Somer Thompson -- Found Deceased 10/21/09

Ex-stepfather says Harrell possessed child porn as teen

Former Orange Park resident linked to Somer Thompson’s slaying

By Jim Schoettler
Story updated at 10:31 PM on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010

Jarred Harrell’s lust for child pornography began as a teenager in Mississippi, said a stepfather who did nothing after finding a disc of graphic material Harrell locked in a tackle box.

After being told Friday of Harrell’s arrest on child pornography charges and being linked to Somer Thompson’s slaying, Richard Wharton said he felt ashamed he didn’t act on his find eight years earlier.

“I’m not proud of what I did,” said Wharton, 65, who was married to Harrell’s mother for 15 years before divorcing in 2005.

Harrell, 24, remains isolated in a Meridian, Miss., jail on $1 million bail after he was arrested Thursday and charged with 29 counts of child pornography. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said the charges are connected to pictures found on Harrell’s laptop and computer discs by former Orange Park roommates.

Beseler also named Harrell as a man of interest in the Oct. 19 disappearance and slaying of Somer, 7. Beseler refused to say what evidence investigators believe ties Harrell to the case. Harrell had been spending time at his mother’s otherwise vacant Gano Avenue home in Orange Park about the time Somer was last seen nearby walking home from school. The FBI and Clay investigators searched the home Thursday.

Harrell is expected to appear before a Mississippi judge Tuesday to either waive or fight extradition.

Wharton said he married Harrell’s mother, Annis, when Harrell was 5 years old and the two were living in Lucedale, a small town in southeastern Mississippi. Harrell struggled with the pressures of grade school and had to be home-schooled for several years, Wharton said in a telephone interview from his home in Alabaster, Ala.

Harrell got caught stealing when he was 13, but was otherwise a quiet, church-going teen who enjoyed being with friends, Wharton said.

Three years later, Wharton learned his 16-year-old stepson had another interest.

Wharton said he was curious about what Harrell kept in a locked tackle box in his bedroom closet, so one day he took off the hinges and pulled out one of several discs. He loaded the disc onto a computer and found pornographic images of young girls, some no older than 5 or 6. They were the same ages of some of the girls found on the Clay County discs, the arrest warrant said.

Wharton said he asked Harrell’s mother whether she thought the teen had a problem with pornography and she said no. Wharton said he didn’t tell her about his find and put the discs back in the box, assuming it was a passing phase.

“I thought it was an age thing,” Wharton said.

Wharton said he never found his stepson with pornographic material again. He said Harrell got into more minor trouble by shoplifting in his late teens, but otherwise stayed out of trouble.

“He’s never been a violent kid,” Wharton said.

Wharton, who last spoke to Harrell just after divorcing his mother in 2005, said he was disturbed by the new child pornography charges because of his stepson’s past. But he said he doesn’t believe Harrell had anything to do with Somer’s death.

“I have a hard time with the murder thing,” Wharton said.

Messages left by the Times-Union with Harrell’s mother on her cell phone and Facebook page and his current stepfather’s cell phone were not returned. Sheriff Billy Sollie, who supervises the Meridian jail where Harrell is being held, declined a request by the Times-Union to interview Harrell.

Harrell’s aunt, Kriss Mizelle, told the Meridian (Miss.) Star Friday that Harrell had been living with her for about 2 1/2 weeks before his arrest. Mizelle said he was looking for work and not trying to hide from police.

Authorities seized Harrell’s computer and his aunt’s computer during the arrest in the town of about 40,000 people in eastern Mississippi. She described him as a “normal, lazy guy” incapable of what he’s charged with or linked to.

“This just blows my mind,” said Mizelle.

Rod and Lisa Buchanan, a Middleburg couple who are friends with Harrell and his family, described him as a reclusive who enjoyed playing computer games. They also said he had trouble keeping some jobs.

Harrell was fired as cook at the Fleming Island eatery Beauty and the Beef last summer because he had a quick temper, the restaurant’s manager, Corey Secrest, said Friday.

Secrest said Harrell cooked for about 2 1/2 months and had a reputation for being a hard worker. But he got fired for “flipping out” on-duty, Secrest said. He added that he never witnessed the episodes, but he said the owner complained when Harrell would snap.

“He couldn’t straighten his act up,” said Secrest, 24. The owner could not be reached to comment.

The Buchanans said Harrell also worked briefly at the Orange Park Mall’s food court, but they weren’t sure where or why he stopped.

Harrell, who studied computers while attending a Mississippi junior college, was turned down for an information technology job by Jacksonville City Hall in 2006 after someone more qualified was hired, city spokeswoman Misty Skipper said.

Harrell’s resume submitted to the city lists jobs as a salesman, pizza delivery man and cashier in Mississippi from 2001 to 2005.

As for his criminal background, Florida records show one arrest in 2007 for possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana in Jacksonville. He has no arrests in Mississippi.

The Meridian (Miss.) Star contributed to this story.

http://jacksonville.com/community/clay/2010-02-12/story/ex_stepfather_says_harrell_possessed_child_porn_as_teen

'Person of interest' in Somer Thompson's death drew early scrutiny

February 13, 2010

ORANGE PARK — The man authorities call "a person of interest" in the death of Somer Thompson was brought to the attention of the Clay County Sheriff's Office shortly after the 7-year-old's body was found in a Georgia landfill, 50 miles from where she disappeared on Oct. 19.

Because of child pornography on a computer left at his stepdaughter's home, Rod Buchanan went to the Sheriff's Office as soon as he noticed Jarred Mitchell Harrell's car in his parents' driveway and realized how close their house was to Somer's.

Harrell, an unemployed 24-year-old restaurant worker, has not been charged in Somer's death, but he was arrested Thursday in Mississippi on 29 counts of possession of child pornography.

Harrell once lived with Buchanan's stepdaughter and her fiance at an apartment a few miles away from Somer's neighborhood, Buchanan said.

According to both Buchanan and the Clay County Sheriff's Office, the couple discovered in August that Harrell was stealing from them and told him to leave. He left his computer, so they turned it on, curious.

"Our kids saw stuff that nobody should ever have to see," Buchanan said.

Buchanan's wife, a nurse, contacted a deputy, and they turned the computer over to authorities.

Fending off criticism about why his agency did not arrest Harrell immediately after the pornography was discovered, Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler put out a news release Friday afternoon saying such investigations require a painstaking process to link the images to a suspect.

Authorities still aren't saying what evidence ties Harrell to Somer Thompson.

http://www.tampabay.com/incoming/person-of-interest-in-somer-thompsons-death-drew-early-scrutiny/1072997

Just reading the arrest warrant makes me want to throw up!
It is proven time and time again that these monsters start their obsession in the teens. Yet there is no legislation to
try and prevent or address the juveniles.

Tigermom, the arrest warrant is very disturbing. It is sad that often nothing is done when juveniles show these danger signs. Harrell's Aunt is still in denial as shown in the following video.

Sounds like he has his family fooled. "Wonderful" boy at home, (except while he's on his computer) but outside in the real world he can't keep a job and has a temper. His aunt describes him as a "normal, lazy guy". What's normal about being a 24 year old lazy man...?

Person of interest in Somer slaying fighting extradition; no longer set to appear in court

Jarred Harrell is charged in a Clay County warrant with child pornography

The Clay County man named as a person of interest in the Somer Thompson slaying is fighting extradition from Mississippi, where police arrested him last week on child-pornography charges.

Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, is demanding that authorities show there is probable cause for him to be charged with child pornography, Lauderdale County Chief Deputy Sheriff Ward Calhoun told the Times-Union. Authorities will also be required to match Harrell’s identity to that of the man named in the warrant.

To extradite Harrell, Florida investigators will have to submit documents proving probable cause and other matters to Gov. Charlie Crist. Crist can then send a governor’s warrant to Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour demanding that Harrell be brought back to Clay County.

Calhoun said he expected Harrell to be back in Florida as early as next week.

"I've never seen where there never was one granted," Calhoun said.

Harrell will continue sitting in a jail isolation cell, where he's been held since Thursday on $1 million bail in connection with the child-pornography charges.

Mississippi does not require that court hearings be held in extradition matters as long as the paperwork is approved. Though Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie said last week Harrell will make a court appearance, Calhoun said that won't happen in Mississippi.

"We're honoring the warrants that have come to us from Clay County and we're holding him on those warrants until arrangements are made for him to be extradited to the state of Florida," Calhoun said.

Federal agents arrested Harrell in Meridian, Miss., which is the Lauderdale County seat. He had been staying with an aunt for several weeks.

Harrell is being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Facility in the city of 40,000 in east-central Mississippi. He is charged with 29 counts of child pornography after his two Orange Park roommates told police they discovered graphic images on his computer and computer discs in August and turned them over to police.

The images were processed after 7-year-old Somer’s death.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler last week named Harrell a man of interest in Somer’s Oct. 19 disappearance and death, though Beseler has refused to discuss evidence in the case. Harrell had been staying in his mother’s Gano Avenue home when Somer disappeared nearby.

http://jacksonville.com/community/clay/2010-02-15/story/person_of_interest_in_somer_slaying_fighting_extradition_no_longer_s

It's time for the perv to man up and face the consequences of his crimes. It's like Deina said. "We’re coming for you. We’re going to get you."

Somer Thompson's Mom Wants Daughter's Killer "To Die"; Diena Thompson Says She Blames Herself

February 15, 2010 9:40 AM
Posted by Kealan Oliver

ORANGE PARK, Fla. (CBS/AP) The mother of murdered 7-year-old Somer Thompson says she wants her daughter's killer "to die," but first she wants to meet the killer, face to face.

"I want to see this person's face," Diena Thompson told ABC's Good Morning America. "I want them to get the death penalty. I have to be the voice for Somer."

The child's remains were found last October in a south Georgia landfill, days after she disappeared while walking home from school in the Jacksonville, Fla. suburb of Orange Park. Authorities last Thursday arrested Jarred Mitchell Harrell, a former neighbor of the Thompsons, on dozens of counts of child pornography, calling him a person of interest in the case.

Diena Thompson told ABC, she needs to know the truth about what happened to her daughter, saying,"I've built up so many scenarios in my head, that I honestly don't feel like anything they could tell me could be any worse than what I've already made up in my head."

Thompson's attorney, Michael Freed, said his client is optimistic the arrest will help bring closure to the case, but doesn't want to overreact prematurely.

Harrell has not been charged with murder.

7-year-old Somer Thompson used to stop at Harrell's house walking home from school to pet a white dog.

"I still blame myself, you know?, said Thompson. What if I did this? Or what if this could have been done and instead of looking in the mirror and blaming myself, I'm going to have a picture of someone else to blame," she said.

Harrell left his computer behind when he moved out of the Orange Park neighborhood. His roommates turned the computer over to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office after claiming to find child pornography on it.

Harrell was arrested in Meridien, Miss. on 29 counts of child pornography, and was being held on $1 million bond.

http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/12/crimesider/entry6201425.shtml

Man of interest in Somer Thompson slaying had unstable childhood

A bizarre series of events found Jarred Harrell and his sister bounced between their mother and father for parts of their young lives.

By Jim Schoettler
Story updated at 2:56 PM on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010

LUCEDALE, Miss. — Loretta Harrell answered a knock at her ranch-style home in the deep Mississippi woods six weeks ago to find two strangers standing outside.

The men told Harrell they were FBI agents and asked to speak to her husband about his son, Jarred. Startled, Jarred’s stepmother shut and locked the door and called for her husband, a local prison guard.

It had been six years since Howard Harrell had seen Jarred at the end of a bitter, bizarre custody battle that found the two hugging on the steps of the Lauderdale County courthouse. They crossed paths twice more, but never spoke, Howard Harrell told the Times-Union Tuesday.

The FBI agents told Harrell that Jarred wasn’t cooperating with a criminal investigation in Florida, where he’d spent time with his birth mother and her newest husband. They said Jarred fit a profile, but didn’t say of what, and asked his father for a DNA sample.

Harrell let one of the men swab the inside of his cheeks and watched them walk out a short time later. They left behind plenty of questions.

Harrell got some answers last week in a frantic phone call from his daughter in Jacksonville. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler had just announced that Jarred, 24, was arrested in Meridian, Miss., on child-pornography charges. Beseler also identified the unemployed laborer as a man of interest in the Oct. 19 disappearance and slaying of 7-year-old Somer Thompson.

Harrell and his wife said they remain stunned by the news, which they’ve seen repeated on local TV.

“I sure don’t see him doing none of that,” said Harrell, 51.

“I’m really still standing with my mouth open,” said his wife, 52.

Jarred remains in an isolation cell in a Meridian jail while fighting extradition back to Florida. Authorities said they expect him to be returned as early as next week.

Meanwhile, 125 miles to the south in the two-stoplight town of Lucedale, a family torn apart years earlier in a bitter dispute wonders what’s next.

The past

Mississippi court records describe a bizarre series of events that found Jarred and his sister bounced between their mother and Harrell for parts of their young lives.

Howard and Annis Harrell were married in Lucedale in October 1979. Their daughter was born seven months later, while Jarred was born in July 1985, the records show.

The couple divorced a year later and Annis got custody of the children. Harrell got them back three years later following the events outlined in a judge’s 1990 order in the case.

Shortly before the Harrells separated, she was working as a secretary for Joe Newman, a married, eccentric local inventor. The two became lovers with the knowledge of Newman’s wife, while Annis still had custody of the children, the judge’s order states.

In February 1989, Newman publicized what the order states is a 17-page “news release” in which he announced he was married not only to his wife, but to Annis Harrell and her 8-year-old daughter. The order does not indicate why the release was issued or how, but the order says Newman described himself as a prophet of God and that his wife believed him, among other things.

Alerted to the public statements, state child welfare officials sought to take the children from their mother, who officially married Newman in September 1989. During a court hearing in the custody matter, Newman said his marriage to the daughter was spiritual, not sexual, and that he would debate with God whether to consummate the marriage, the order states.

The judge said he didn’t doubt the depth of the convictions of either Newman or Annis, but he ordered the children removed from their home. The girl went immediately with her father. Jarred, then 3, stayed with Annis’ mother until also moving in with Harrell.

Annis divorced Newman and tried to get her children back, though a judge called her attempts manipulative and refused. But in 1993 about five years after Harrell got the children, he gave them back.

“You know how kids are; they want to be with their momma,” Harrell said.

Annis did not respond to several interview attempts by the Times-Union.

Harrell said he almost immediately lost touch with the children. He said he didn’t see them for eight years until their mother was summoned to court in Lucedale in 2003 as he sought to stop paying child support. Annis had earlier remarried and left town before returning some time later. Jarred was now 18, his sister 23.

After the hearing, which resulted in the end of the payments, Harrell embraced the children on the courthouse steps before they parted.

While he stayed in touch with his daughter, Harrell said he only saw Jarred two other times before his mug shot appeared last week on their local news. On both occasions, at a local Walmart and at the birth of his niece, Harrell said Jarred inexplicably turned away from him without speaking.

The future

Howard Harrell said he has no plans to reach out to Jarred as he sits in jail. He said he wonders, however, whether Jarred is being railroaded by authorities eager to solve Somer Thompson’s slaying.

Sheriff Beseler said the child-pornography charges stem from graphic images former Orange Park roommates found on Jarred’s laptop and computer discs, which they turned over to police.

Beseler has refused to say what evidence exists that might link Harrell to Somer, who used to walk home from school passed a home where Jarred was known to stay. The home, now unoccupied, is owned by a man now married to Jarred’s mother.

“They’re just tying to find somebody to put it on,” Howard Harrell said.

He said there’s one more thing he can’t get off his mind: He’s not really certain if Jarred is even his son.

Harrell said Jarred’s mother always insisted he is the father and court documents link them as father and son. But Harrell’s current wife said the two men look nothing alike. And Harrell, still distrusting of Jarred’s mother, said he has his doubts. Not that he’s ready to disown Jarred yet.

“I don’t have no other choice,” Harrell said. “I raised him for five years.”

Harrell said if anything comes from the ongoing criminal investigation, it may be his chance to get an answer. Along with the DNA sample he gave to the FBI, Harrell said he has been told his son changed his mind and gave his own sample some time later.

Harrell said he hopes another stranger or two will come knocking on his door again and let him know.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2010-02-17/story/man_of_interest_in_somer_thompson_slaying_had_unstable_childhood

Governor asks that person of interest in Somer case be extradited

Story updated at 12:22 AM on Friday, Feb. 19, 2010

Gov. Charlie Crist requested Thursday that Mississippi authorities extradite Jarred Harrell to Clay County, where he faces 29 counts of child pornography and has been named as a person of interest in the Somer Thompson slaying.

Harrell, 24, could be extradited as early as next week, Mississippi authorities told The Times-Union this week.

Harrell was arrested last week in Meridian, Miss., where he was staying with an aunt after leaving Florida about 2? weeks earlier. He is being held on $1 million bail on the child pornography warrant.

Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler named Harrell a person of interest in Somer's slaying, but has refused to discuss evidence in the case. Harrell at one time lived along the same route taken by the girl when she disappeared while walking home from Grove Park Elementary School.

After his arrest last week, Harrell refused to sign paperwork waiving extradition. To get Harrell back to Florida, local prosecutors submitted paperwork to Crist's office explaining what led to the pornography charges and identifying Harrell as the suspect.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2010-02-19/story/law_disorder_governor_asks_that_person_of_interest_in_somer_case_b

Harrell can only hide in Mississippi for so long. He will be extradited to Florida and will have to pay for all his sick crimes.

Anything to cost taxpayers even more money for his sick ass. I hope he gets what is really coming to him.

I don't understand the system in regards to allowing a suspect to refuse to sign an extradition. I'm sure there's a reason for it, but they get extradited anyway. What a sick POS.

Mississippi agrees to extradite 'Person of Interest' in Somer Thompson murder

Mike Aquilia
Feb. 20, 2010

Jacksonville - The governor of Mississippi has agreed to extradite Jarred Harrell to face child pornography charges in Clay County, the Florida Times-Union is reporting.

Thursday afternoon Florida Gov. Charlie Crist stepped in to request that the person of interest in the murder of Somer Thompson be extradited from Mississippi to Clay County.

Harrell was arrested last week in Mississippi on child porn charges. He remains in jail on $1 million bail.

Following his arrest, Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler held a news conference announcing that Harrell was also a person of interest in the Somer Thompson case. He used to live near Somer's home, and along her route home from school.

Last October, 7-year-old Somer disappeared as she walked home from school in Orange Park. Her body was found a few days later in a Georgia landfill.

Harrell announced earlier this week that he plans to fight extradition and would not sign an extradition waiver, which meant Crist had to request permission for extradition from Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour.

"After working closely with the Office of State Attorney Angela Corey in the 4th Circuit, today I requested that Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour grant the extradition of fugitive Jarred Mitchell Harrell to Florida, where he faces 29 counts of possession of child pornography," said Crist in his request Thursday.

Lauderdale County, Mississippi Sheriff Billy Sollie told the Times-Union tonight he's waiting for Clay officials to schedule moving Harrell, which could happen as early as next week.

http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/story.aspx?storyid=125686

Harrell Headed Back to Clay County

By Rich Jones, News Director
February 23, 2010 12:23 PM

The only person who has been publicly connected to Somer Thompson's murder is on his way to Clay County.

Jarred Harrell, named as a person of interest in the murder, left a jail in Mississippi this morning in a caravan of vehicles.

He was arrested on 29 counts of child porn possession, and will eventually be arraigned on the charges here.

He'll surely be questioned about Somer's death, but so far he has not been charged with any crime connected to the 7 year-old.

The Clay County Sheriff's Department spokesperson told reporters Monday that the agency would not reveal the exact date and time of the planned extradition because of the safety of the officers involved and the sanctity of the extradition.

Harrell was arrested February 11th in Meridian, Mississippi, where's being held on a $1 million bond.

http://wokv.com/localnews/2010/02/harrell-headed-back-to-clay-co.html

Person of interst in Somer Thompson murder extradited
Wednesday, 24 Feb 2010
http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/local/022410_person_of_interest_in_somer_thompson_murder_extradited


Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, is person of interest in Somer Thompson murder

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A man investigators call a person of interest in the murder of 7-year-old Somer Thompson has been extradited back to Florida.

Jarred Harrell, 24, was booked into the Clay County Jail just before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday morning. He’s facing 29 counts of child pornography in Clay County. Previously, he was in jail in Meridian, Miss. His first court appearance is scheduled for 7:45 a.m.

Somer Thompson disappeared in October 2009 while walking home from school near her Orange Park home. She was later murdered and her body was dumped in a Georgia landfill.

Harrell lived in Somer’s neighborhood, now investigators plan to question him about the girl’s murder.

Fox 35 News sister station in Jacksonville obtained exclusive phone calls Harrell made to his mother while in jail in Mississippi.

Harrell phone calls to mom from jail
Feb. 24, 2010

See Video & Transcripts (Posted at RC Blog) of Harrell & his mothers conversations from Jail, shortly after his arrest. Harrell is Suspected in the murder of Somer Thompson.

http://www.realitychatter.com/rc-blog-f43/harrell-suspect-in-murder-of-somer-thompson-phone-calls-to-mom-from-jail-t2061.htm#34581

New Charges Filed Against Person of Interest in Somer Thompson Case
Updated: 2/24/2010 4:37:03 PM

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- More charges have been added against the person of interest in the Somer Thompson case.

Today, the Clay County Sheriff's Office added two more charges against Jarred Harrell: 12 counts of production of child pornography and molestation of the child involved.




http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=152455&catid=3

Here is a picture of your serial child molester, and killer. I can't even put into words how I feel about this freak of a human being. People knew there was something wrong, there were signs. Besides what his family and friends have said, neighbors are saying he only came outside to wash his car during the time school was being let out and the children were walking by. I can't seem to copy from the PDF file of the new charges. This freaking POS is facing lifetime sentences alone from these charges. God bless little Somer and his other victims. My heart hurts so bad for Diena.

Harrell Wears Protective Jacket To Court Hearing






Updated: 2/25/2010 8:43:59 AM

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Jarred Harrell appeared again in court Thursday morning, but wore a different outfit than the one he had on Wednesday.

Instead of the traditional stripped jumpsuit most inmates wear, Harrell had on a green protective suit.

When questioned by reporters, a sheriff's deputy in court said it is commonly worn by inmates to protect themselves.

A representative from the state attorney's office says he has seen the outfit used most often for inmates who are suicidal, although no one would say if this is the case with Harrell.

Harrell is facing 12 counts of producing child porn and one count of child molestation. That's in addition to the 29 counts of possessing child porn he's already charged with.

Harrell only said four words. When Judge Richard Townsend asked Harrell if he had any questions, Harrell replied "No sir."

When asked if he understood his rights, Harrell said "Yes sir."

Harrell's arraignment on all charges remains March 10 at 9 a.m.

The Justice Coalition spokeswoman was there on Wednesday on behalf of Somer Thompson's family.

"They're waiting on answers for a baby that was not only brutally murdered but also thrown in the trash," Dugger said.



http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=152483&catid=3