7-year-old Somer Thompson is missing *found deceased*

[Dakota Valkyrie]

Clay County sheriff's deputies are searching for an Orange Park girl who they said has been missing since Monday afternoon.

Deputies said 7-year-old Somer Renee Thompson was last seen in the Grove Park neighborhood. They said the girl's mother called police and said her daughter never returned home from school.

The girl is described as 3 feet 5 inches tall and 65 pounds with brown hair in a pony tail. She was last seen wearing a cranberry-colored jumpsuit with pink striped sleeves. She also had a black, pink and white colored backpack with a skull and hearts, WJXT-TV reported.
[...]

Deputies said the girl was last seen at 2:45 p.m. walking home from Grove Park Elementary School near West Gano Avenue and Debarry Avenue with her sister and friends but separated from them after an argument and ran toward her home.
[...]

Beseler said deputies are contacting the 53 sexual offenders who live in the area as part of their investigation. More than 100 deputies, police and SWAT members were searching for the girl overnight and into Tuesday morning.

http://www.clickorlando.com/news/21346421/detail.html

As Clay County deputies continue a massive search for missing 7-year-old Somer Renee Thompson this morning, the mother of a girl who was nearly snatched 10 days ago in the same area said she is frightened for Somer.

Sheriff Rick Beseler said it is unclear whether there is a connection between the abduction attempt of the 5-year-old girl and the Somer's disappearance, but he asked that anyone who had any information concerning either incident to contact police.

In addition to following up information on the abduction attempt, deputies were interviewing children on the way to Grove Park Elementary school this morning in an effort to learn more about what may have happened to Somer.
[...]

The mother said the attempted abduction of her daughter occurred on Oct. 10 at the corner of Gano Avenue and Grove Park Drive, about a block from where Somer was last seen. The mother said she learned of the abduction attempt from a woman who saw the incident, scared off the potential kidnappers and followed her daughter home to report what happened.

The mother said a woman in a car, possibly a blue Nissan SUV, drove up to the girl about while she was riding her bike three blocks from her home. There were also two men in the vehicle.

“The lady was trying to lure my daughter in, saying, “Your mother told me for you to get in the car so I can take you home,” the mother said. “My daughter said no. This other lady saw everything happen. She said they instantly drove off.”

The mother said the woman who witnessed the abduction attempt told the girl to go home and she followed her.
[...]

Beseler said before Somer went missing on Monday, she might have hit another child with her backpack during an argument and run off. He had said it's possible she might have run to a friend's house because she was afraid of getting in trouble.

"The longer she's out there unaccounted for, it becomes more disconcerting that it might not just be a childish prank," Beseler said.
[...]

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2...h_for_missing_

I hope she's just "hiding out".

[skeptik]

Not another one.

[OMalley]

This doesn't sound good...I hope they find the girl soon!

But regarding the abduction attempt on the other little girl - I can't imagine letting a 5 yr. old ride a bike alone 3 blocks from home!

[Peeperann]

First off, O'Malley is right, why would you let such a young child ride a bike so far from home, and walk to and from school by themselves? And did the mom call the police after the attempted abduction? And after the attempted abduction, wouldn't you think the mom would be more careful, (paranoid) and keep a much more watchful eye on her child?

I pray she is found safe and unharmed, but after 10 days, well, we all know that's highly doubtful.

[Dakota Valkyrie]

And did the mom call the police after the attempted abduction? And after the attempted abduction, wouldn't you think the mom would be more careful, (paranoid) and keep a much more watchful eye on her child?

According to the full article, they did call the cops.

The mother said she called Orange Park police and the officer who wrote the report advised her to have her daughter ride her bike closer to their home.

"They just gave me a card and told me if I have more information, let them know," she said.

I'm not sure which "mom" you refer to. I'm betting the mom of the girl from 10 days earlier was being more careful. Hard to say about Somer's mom. I don't know if the public was even informed of it (if not, you can bet there will be hell to pay!)

[AngelFire]

This doesn't sound good at all. Hoping for the best

[biteme]

I would not have let the child out of my sight after the kidnap attempt, would not have been in the front yard alone until they were caught, she'd be wearing a GPS alarm for a long time

[skeptik]

It was another child that was almost abducted. Not Somer.

[Misskittychaos]

I hope they find her. But the longer she's gone the less likely it seems (IMHO) that's gone on her own accord. At 7 I doubt she went and crashed at a friend's house, ya know? It seems even more doomed with having a previous kid snatching attempt in the area in such a short time period.

[Echo]

She is so adorable. Did the authorities alert the parents in the area of the attempted abduction of that other little girl on the 10th?

This is crazy. We need to get a little more barbaric as a society when it comes to crimes against children. Its just too much.

[Echo]

Bump. As this is an Amber Alert.

[Silvahalo]

Beseler said deputies are contacting the 53 sexual offenders who live in the area as part of their investigation.

Uh, no way in hell I'd be letting my young child of 7 walk even with sister and friends unsupervised. This is Florida AND with this count of pedo's in the are, hell no. I'm sure they figured she was safe with friends but see how easily she can be separated, too damn easy for pedo's.

I hope little Somer is found safe and soon.

[Bay]

First off, O'Malley is right, why would you let such a young child ride a bike so far from home, and walk to and from school by themselves? And did the mom call the police after the attempted abduction? And after the attempted abduction, wouldn't you think the mom would be more careful, (paranoid) and keep a much more watchful eye on her child?

I pray she is found safe and unharmed, but after 10 days, well, we all know that's highly doubtful.

She's been missing since Mon. afternoon.
I doubt she's with a friend because I'm sure a parent would call and ask if the mother knows the child is staying over on a school night.

[Echo]

She's been missing since Mon. afternoon.
I doubt she's with a friend because I'm sure a parent would call and ask if the mother knows the child is staying over on a school night.

Thats exactly what I was thinking. Poor baby. I really hope they find her.

[skeptik]

They say it's a 48 hour window for abducted kids. I think it's more like a 4-8 hour window.

Where is she?

[skeptik]

North Florida authorities suspect foul play in the disappearance of a 7-year-old girl who vanished after school on Monday.

http://www.wesh.com/news/21347605/detail.html

More than 100 Clay County deputies were searching Monday and Tuesday in Orange Park for Somer Thompson. Officials said a retention pond and lake were included in the search.

Lemons also asked that anyone with information about a blue sedan that was seen in the area 10 days ago contact officials. He said a woman and two men in the car had tried to lure a girl into the car.
Lemons said the sheriff's office would have information for volunteers who want to assist in the search on Wednesday. He said several people have already begun searching on their own and were keeping officials informed.
Anyone with information about the disappearance of Somer is asked to call the Clay County Sheriff's Office at 877-227-6911 or 888-FL-MISSING.

Ugh. Just makes my blood run cold.

[Bay]

A women and TWO men?
OMG. This is worse than I thought.

[thebooblady]

I rode my bike to school at that age and if the dumbasses here would put up sidewalks already my 7 and 9 year olds would be walking or riding their bikes too. Less need for buses, less traffic from cars, kids are healthier..I can't think of any reason against it so long as the kids are walking in a group. I don't fault Somer's parents. I lived in FL as a child and walking/biking to school is the norm in many areas.

[MadeaBecBec]

Florida ranks third in the nation in the rate of children killed by child abuse and negligence, according to a report released Tuesday by non-profit child advocacy and lobbying group Every Child Matters.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/loc...,4857938.story

Kentucky had the highest rate of child deaths from abuse and neglect in the United States during 2007, according to a report released Wednesday by a national child advocacy group.

Every Child Matters Education Fund, a non-profit group in Washington D.C., reported that 41 Kentucky children died from abuse and neglect in 2007 — a rate of 4.09 deaths per 100,000 Kentucky children.

http://www.kentucky.com/news/local/story/985167.html
I have been trying to find which State has the highest rating in child kidnappings, I read something last year, as of 2000, per capita Washington had the highest, but I haven't been able to re-find that link. The US Department of Justice, doesn't show anything more recent than 1995. I never would have guessed Washington at that time or even now, seems like we hear more about kidnappings and child molestations coming out of Florida than any other!!

God, Lead them to Somer, direct them to find her alive and bring her home. Amen!

[Jaded]

Morbid has this one on the front page now...

http://www.dreamindemon.com/2009/10/...on-is-missing/

[Hellsbells]

Sheriff names child porn suspect a person of interest in Somer Thompson slaying

ORANGE PARK - A man arrested today in Mississippi on child pornography charges was named tonight by Sheriff Rick Beseler as a person of interest in the disappearance and slaying of Somer Thompson.

Beseler said Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, is being held on $1 million bond in a Meredian, Miss., jail after being arrested by federal agents on 29 counts of child pornography, crimes that Beseler said occurred while Harrell lived in Clay County.

An arrest warrant accuses Harrell of downloading pornographic images and movies of girls as young as 6 on a computer and numerous discs, which roommates who shared a Wells Road apartment with Harrell turned over to police. Harrell was kicked out of that apartment after being accused of stealing a roommate's iPod touch, according to the arrest report.

Beseler said Harrell also lived in a home at 1152 Gano Ave., which was searched today as part of a series of search warrants served in the case. The home is along a path that Somer, 7, disappeared on Oct. 19 while on her way home from school. Beseler did not say if Harrell had moved into the home after leaving his Wells Road apartment.

The home on Gano Avenue was roped off with police tape as deputies and an FBI forensics team began searching in the front yard using rakes and shovels. Armed with a search warrant, they entered the home shortly befoer 3:30 p.m. A table is set up outside with brown paper bags to collect evidence.

The single-story brick house was apparently empty when police arrived. Next door neighbor Thelma Cody, 77, said a husband, wife and their two sons and a cousin who'd been living in the home moved out last year. She said she wasn't sure when the family moved or where they moved. Another neighbor, Tanyia Williams, said she saw people move into the home last year, clean up the property and then leave at some point later in the year.

http://jacksonville.com/news/2010-02...hompson_slayin

[Hellsbells]

Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24

[twinklestars]

I'm really super curious as to why he is being named now a person of interest and his bail set at a million. I wonder if he taped or took pictures of Somer before he may have killed her :(

[MC30]

cant get copy to work. was this the same house they searched that was 'under construction' while looking for her? anybody know?

[Deja]

Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24

That's 24? as in, years of age?

[Unamused Cat]

He's 24-years-old. He also has a MySpace.


The red X shows 1152 Gano Ave. Somer was walking westbound.

~

[WeeJodie]

How awful. Bless her wee soul. Makes you hold your kids that bit tighter......

[Hellsbells]

Exclusive: Diena Thompson, Mother of Murdered Somer Thompson: 'I Want [Killer] to Die'
Mother's Heartbreaking Call for Answers Came Days Before Person of Interest Named in Child's Murder.

"Why? Give me your best excuse, your best reason as to why you had to do this," Thompson told ABC News in an exclusive interview that aired today on "Good Morning America." "I want them to die. I want them to get the death penalty. I have to be the voice for Somer."

The emotional interview took place just days before police named a former neighbor of the Thompson's a person of interest in the girl's death on Thursday. Jarred Harrell, 24, was arrested on 29 unrelated charges of possession of child pornography.

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/diena-thom...ory?id=9813969

[Parkersmom120106]

cant get copy to work. was this the same house they searched that was 'under construction' while looking for her? anybody know?

No, it's not the same house. It's very nearby though.

[Church Lady]

He's 24 and he was raised in a hellish home.

His mother has been married and divorced umpteen times... no biggie, except she married a guy from Mississippi who invented a perpetual motion machine, which garnered him minor fame. He was on Johnny Carson back in the 1980s... will never forget it. His line was, "I'm just an old country boy from Lucedale, Mississippi..."

Anyway, this inventor who claims to have a red-line to God to receive heavenly messages claimed that the Big Man Upstairs told him to marry his young secretary AND her eight-year-old daughter. The secretary was Jarred's mom. The eight-year-old bride was Jarred's sister.

So, as the story goes, Jarred and his sister were removed by MSDHS from the inventor's home. Jarred's mother divorced the inventor not long after.

I think he might have been sexually molested by his stepfather... or he may have seen his sister sexually molested by the crazy guy. Not excusing by ANY means what he's alleged to have done to Somer, but I think his family history is kinda insane-- and I always try to look at the history when trying to figure out WHY someone would do something so despicable. His mother should have been charged for child neglect for letting her daughter marry the old-man inventor. I wonder how she convinced DHS that she was sensible enough to handle raising her daughter and son, thus regaining custody.

It's just another story that leaves you wondering HOW this was allowed to happen.

His mother's next husband found child porn in Jarred's room when he was 15 of 16. Then, a YEAR before Somer disappeared, his friend's brother found child porn on his computer. No one turned him in. So many missed opportunities to stop this guy, but by the time someone did report him for kiddie porn, it was too late. Somer went missing.