Somer Thompson -- Found Deceased 10/21/09

A 10 yr old and 2 seven yr olds walking home where other kids all all leaving at the same time, cud look to many as "safe" without knowingly being negligent, and iresponsible...

I think that because of many of us following many different crime stories educates us in ways the general population isnt...

I am a believer that a sin isnt a sin unless you know better... In this case, I dont think that Deina ever thought for one second that she was putting her children in harms way.....

I believe there are many ppl, who even knowing about this case, feel like it's ones fate, and that it wud be safe to allow 3 kids to stay together and walk home from school.
Sure, its not something that i wud do today, if i was in a position of having young kids, but I have to respect that there are many good loving parents who wud allow this with good intentions...

It is horrible to think that any kid isnt safe but what age do we put on it?

We teach our kids to stay in groups, and walk together, and thats great lessons... Now we can tell them, even if you are mad at your friend/sibling...you cant run off.... you must stay together...

We hear of kids on their bikes being taken (10 yr old girl in Long island ridin her bike near home..

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/nyregion/06mbrfs-009.html

We hear of a Michael Anthony 10 yrs old playing with a group of kids in he own yard and violently abducted and plucked form the group at knifepoint..

http://www.pollyklaas.org/missing/kids/page.jsp?itemID=27067284


We hear of these very sad tragedies that take place all over, and I think we need to consider that no matter what a parent may have allowed, it may have ended in the tragic loss of their child, but is blame a fair repsonse? These parents will always prolly blame themselves..shudda wudda cudda....I just cant see how it is fair to blame a parent who hasnt shown us that they are neglectful in any way, and cant imagine what they have on their minds upon waking up every day fopr the rest of their lives...

Judging from the arrogance of this perp, I suspect he wud have taken her, even if she didnt run off ahead of her group and even if there was a 14 yr old 15 yr old with her... His arrogance shown to us of him taking her not far away from the group, then throwing her remains away like garbage, tells me that knowing he was in the area, a child was going to be gone no matter where the child was or who they were with..Maybe even out of their bed, with their family sleeping.. God only knows!

On account that there is way more negative remarks about Deina, than positive, I hope she doesnt read any sites, but if she does, i hopwe she will find some comfort in this post to her...
God Bless her and her family!
Somer, RIP!

http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/daughter-30965-landfill-ever.html

January 14, 2010 4:52 PM
Keren Rivas / Times-News

Ever since authorities found the lifeless body of his daughter in a Georgia landfill 2 1/2 months ago, Sam Thompson’s main concern has been to catch the killer and make sure the rest of his children are safe.

Day in and day out, the Graham resident has managed to keep his sanity thanks to the support of people in the community and by focusing only on the positive.

Instead of thinking or wondering about what horrible things his 7-year-old daughter, Somer, may have gone through after she was abducted on her way home from school in Jacksonville, Fla., that October afternoon, Thompson said he prefers to fill his mind with warm memories of when his baby was still around.

“The time the Lord gave us with her was precious,” he said. “I am thankful about that.”

But after reading an article in a Florida newspaper Thursday about a social worker’s concerns about Somer and her siblings walking home from school, Thompson could not help but wonder whether something could have been done to protect his little girl.

“It seems to me somebody took the eye off the prize,” 41-year-old Thompson said.

The article in the Florida Times-Union centers around a social worker’s report to the Department of Children and Families a year prior to the girl’s disappearance detailing how Somer and her siblings got lost at least once while walking from school and how they were found in some woods with a stranger.

According to the newspaper, the worker suggested that Somer’s mother needed to pay more attention to the children’s safety. However, a two-week investigation by the department found the allegation had no basis and that the children’s mother, Diena Thompson, had “properly arranged for her children to be taken to and from school,” the newspaper reported.

The article went on to say that the department also found that the risk of the children walking the mile that separated their house from school when necessary was low.

Though Sam Thompson said he is not pointing fingers at anybody, the fact that someone was concerned about his children’s well-being raises some questions. He said he was not aware that there had been an investigation involving the Department of Children and Families regarding this issue.

He said that perhaps if the allegation had been better-handled, “Somer would be here with us right now.” If in fact, he said, the children walking home from school was not a risk, as the investigation suggested, “Why is my daughter not here with us?”

“Somebody failed her in protecting her,” he added.

Thompson is currently trying to get custody of his children. He said that process has been going on for quite some time. He said this is not about him or his ex-wife but about Somer.

“She is the one who didn’t get to go to prom, have a first kiss,” he said. “She is the one who has been let down.”

When Somer and her siblings lived with Thompson here in 2006, she attended Alexander Wilson Elementary School. She had been living with her mother and siblings in Orange Park, a suburb of Jacksonville.

Sam Thompson said he hopes other parents learn to be more careful with their children as a result of what happened to Somer.

“When we feel the safest, we are actually not,” he said, adding that there will always be people who want to hurt children. “You can’t take your eyes off of your kids.”

He said right now he only wants to make sure the person who killed Somer is caught. He also wants to make sure the rest of his children, who live with their mother in Florida, continue getting the help they need to not let this affect them for the rest of their lives.

“It’s a process,” he said. “Over time, things are supposed to get better.”

He said he is thankful for the people who offered prayers and support for him and his ex-wife during this difficult time. He said he continues praying for healing for both his ex-wife and his children.

Clearly, the pain will never be gone....
The custody battle is only going to hurt more... the losses will continue ..Im so sad that this family cant find away to work together for the sake of the remaining kids in Somer's name...It can be done!

I suspect its a common feeling to blame the custodial parent for such a huge loss...

I wonder if she had to fight for any kind of support, and maybe thats why she had to work in the first place... Or was he giving enough to help cover afterschool child care expenses?... What kind of a non custodial parent was he? Im not sure that we know ...I dont know that we have ever been given any kind of details of their prior agreement, or of his responsibility to his non custodial children, or when the custody battle started.....

There cud be a lesson here, for divorced parents to work well together for the sake of their children. Too often do we know that the the single parent who already struggles, has to contend and deal with the stresses of the other parent not paying and fighting every step of the way....

He was "gracious" in his words by not boldfaced singling out Deina, however his words implicated Deina, by referring too the lack of a "watchful eye" contributing to her death ... he cud have been more sensative in airing his feelings. His kids may see this article and that cant be helpful...Im sure they all blame themselves especially the kids.. I too hope they are in counselling to help them deal with this.. the children are what matter most...

I know he is hurting too, and it cant be easy....

Nobody wins in this situation. I hope they can work things out amicably without hurting the kids anymore than they already have been.

I have to agree with Fysty on her point although I didn't voice that opinion since the damage has been done and also for the reasons AJ stated, I don't want to contribute to her pain. Whenever a child is victimized there is a need to understand and the people closest are scrutinized to the point that they have no defense. Why at this point does she need to defend herself?

This reminds me of Shaniya's story. Her father put her in the care of someone who was a known drug abuser and prostitute. Why does he get a pass? He gets a pass because he suffered the ultimate punishment for his actions and after my initial anger towards his irresponsible parenting I realized with the help of you wonderful people that he never thought this would happen. I don't think Diena did either. I think she deserves a pass too. I am curious though, other than this one report, was there ever any other reports concerning the childrens welfare?

As a final note, I would never let my child go anywhere alone. Anywhere. Period. It's the only way to protect them. We live in the country and I make my daughter wait in the house for the bus. Predators know when school is in or out and they will take advantage of it. No child should walk from school or anywhere for that matter. Unfortunately it takes children like Somer to sharpen our senses and make us more aware of the dangers. RIP Little Angels

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=530063

01/18/2010
by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer

“Godsend” is a word that may not be regularly associated with attorneys, but that is how a mother, whose 7 year-old daughter was kidnapped three months ago, described her attorney.

The story of kidnapping victim Somer Thompson shocked the local community and the nation when her body was found in a landfill in Georgia after she disappeared from her Orange Park neighborhood. The last thing on Diena Thompson’s mind was hiring a lawyer to protect her and her family’s rights, but Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler recommended Jacksonville attorney Mike Freed, who is active in the effort to stop human trafficking and protecting the rights of children victimized by this act. Thompson had one less thing to worry about when Freed pledged his services free of charge.

“He has taken a lot of weight off of my shoulders,” said Diena Thompson. “After it happened I thought, ‘How do I protect myself and my children.’ (Freed) has helped us out so much. He’s been a Godsend.”

Thompson wasn’t familiar with being part of a police investigation, answering questions from the media or handling money that was donated in honor of Somer. Besides being a liaison between Thompson and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Freed has established the Thompson Family Trust through Jacksonville Bank to provide the public a way to donate to the family, developed a group of advisors that review fundraising proposals to weed out possible scams and now advises Thompson on opportunities to speak to the media and the public on her experiences.

“He’s there when I do interviews,” said Thompson. “He doesn’t tell me what to say, just tells me to speak from my heart.”

Freed is able to help Thompson prepare for interviews with tips from his own experiences. He has appeared on television programs “The Dr. Phil Show”, “The Today Show” and “Nancy Grace” to talk about his experiences with the Thompson family and his work raising awareness of human trafficking.

“(Diena) contacted me after she had heard about the work my wife and I do raising the awareness of human trafficking,” said Freed. “She asked us if we could help out and it was an easy decision.”

Freed makes himself available to Thompson around the clock, something his client is truly thankful for.

“We talked at least once a day for a couple of months, but it has slowed to about once a week now,” said Thompson. “But I can call him any time, even if it’s just something that upsets me. He’s got my best interest at heart, and He’s not in it for the money. That’s refreshing at this day and age.”

Freed isn’t the only one to donate services to the Thompsons. Interchanges.com created the Web site www.rememberingsomer.com as a memorial to Somer and also to provide the public a way to donate online.

Find more photos like this on Remembering Somer

So many lost children.... when will it end? kh

http://jacksonville.com/community/clay/2010-01-23/story/grant_awarded_so_police_can_pay_for_overtime_in_somer_thompson_case

By Beth Reese Cravey
Story updated at 12:29 AM on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2010

The Clay County Sheriff's Office has received a $20,000 federal grant to help pay overtime expenses related to its exhaustive investigation in the October death of Somer Thompson.

Other grant applications are pending to fund the case, which is still clocking overtime as detectives pursue leads and other areas of investigation.

The grant was awarded through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, funded by the U. S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The sheriff's office initially applied for the grant in November. The agency has since asked that the grant be increased to $44,754 to cover subsequent overtime expenses, according to county documents.

The grant program "is the leading source of federal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions [and] provides ... critical funding necessary to support a range of program areas including law enforcement, prosecution and court, prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, planning, evaluation and technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives," according to the bureau Web site.

The Clay County Commission, which sets funding for the sheriff's office, accepted the grant Tuesday.

"We appreciate the sheriff's office ... for trying to obtain every funding source available out there," said Commission Chairman Travis Cummings.

Because of county-wide cuts imposed by the revenue-depleted County Commission, Sheriff Rick Beseler has no vacant jobs or overtime pay in his budget for the current fiscal year, 2009-10. That budget year began Oct. 1.

On Oct. 19, only weeks into the fiscal year, 7-year-old Somer Thompson disappeared while on her way home from school. Her body was found three days later in a Georgia landfill; no arrests have been made in the case.

Sharon Kraus, the sheriff's chief financial officer, said in an e-mail that even the higher grant request of $44,754, if awarded, "does not cover all overtime associated with that case." But the total figure is still being calculated because overtime is still being worked as detectives check out leads and pursue other areas of the investigation, said sheriff's spokeswoman Mary Justino.

Also, other grant applications are pending to help fund the probe, Justino said.

Thank goodness for an attorney such as Mike Freed, he's a real human with feelings and a purpose. And it's not fame and glory. I'm glad he's there for Diena anytime she needs him. What beautiful pictures of Somer and her twin brother. I wonder how he's coping.

I can't even begin to imagine how tough this has been on Somer's twin brother. Most twins have a very strong bond.

Piper, Im glad too!

Its sad that a crime victim needs to have an attorney for protection. She and her family have already suffered the greatest loss one can imagine. To think that so many ppl dont realize that good ppl, make bad choices, some of the time, makes me sad about human mankind.

I cud see that she wud need help with foundations and donations, but the thought that she needs to be protected is painful. I am glad that she recognizes this and had found someone to represent her, who seems so genuine and giving.

I believe the child services report that was made way bak, and found nothing to support the complaint, was the only complaint/concern that they had with this family. Had there been more, I suspect we wud have heard more by now.

I still pray that the father will dig deep and stop this custody battle where he only stands to hurt his kids no matter what the outcome is. I realize he is in pain, however he cud do a lot more for his kids by stepping up to the plate and assisting in the chikd rearing, as opposed to robbing his kids from their mother, especialy after such a horrendous loss..

As life changing as this event was, i wonder why the father cant be more available to work closer with Deina. Can he move close by? Can he help with time and leave the kids where they have called home for so long?

His article seems to give the idea that he believes he cud have/wud have, and will do a better job... Thats the part that makes me angry as if he feels he has so much to offer, why cant he sacrifice his life and join in and leave his kids with Deina? We have seen this woman enough to assess her parenting and love for her kids as normal and on parr with a vast majority of single moms..

I am going to put my helmut on, but I am a believer that kids are better off with their mom (if there is no known probs, and if this scenario is possible) to rear children. I sure dont think every mom is a good mom and kids do not belong with bad moms, but if she is a good loving mom I believe kids should stay there as the main nucleous, where they have free and liberal access to the father (as long as he is good) where I feel Somer's father prolly is....
The thought that he is trying to take them out of their home to live with him, makes me wonder how much quality thought he has put into his decision. It may be a distraction in his healing process to look for a solution. I dont see any room for blame in this scenario, as the same ending may have happened to him, if Somer had been in his care.. maybe she wud have been bike riding or playing in the backyard..I believe this perp was gonna take a child that afternoon, no matter what he had to do....

Search For Somer Thompson's Killer Continues

POSTED: 11:59 am EST February 2, 2010
UPDATED: 12:19 pm EST February 2, 2010

ORANGE PARK, Fla. --
The search for a Florida girl who was murdered on her way home from school continues.

More than three months after Somer Thompson's kidnapping, Clay County detectives still do not have a suspect.

Detectives fear whoever killed Somer will attack another child.

Images: The Death Of Somer Thompson

Her mother vows to search until the killer is found.

"I will not sleep until this person is found. I hope they get you and they make you pay for a long, long time," mother Diena Thompson said.

So far, officials have received more than 4,000 tips.

Somer's body was found in a Georgia landfill.

http://www.wesh.com/news/22410956/detail.html

That is what scares me about these cases. There is still a murderer out there and no child is safe. I hope parents become more vigilant then the perverts will get sloppy and will be caught more often. It's sad that we have to be so protective but it is what it is.

That is also what bothers me about the Haliegh case. We don't know what happened to her, she may have suffered the same fate as Somer and there is a killer out there preying on other kids. Hell, it could be the same person for all I know.

What is so sad is that they will most likely eventually catch the person who killed little Somer and put him away.... but there will always be another one come along to take his place.

It seems as though the senseless killing of our innocent children will never end.

I agree Dis.. they were faily close together and the part that I will rant on about forever is that according to LE, the chek they did in garbage was insufficent to say the least... and as per them..the actual landfill and the trucksthat had picked up dumsters were not cheked either.
I hate to say this, but I sure hope LE wud not avoid the job becasue of how awful a job it has to be..and then appeasing the public with a "scapegoat" ...and someone they are waiting for to talk...

Furthermore..whoever the perp was whetther it was a croslin cumming or perfect stranger ... still cud have tossed her there.... Im not sure why they keeop waiting for someone to talk... The LE in KCs case never waited for that.. Hell wud have frozen over first!!!!

Also, as sad as the thought is..... even though LE did not call Morgans disappearance a "homicide investigation" prior to her remains beings found..and they still said they were looking for a "live Morgan", LE announcd the other day that they actually still treated it as a homicide investigation...

I always like to hold out hope, but for LE ignoring the reality of Haleigh being murdered, and not being thorough is unforgiveable..

Somer Thompson's Mom, Diena, Speaks to First Coast News

02/02/10 5 p.m. Report




Somer Thompson's Mom, Diena, Speaks to First Coast News

02/02/10 6 p.m. Report