Somer Thompson -- Found Deceased 10/21/09

Jarred Harrell's Computer Processing Timeline

Created: 2/12/2010 6:22:14 P

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Roommates turned over Jarred Harrell's computer to police more than two months before Somer Thompson's murder.

So why did it take so long to arrest him?

The answer is simple, proving it was his computer and he knew what was on the computer takes a long time.

Harrell's roommates say they found child porn on his computer, in their Wells Road apartment, in August 2009. The roommates then gave the computer to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on Aug. 10.

JSO determined the case was out of their jurisdiction, so the computer was turned over to the Clay County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 13.

According to the State Attorney General's office, Harrell's computer arrived at their cyber crime unit on Sept. 25, 2009.

The unit wasn't able to start taking the computer apart to do forensic testing until Oct. 9, when an official search warrant was received.

The testing was completed on Nov. 10, nearly a month after Somer was killed.

The official report, deeming that what was found on Harrell's computer was child porn, was sent to the Clay County Sheriff's Office two days later, Nov. 12.

The AG's office said at no time were they asked to rush the case and make it a priority, nor was there any indication the computer may be connected to the Somer Thompson case.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office said the detective assigned to the child porn case worked on the case every single day before the computer was sent to the AG's office.

Sheriff's Rick Beseler said the case was handled in a timely manner and to say otherwise is unfair and inaccurate.

The AG's office said forensic cases normally taken three to six months to handle. Harrell's was done in one month's time.
Somer disappeared on her walk home from Grove Park Elementary Oct. 19. Her body was found a few days later in a Georgia landfill. Harrell was arrested Thursday in Meridian, Miss. on 29 counts of child porn.

Beseler named him a person of interest in Somer's murder.

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/special/somer/news-article.aspx?storyid=151953&catid=338

Greg DiFranza, Former Officer, Talks about the Interrogation Process

Created: 2/24/2010 5:51:59 PM

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There are still so many unanswered questions surrounding the Somer Thompson case and whether there is a connection to Jarred Harrell.

And it will be up to authorities to get those answers.

That takes extensive hours of intense police work, though much of that work often pays off in the interrogation room with a person of interest or suspect.

Clay County authorities have been tight-lipped so far about Harrell's extradition from Mississippi back to the First Coast.

Harrell, the only person of interest in the Somer Thompson murder case, made an early morning appearance in court which was likely followed by a sitdown with Clay County investigators.

Greg DiFranza has extensive experience with interrogations.

"We're trying to find the truth," said DiFranza regarding the interrogation process.

DiFranza spent 20 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. These days, the former officer teaches interrogation skills to law enforcement from all over the country at the University of North Florida's Institute of Police Technology Management.

"There's a whole series of things that occur," said DiFranza.

DiFranza said going into an interrogation, investigators usually have all the evidence and facts stacked up against a suspect or person of interest.

"The questions are designed hopefully based upon the information that you have, not only the information you have on the crime scene or the crime itself, but also this particular individual."

In essence, the interrogation is simply a conversation with a purpose.

"What we do in law enforcement is we do that with a much more serious purpose to try to create this case that is based on facts and connect it with this particular individual," said DiFranza.

The main technique DiFranza teaches is building a connection with a person of interest like Harrell to keep the conversation and information flowing.

"Anybody who's listened to anybody talk before, you know when someone is trying to be deceptive with you or lie to you, and the same is reversed when you're interviewing someone."

The ultimate purpose? Getting an admission or confession, or even determining the person being interrogated was not involved in the crime after all.

"Somebody who has absolutely no remorse or no emotion associated with what they did is not going to confess. It's simply not going to happen," said DiFranza.



http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/special/somer/news-article.aspx?storyid=152466&catid=338

I know hindsight's 20/20, but there were people talking to LE about Jarred Harrell, people that knew him and what he was.

I can't believe this guys step-father thought child pornagraphy was a passing phase???????????? I can't put enough question marks after that! Why in God's name would anyone ever think that was a passing phase. When you get your jollies looking at 5 and 6 yr olds having sex then it is not a FREAKING PASSING PHASE People need to wake the hell up. Good grief I could strangle that son of a bitch!

I'm sorry but I am really pissed. I can't imagine how Diena feels....

You said that so much better than me Piper. I didn't read all the comments. I couldn't get past the post about the stepdad. Diena amazes me with her strength. I don't know if I could be that strong. She says that she wants to know what happened to Sommer because she has already imagined the horrible things that may have happened. Poor Woman.

Harrell Could Stay A 'Person Of Interest'

By Sam Jordan
February 26, 2010 4:38 PM

When it comes to the Somer Thompson murder case, Jarred Harrell could remain a 'person of interest' for quite a long time.

State Attorney Angela Corey can't say much about where the investigation is at, but she says his status might not change anytime soon. "There is not a timeline on how long someone can remain a person of interest," said Corey.

Corey is in regular communication with Clay County Sheriff Rick Beesler, while Steve Nelson is the "hands on, minute to minute" State Attorney working with the Sheriff's office.

Harrell is being held on $1 million bail on child porn possession charges but is being held without bond on the second set of charges that include production of child pornography.

http://wokv.com/localnews/2010/02/harrell-could-stay-a-person-of.html

More charges for Harrell — he's accused of molestation

By The Times-Union
Story updated at 4:53 AM on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010



Authorities say Jarred Mitchell Harrell took lewd photographs and video of a girl in his Gano Avenue bedroom in Orange Park when she was 3 to 5 years old, according to authorities and his latest arrest warrant.

Harrell, 24, was charged Wednesday with molesting a young child plus 12 related child-pornographycounts. That was hours after the unemployed laborer was ordered held on $1 million bail in another child-porn case.

The most recent batch of photos and the video were discovered two weeks ago by investigators during their investigation into the molestation and pornography case.

The images were on a digital camera's disc found in a Callahan home where Harrell also stayed.

According to Harrell's arrest warrant, the video and still images show a partially naked girl, known to his family, being asked to pose in a number of positions. Other images show Harrell using his hand to expose parts of the girl, the warrant said.

A family member identified the girl and the Gano Avenue bedroom where the images were taken. The documents don't give dates for the photos and video.

Gano Avenue was the last place 7-year-old Somer Thompson was seen walking home from school in October before she was found dead. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler has described Harrell as a "person of interest" in her killing. But the Sheriff's Office has said the child-porn charges are separate from Somer.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2010-02-27/story/law_disorder_more_charges_for_harrell_%E2%80%94_hes_accused_of_molestation

I don't even know what to say at this time.

This guy is sick...sick...sick!!!!

Documents Detail Harrell's Stay In Jail

State Attorney Angela Corey Provides Answers In Somer Thompson Case

POSTED: Monday, March 1, 2010

CLAY COUNTY, Fla. -- Within hours of Jarred Harrell's early morning extradition to Clay County last week, Harrell, 24, a person of interest in the killing of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, was charged with 12 counts of producing child pornography and with molesting the child in that porn.

State Attorney Angela Corey talked about the additional charges on Monday.

"It was a very young child, even younger than Somer Thompson, that there is physical evidence that corroborates the charges," Corey said.

Corey said the child was as young as 3 years old, and the evidence was found on a memory card from a digital camera. According to court documents, that card belonged to Harrell.

According to Harrell's original arrest report, investigators said there is video of the girl and pictures of her, presumably with Harrell.

The jail documents released Monday provide a detailed inmate log that breaks down where Harrell went in the jail and what he has done. It also documents when he's been involved in an incident, which is basically any time something happens out of the ordinary with an inmate.

Video:
Documents Detail Harrell's Stay In Jail State Attorney Provides Answers

Court Documents:
Jarred Harrell Jail Documents
New Arrest Report: Harrell Charged With Molestation
Harrell - Clay County Booking Sheet
Harrell - Mississippi Rendition Warrant

In the last six days, according to the records, Harrell has had five incidents. His first one was within hours of his arrival on Wednesday.

The report says corrections officers found 95 purple and gray capsules in Harrell's property. The capsules were identified as over-the-counter stacker pills, or weight-loss medication.

Later that same day, shortly after Harrell made his first appearance in court, he was taken back to his cell, but for an unknown reason transferred to the medical unit. The reason isn't clear because on the medical report, which reads, "Harrell was to be placed on ... " the words that follow are blacked out.

The report says all of Harrell's property was confiscated. And when he made another court appearance to his additional charges the next day, he was wearing a special vest that prevents inmates from using their clothing to commit suicide.

Harrell's other three incidents appear to be for contraband, according to the documents. The incidents include things like having mustard, salt and pepper packets, candy wrappers and old newspapers.

Harrell's first phone call from jail was made Friday and another call was made Monday morning.

He has asked for a public defender, according to the paper work, because he can't afford a private attorney.

The only visitor on his list is his mother, but she has not been to see him.

Questions Linger In Harrell's Arrest

With the arrest of Harrell on child pornography, production and molestation charges, there are many questions about the man named as a person of interest in the killing of Somer Thompson.

"I can tell you we continue to work him as a primary person of interest or suspect, whichever way you want to phrase it, in the Somer Thompson case," Corey said. "He's still a viable suspect in that case and we continue to work it actively every day."

Somer went missing in October on her way home from school, and her body was found days later in a Georgia landfill, where Orange Park's trash is dumped.

Investigators said Harrell lived in a home on Gano Avenue, where Somer was last seen.

The Clay County Sheriff's Office has never referred to Harrell as a suspect, but strictly as a person of interest.

Corey explained the difference between the two terms. She said investigators won't call Harrell a suspect unless there is enough evidence to charge him with murder. She said they are still working on gathering and processing evidence.

How long can someone be labeled a person of interest?

"Forever. There is no limitation of that specific description of someone that we believe may have committed a criminal act," Corey said.

Meanwhile, Corey said the child-molestation and pornography charges Harrell faces give investigators time to keep him in jail as they work on the Somer Case.

"With Harrell being arrested on these other charges, it gives us the luxury of time to work the physical evidence in the Somer case, and that's what we are doing," Corey said.

She said investigators have time on their side and they want to get all the facts and evidence in line. Corey said Harrell is not going anywhere.

"I think the community who has grieved for Somer, has prayed and worried with all of us, can be at ease right now," Corey said.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/22708293/detail.html

Sorry for all the quotes included, (all are from this thread) but point being made that Harrell's demand was met:

Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, is demanding that authorities show there is probable cause for him to be charged with child pornography...

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.

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

More charges for Harrell — he's accused of molestation
By The Times-Union
Story updated at 4:53 AM on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010
Authorities say Jarred Mitchell Harrell took lewd photographs and video of a girl in his Gano Avenue bedroom in Orange Park when she was 3 to 5 years old, according to authorities and his latest arrest warrant.

Harrell, 24, was charged Wednesday with molesting a young child plus 12 related child-pornographycounts. That was hours after the unemployed laborer was ordered held on $1 million bail in another child-porn case.

The most recent batch of photos and the video were discovered two weeks ago by investigators during their investigation into the molestation and pornography case.

The images were on a digital camera's disc found in a Callahan home where Harrell also stayed.
According to Harrell's arrest warrant, the video and still images show a partially naked girl, known to his family, being asked to pose in a number of positions. Other images show Harrell using his hand to expose parts of the girl, the warrant said.

A family member identified the girl and the Gano Avenue bedroom where the images were taken. The documents don't give dates for the photos and video.

Gano Avenue was the last place 7-year-old Somer Thompson was seen walking home from school in October before she was found dead. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler has described Harrell as a "person of interest" in her killing. But the Sheriff's Office has said the child-porn charges are separate from Somer.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2010-02-27/story/law_disorder_more_charges_for_harrell_%E2%80%94_hes_accused_of_molestation

Justice4all wrote:
"It was a very young child, even younger than Somer Thompson, that there is physical evidence that corroborates the charges," Corey said.

Corey said the child was as young as 3 years old, and the evidence was found on a memory card from a digital camera. According to court documents, that card belonged to Harrell.

According to Harrell's original arrest report, investigators said there is video of the girl and pictures of her, presumably with Harrell.

Ha! Be careful what you ask for, Harrell!!

All of this, and I have to wonder if his "Mommy" still thinks he is a wonderful boy?

It's pretty hard to deny evidence found on a memory card from your camera. I doubt that his mother has much to say right now.

I doubt that his mother has much to say right now.

Unless she is another Cindy Anthony.

Let's hope she's not another Cindy Anthony even though she might be judging from the jailhouse phone call while Harrell was still in Mississippi. I'm not sure what they have to link him to Somer's death besides location, but prosecutors should have an open and shut case when it comes to the child pornography and molestation charges.

Apparently this young child's victimization was unknown to the family before now?? otherwise, you would think he would have been turned in before now and it would show on his record... I hope this young child has been given access to counselling - i know at the time it happened she was very young - but it still would require some professional treatment. I agree in that I hope this mother isn't as blind and enabling as CA - but not so sure after I heard that first taped convo from jail about how he was innocent... and what his step dad says about this being a "phase" makes me think that he either has been or is involved in the same kind of criminal activity!!! he tries to JUSTIFY his step-sons behavior as a passing phase!!! i don't care what you call it, it's illegal, it's endangering to children and degrading to all of humanity!!! the child porn biz is the worst possible in that that true victims are society's most valuable assets, yet the most vulnerable and defenseless of society. They are so young they don't know how to cope with what's happened to them, and you have creeps like this guys step dad who calls it a "passing phase".... the guy ought to be charged himself... i'm just so mad, i can't think of one that would stick right now!

Harrell faces more child sex counts
Set to be arraigned on child porn charges in court Wednesday.

By Jim Schoettler
Story updated at 11:37 PM on Tuesday, Mar. 9, 2010

An additional charge of child molestation and 12 counts of using a child in a sexual performance were filed today against Jarred Mitchell Harrell, the Clay County man also named as a person of interest in the Somer Thompson slaying, court records show.

The 13 new charges against Harrell, 24, were added to a case in which he was charged two weeks ago with molesting the same unidentified young girl and promoting a sexual performance involving the girl. There are now 26 counts against Harrell in that case, which investigators said did not involve Somer.

The case centers on accusations of molestation and graphic videotaping and photographing of a girl between the ages of 3 and 5 in a home once owned by Harrell's stepfather at 1152 Gano Ave. in Orange Park. The incidents occurred between May and November of 2008, records said. The images were found on a digital camera taken by investigators during a search of the Callahan home of Harrell's mother, records show.

The video and still images show a partially naked girl, known to Harrell's family, being asked to pose in a number of positions, court records show. Other images show Harrell using his hand to expose parts of the girl, the records said.

A family member identified the girl and Harrell's bedroom where the images were taken.

That case was brought on top of 29 counts of child pornography filed against Harrell Feb. 11. He was arrested in Meridian, Miss., on a warrant in the 29-count case, which stemmed from graphic images found by Harrell's former Orange Park roommates on his laptop and computer discs last summer.

Harrell is set to be arraigned in Clay County Circuit Court Wednesday. He is being represented by the public defender's office. Harrell has not responded to a Times-Union request for an interview.

Sheriff Rick Beseler named Harrell a person of interest in the Oct. 19 disappearance and slaying of Somer Thompson, 7, whose death remains unsolved. The announcement came after Harrell's Feb. 11 arrest on the child-pornography charges, but the sheriff has not said what evidence investigators have that may link him to the slaying.

Somer disappeared while walking home from school on Gano Avenue, having last been seen near the Harrell family home. Investigators have also obtained DNA samples from Harrell and his father as part of the case, his father said.

Harrell is being held in the isolation in the Clay County jail without bail.

http://jacksonville.com/community/clay/2010-03-09/story/harrell_faces_more_child_sex_counts

This dude is done for...Thank God he is locked up now and won't be free again to lurk and lure little girls into his wacked out world of perversion...

Let's home they KEEP this guy - no probation for him!!! that way he's not allowed to keep on and on and on the way Gardner was...

Jarred Harrell Pleads Not Guilty to 55 Molestation, Porn Charges

Jared Halpern, Reporter
March 10, 2010 10:08 AM

As a group of bikers waving banners reading "Justice for Somer" attracted honks from passers-by outside the Clay County Courthouse, the man labeled a person of interest in the seven year old's murder pleaded not guilty to dozens of counts of child molestation and child pornography.

Jared Harrell, 24, said nothing in his short court appearance. His public defender, Kate Bedell, entered not guilty pleas on all 55 counts Harrell is charged with by Clay County prosecutors.

Harrell was arrested in Meridian, Mississippi last month, charged with possession 29 images and videos of child pornagraphy. Later in the month, the Clay County Sheriff's Office added a single count of child molestation of a victim younger than seven-years-old and 12 counts of producing child pornography.

The second set of charges carries a life sentence if Harrell is convicted.

Tuesday, the list of charges grew again. Prosecutors added a second molestation charge and a dozen more counts of producing child pornography.

"Charging in the most prudent way, and using all laws that have been violated in our opinion and charging it accordingly. So, it's the same incident, just charged a little bit more thoroughly," says Chief Assistant State Attorney Dan McCarthy.

McCarthy says the victim is a female relative of Harrell's and younger than seven years old.

Court records show the incident occured in 2008 at Harrell's stepfather's home on Gano Avenue in Orange Park, the same neighborhood Somer Thompson lived and went missing last October.

Two days after Somer's kidnapping, her body was found in a south Georgia landfill.

None of the 55 charges Harrell is facing in Clay County are related to the Orange Park girl's death, but when Sheriff Rick Beseler announced Harrell's arrest, he immediately labeled the 24-year-old as "a person of interest" in Somer's case.

Beseler has not said what evidence may link Harrell to Somer Thompson's kidnapping or murder or indicated how quickly additional charges may be filed.

Harrell is due back in court for pre-trial motions next month.

http://wokv.com/localnews/2010/03/jarred-harrell-pleads-not-guil.html

tish wrote:Let's home they KEEP this guy - no probation for him!!! that way he's not allowed to keep on and on and on the way Gardner was...

They better not give him probation considering he is charged with 55 counts of various sick crimes including child molestation and possession of child pornography. IMO, even if he didn't murder Somer, he should never see the outside of a jail cell again.