Somer Thompson -- Found Deceased 10/21/09

babbette wrote:Oh yeah, Carly. I think she feels guilty enough, even though she couldn't have known what would happen and it is in no way her fault, in my opinion. Forward the hate mail to the Orange County Jail House, attention Ms. Killer Anthony.

Yeah, you got that right, Babbette..... send the hate mail to someone who really deserves it.

Somer Thompson Case Update

http://www.thesky973.com/pages/5706428.php

TJ Hart


The investigation into the abduction and murder of Somer Thompson is ongoing and remains a large scale, multi-agency effort, according to Mary Justino with the Clay County Sheriff's Office Wedesday. Agents from the FBI, FDLE, U.S. Marshal Service, and NCIS remain assigned to their team locally and continue to reinforce our investigative efforts with their expertise and manpower.

Justino said, "Investigators have now received 4,200 leads and detective teams continue working to follow up on all remaining workable tips. We remain hopeful that evidence being processed now at the lab will provide more streamlined direction for our investigators and will help us focus more accurately on a suspect." She added, "The processing of such evidence is time-consuming, but is very important to the long-term success of this investigation and cannot be rushed."

"Waiting on lab results is part of this process," said Sheriff Rick Beseler. "The results can take weeks to return and cannot be rushed or hurried because this is information that will point us in the right direction and tell us where to go."

Sheriff Beseler commented that, with a case like this, information is unfolding slowly. He describes the case as being far from "cold". "This case is not a cold case...not by far," Beseler said. "This case remains hot with emerging leads and many pieces of evidence. Our team is very active and will remain so for weeks to come", said Beseler.

I'm glad to hear they are not calling this a cold case, there is still hope and many pieces of evidence. I know the lab tests are extensive and they have to be precise....but it seems to take forever in these cases.

Car show today benefits Somer Thompson family

A car show to benefit the family of slain Orange Park 7-year-old Somer Thompson will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today at Hurricane Grill and Wings, 5907 Roosevelt Blvd.

There is a $30 show car entry fee, with plaques and trophies as well as raffles. Spectators get in free. All proceeds will benefit the Thompson family.


http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-19/story/car_show_today_benefits_family_of_somer_thompson

It's been two months since Somer disappeared.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla -- Saturday marks two months since Somer Thompson's disappearance but police still have no suspects.

The second grader disappeared from Clay County October 19th. Her body was later found in a Georgia landfill. Since then investigators have received more than 4,000 tips and have continued to call the case "hot."

Community donations have come in to raise money for a reward fund to find Somer's Killer. That fund is up to more than $64,000.


http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Two-months-since-Somer-disappeared/2S2chD1NfE2xWscaL63c9Q.cspx?rss=1

It is heartbreaking that they haven't found Somer's killer yet. I hope they find her killer soon. Unfortunately, it takes way too long in some of these cases.

First Christmas without Somer Thompson

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Somer Thompson's family is celebrating their first Christmas without their little girl.

Somer Thompson was murdered in October as she was walking home from school. Her killer hasn't been found. This is the first Christmas her family is celebrating without her. But strangers are leaving messages of hope for the family. They're on the website rememberingsomer.com.

Diena Thompson kept hoping her daughter would come home safe. But she got the news no mother wanted. Somer's body was found in a Georgia landfill days after she went missing. Diena attended dozens of memorials, clinging to friends and family for support.

In an interview with Action News in November she said, "I'm a single mother and made $14 an hour. I did what I had to do and now I have to live the rest of my life feeling like I played a role in this."

On the website people from around the world are sending their prayers to Diena Thompson. Christmas Eve someone wrote, "I wanted to let you know that my family and friends are thinking of you and your family during this holiday season. I know it will be difficult for you all as you miss Somer so much. All I can say is she is having the best christmas of all as she celebrates with the one who is the reason of the season after all!"

Lisa in Australia says "Our purple decorations on our tree remind me of Somer. Don't forget to give your other children lots of hugs and kisses, they don't want to lose their mum and sister."

Diena wears purple all the time. It was Somer's favorite color. She still has a hole in her heart that only Somer can fill.

Police aren't giving us many details about how the investigation is going. They only say progress is being made and they are still working this case, even over the holidays. If you have any information that could lead the arrest of Somer's killer, you can call the tip line at 1-877- 227- 6911 or email your tips to cart@claysheriff.com.

http://www.fox30jax.com/content/actionlocal/story/First-Christmas-without-Somer-Thompson/IH9yfH_kdEStdZJ9M-udPw.cspx

http://jacksonville.com/community/my_clay_sun/2010-01-04/story/somer_thompson_update_from_the_sheriffs_office

The Clay County Sheriff's Office made the following statement in reply to numerous media requests for a 2010 update on the Somer Thompson case. The 7-year-old Orange Park first grader went missing on the way home from school Oct. 19; her body was found in a Georgia landfill, but there have been no arrests. Here is the Sheriff's Office statement, issued by spokeswoman Mary Justino:

"The latest leads/tips total is 4,474. A small portion of these remain open/active and are still being worked aggressively by the investigative team, or as we call it "Team Somer." There is a large quantity of evidence that remains at the lab and we are still waiting on test results to come back from these scientists.

"In regards to this evidence, we remain hopeful that results will point us in the right direction in regards to Somer's killer. A wait of this length is not completely uncommon due to the amount of evidence submitted to the lab and the type of testing being conducted.

"This investigation may now be described as focused and streamlined. Even with the paring down of calls/emails to our team regarding the case, there is still plenty for the detectives to work on while we wait for the lab to do its painstaking work.

"The supervisors on this case are also staying in communication with Diena Thompson and her family, keeping her up to date on the work being done.

"As with any case, we remain committed to not releasing any details about the case that would hamper our efforts to arrest the person responsible. We appreciate everyone's understanding and patience."

Anyone with information can call the Sheriff's Office at (877) 227-6911, Crime Stoppers at (866) 845-8477 (845-TIPS) or e-mail CART@claysheriff.com.

What is really scary is that there is still a murderer out there, possibly a child predator scoping out another kid. I hope everyone in the area are on high alert and that the kids look out for each other.

I hope they really are closer to finding him and that it doesn't end up like Nevaeh Buchanan's case. She was killed in May and they still haven't made an arrest. It is very scary that these child killers are still out there.

http://jacksonville.com/community/my_clay_sun/2010-01-13/story/fears_for_somer_thompson%E2%80%99s_safety_expressed_a_year_before_her

ORANGE PARK — A social worker at Somer Thompson’s school warned about the danger of the 7-year-old girl’s walks from school a year before a killer snatched her on her way home, state records show.

The unidentified worker told the Department of Children and Families that Somer and her three siblings got lost at least once walking from Grove Park Elementary School and were found in woods with a stranger. The worker indicated that Somer’s mother needed to pay more attention to the children’s safety and get them into day care at the school.

But a two-week probe by Children and Families concluded the allegation about the children getting lost and being found with a stranger had no basis. It also found Diena Thompson properly arranged for her children to be taken to and from school, about a mile away, and that it was acceptable for them to walk home when necessary. Day care was suggested to her as an option, but not a requirement.

The case was closed without any findings of wrongdoing, according to the records provided to the Times-Union last week.

Thompson continues to grieve over Somer’s Oct. 19 disappearance and slaying, which remains unsolved. She said that she has always cared for her children’s well-being and allowed them to walk home on rare occasions when she worked and couldn’t get them a ride. Somer disappeared on one of those days. Her siblings have received rides every day since, Thompson told the Times-Union Wednesday.

“I’m always second-guessing myself as far as them walking home, but I did what I could as a single mother with absolutely no help from anyone else,” said Thompson, 35. “Children should be able to walk home without being afraid of being attacked by a monster.”

Children and Families spokesman John Harrell said he couldn’t disclose by law who made the report and whether the agency had fielded other reports from Somer’s school. The school’s principal, Lynda Braxton, declined to comment.

Harrell said the case was handled properly.

“Our investigator did the right thing and went above and beyond ... by checking to make sure if these services were being followed up on,” Harrell said.

The social worker called the agency’s abuse hot line on Oct. 9, 2008.

“There is overall concern for the safety and well-being of the children,” the investigator wrote, based on the social worker’s statement.

Thompson told the investigator she was unaware of her children ever getting lost in the woods or being found by a stranger. Somer and her older brother told the investigator they never got lost. Somer’s twin, Samuel, said he got lost once, but gave no details. Somer’s sister was never asked. Thompson said a family friend had been transporting the children and that would continue.

Thompson also told the investigator the school suggested the children attend an off-campus YWCA day-care program. But she said it ended before she could pick them up from work and she couldn’t afford the cost of picking them up late.

Thompson was later told the day-care program was at the school and that school officials were trying to arrange for Somer to attend for free or at a reduced rate. She said she would consider the option, though the children weren’t sent.

A Children and Families supervisory review of the case on Oct. 12 states that the “risk is low” and that “the children are old enough to walk to school.” It also states that if Thompson can’t afford day care, she shouldn’t be placed in a “financial bind.”

Two weeks into the case, Thompson reiterated to the investigator that her friend was helping with transportation, “but on occasion the children still do walk,” the records show. The family friend told the investigators she had been transporting the children.

The investigator concludes that the “risk remains low” and that Thompson had been very cooperative.

“No services necessary at this time,” the report said.

Thompson said she is hopeful the public will not to use the report to criticize her parenting ability, a problem she had to endure from some people after Somer’s death.

“Walk a day in my shoes,” she said.

Children should be able to walk home without being afraid of being attacked by a monster.

I don't blame Diena for Somer's death and I agree that children should be able to walk home without being afraid of being attacked by a monster. It is a sad commentary about the world today that children can't walk home without being afraid of being attacked by a monster.

I dont blame Diena one bit.

No one cud come forward and show that she didnt love her kids and do the absolute best that she cud.

This is a good example of how our society works...She clearly cudnt afford to do anything else, and chose to work to support her family. Why doesnt the government do more?

Why isnt some of this their fault? Why not the school"s ?

A big part of her life died and will never come bak. Isnt that enough for them?

I feel like she has been under a microscope from the beginning, and I have read ppl, tear into her... What is wrong with some ppl? That was really heart breaking...

Im glad their file is now closed and she can move on...

I feel really bad for Diena and don't see any reason to criticize her. She couldn't have known that Somer was going to get into an argument with her siblings and run ahead of them and fall prey to a sick, twisted pedophile. Unfortunately it only takes a few seconds of being separated from a group to disappear without anybody seeing a thing.

There is a season for everything....I hope Diena finds her season of healing. It's so sad that people take a tragedy like this and use it as an excuse to wag their fingers and say I told you so. I don't know why this garbage is even being published. How sad that we live in a society that uses people like this poor woman for gain. What other purpose is there to put this "news" in print? She didn't kill her daughter. My heart aches for her. I am so thankful I have never had to lose a child. I don't know if I could weather that storm without losing my mind.

Ditto Dis!! and well said!

Girl found in landfill

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) — A school social worker reportedly warned a northeast Florida girl's mother about the danger of the child walking home from school a year before she was abducted and killed.

The unidentified worker told the Department of Children and Families that 7-year-old Somer Thompson and her three siblings got lost at least once walking from Grove Park Elementary School and were found in woods with a stranger. But a DCF probe concluded the allegation had no basis. It also found the girl's mother, Diena Thompson, properly arranged for her children to be taken to and from school.

The 7-year-old girl vanished in late October as she was walking home from school. Her body was found in a Georgia landfill about 50 miles away.

No one has been charged in her death.


http://www.gainesville.com/article/20100114/ARTICLES/100119658/1105/NEWS?Title=Girl-found-in-landfill


I can see that I am going out on a limb here with what I am about to say BUT...I think Somers mother was COMPLETELY wrong in allowing a child that age, to walk home from school! I'm actually enraged about it. Tasha is 11 yrs old and begs all the time to be allowed. My town is ONE SQUARE MILE, that's it. I mean, seriously, I would never allow her to walk home, even at this age. There are children, younger & older than her, right here on our street. They walk, to & from, every day. There are freaks here, just like everywhere. I'm sorry, but I am very passionate about children being left alone to fend for themselves. IMO, THAT is exactly what Somers mother let happen.

You are definitely entitled to your opinion Fysty. It can get pretty boring when everybody has the same opinion. In defense of Somer's mother, she might not follow these cases like we do, and Somer was supposed to be walking in a group with her siblings. I'm sure if she did follow these cases and see how easily children come up missing, Somer and her siblings wouldn't have been allowed to walk home by themselves.

Most of us weren't raised to believe it was dangerous to allow children to walk to and from school. As a first grader, I was allowed to walk two blocks to and from school, and as a second grader, I was allowed to walk a mile to and from school. I was also allowed to ride my bike around the neighborhood even as young as second grade.

That being said, I probably wouldn't have allowed my children to walk home by themselves even before I started following these cases. I watched the Adam movie when I was a kid and I think that made me paranoid about letting my children out of my site.

I fear that both Somer Thompson's and Nevaeh Buchanan's cases have gone cold. I don't think LE in either case has said whether they have DNA or not. It's pretty obvious that if they do, they haven't found a match in their databases. The cases might not be solved until years later when one of the perps slip up and get arrested for another crime. The if there is DNA from either one of these cases, I'm not sure how often it is rechecked against the databases once the case has gone cold. We can only pray that someday there is justice for Somer and Nevaeh.

I sadly agree, and I believe the same for Haleigh as well. We can only keep up hope that Haleigh will be found. Somer and Nevaeh's killer could strike again, at anytime. They've gotten away with these abductions and murders, what would keep them from repeating this horrific crime again? We all know these bastards don't stop at just one.