BLACKSBURG, Va. — Two Virginia Tech students who had bright futures appeared before a judge Monday in the death of a seventh-grade girl who apparently had climbed out her bedroom window.

Nicole Madison Lovell, 13, was described as ‘‘an awesome little girl’’ who had a tough life — she had a liver transplant as a youngster and suffered from bullying at middle school and online, her mother said.

Police found her body on Saturday, four days after she disappeared. David Eisenhauer, 18, is charged with her kidnapping and first-degree murder. Natalie Keepers, 19, is charged with improper disposal of a body and accessory after the commission of a felony.

Police in Blacksburg, Va., said they have evidence showing Eisenhauer knew the girl before she disappeared, but have not released any details.

‘‘Eisenhauer used this relationship to his advantage to abduct the 13-year-old and then kill her. Keepers helped Eisenhauer dispose of Nicole’s body,’’ a police statement said.

Eisenhauer’s hearing happened ahead of schedule and out of sight of reporters on Monday. Keepers appeared later, shackled in an orange jumpsuit. She told Judge Robert Viar Jr. she understands the charges. Both have lawyers; neither one commented.

The arrests of the two freshman engineering majors shocked people who knew them in high school, where they lived near each other in Maryland. Neither had criminal records, police said.

‘‘We had no reason to think he would be unsuccessful in his goals, because he was very focused,’’ said principal James LeMon at Wylde Lake High School, where Eisenhauer graduated last year.

Associated Press