UPDATED: Death Of Florida Girl Found In Landfill Ruled A Homicide
Alternative content
Police Searching For Missing Florida Girl's Killer...
An autopsy will be performed on the body of Somer Thompson, the little Florida girl who disappeared Monday on her way home from school. The search for her ended Wednesday in a public landfill in Georg...
An autopsy will be performed on the body of Somer Thompson, the little Florida girl who disappeared Monday on her way home from school. The search for her ended Wednesday in a public landfill in Georgia, where her remains were recovered. The FBI is now at the scene, and police are asking for help from the public in finding her killer. ABC News’ Matt Gutman has the details. UPDATE: Somer Thompson’s death ahs now been ruled a homicide.
Published: October 22, 2009
Updated: October 22, 2009
***4:10 p.m. Update October 22***
Death Of Florida Girl Found In Landfill Ruled A Homicide
ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) - Authorities are calling the death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson a homicide.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman Mary Justino says authorities have confirmed that the body of a small girl found in a Georgia landfill is Somer.
The body was found Wednesday in the landfill about 50 miles from the Orange Park neighborhood where Somer disappeared Monday afternoon.
Justino did not say how the girl was killed, but she says the girl’s death was a homicide. She says authorities have not located a suspect.
————————————-
Orange Park, FL—As part of their investigation, Clay County (FL) Sheriff’s Office deputies headed to a landfill in Georgia to search for the missing 7-year-old Somer Thompson.
Sheriff Rick Beseler, Clay County (FL) Sheriff’s Office: “Based on that identification, I contacted Deana, Somer’s mother, and gave her the grim and sad news that we had made an identification of the body.“
Deputies had trailed a municipal garbage truck the 48 miles to the Folkston, Georgia dump. Investigators are waiting on the autopsy, being performed in Savannah, GA, to determine the manner of death.
Sheriff Beseler: “I believe, due to the early discovery of the body, that it is going to greatly enhance our investigation and greatly enhance the likelihood of a positive and successful outcome to this investigation.“
Hundreds of volunteers, including cadets from a nearby naval base, fanned out in search of Somer. Walking home from school, on Monday, the second grader stormed off after having a spat with her brother. She was never seen again. The quick discovery did little to ease her mother’s suffering.
Diena Thompson, Somer’s mother: “I feel terrible. I’m guilt ridden. (crying)“
A candlelight vigil for somer turned into a memorial.
Diena Thompson: “I just love her and I’ll miss her.“
Thompson asked those gathered to join her in a rendition of Somer’s favorite: “You are my sunshine…(Diena singing)“
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office says they’ve questioned more than 70 sex offenders in the area.
Advertisement
Advertisement