heinous crime. It was a crime not only against those kids but against all of us," said Police Chief Doug Malcolm.

Local people have left tributes at a memorial in the park

The girls were reported missing on the evening of Sunday - Mother's Day in the US.

The bodies were found on Monday morning.

The police said no murder weapon had been found and there was no evidence of sexual assault.

Emily Hollabaugh, Laura's grandmother, said earlier the family was devastated.

"I have a lot of questions but mostly rage. How someone could do that to two little girls?"

As the end of the school day approached on Monday, stunned parents stood alongside police officers outside the gates of Zion's schools.

At Beulah Park Elementary School, where Laura and Krystal were in the same class, social workers were on hand during the day to console distraught pupils and teachers.

"They were best friends," said Laura Unrein, who lives near the park where the girls died.

"When one left, the other left. They were always together."

Julie Dobnikar, a teacher at the school, said: "They were very sweet girls."

She added that their teacher was "very distraught right now".