A 16-year-old girl who died after she was stabbed in the neck during a home break-in Monday in Edmonton did not know the 16-year-old boy charged with killing her, police say.

"Our victim and subject are absolutely not known to each other," said Staff Sgt. Bill Clark. "The victim is simply a very decent 16-year-old girl who was visiting family members with her father from out of town."

The boy — who cannot be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act — is charged with second-degree murder, breaking and entering and committing robbery and possession of an offensive weapon, in this case a knife.

The charges were laid early Tuesday morning, the day after police found the girl suffering from injuries "of a violent nature" in a home in north Edmonton. She was taken to hospital, where she later died.

"This is a tragic, tragic case," Clark said. "It's simply sad. The family is obviously extremely devastated by the loss of both a daughter and a sibling.

"It's a senseless act of violence here that obviously didn't need to happen."

Clark said the suspect is believed to have attended a Canada Day event at a neighbour's home the night before. The girl was not part of those festivities, he said.

Police allege that some of the girl's personal items were stolen during the break-in.

The youth reserved his plea during his first appearance in youth court on Tuesday morning. His next appearance is scheduled for July 19.