The Somer Thompson Murder – What We DON’T Know
On Monday, October 19th, 7-year old Somer Thompson disappeared on her way home from school in Orange Park, Florida. She was last seen less than a mile from her house and, apparently, was walking alone as she had been involved in some sort of argument with other students. On Wednesday her body was discovered in the local landfill when police decided to check on the trash from all the trucks that service her neighborhood. Her mother has made several angry public statements to the “killer” that he will be found and brought to justice.
There will, undoubtedly, be a significant amount of speculation in the media by “experts”. As I pointed out in a previous blog, this speculation is fairly worthless unless it is based on a review of all of the facts of the case. While we know about Somer’s abduction and murder, there is significant information that we do NOT know, such as:
1. The Mode of Death. How was this young girl killed? Was she strangled? Stabbed? Shot? Were there signs of torture on her body or evidence of sexual assault? This type of information can provide law enforcement significant information on the personality of the offender. If an offender’s DNA was found on her body, this would also be an invaluable lead towards identifying the killer.
2. The Location of Death. Somer was last seen, by at least one witness, standing in front of a vacant house. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has been processing that house for possible clues. If she was taken to that house, and killed there, it raises some interesting questions. Was she lured into the house or abducted outside? How did she end up in a trash truck (abandoned houses normally aren’t serviced by trash trucks)?
3. Victimology. Just because we have an apparently grieving mother making public statements doesn’t mean that she can be removed from our list of suspects. Remember Susan Smith? She was the woman who claimed to have been car jacked and her two small sons abducted. It turned out that she had killed her sons by pushing her car into a lake with them strapped into their car seats. The FDLE will take a close look at the relationship that Somer had with her mother and any other members of the family. (A recent news report said that police took “evidence” from Somer’s home. If she was abducted before she got home, what evidence would they have found?)
4. Registered Sex Offenders. It was quite a surprise for people to learn that there were over 80 registered sex offenders living within five miles of Somer Thompson’s home. Of course, not all registered sex offenders must register because of crimes against children, but this is a very provocative fact. As of this writing, however, the police claim that ALL of these registered sex offenders have been interviewed and that none is currently considered a suspect.
5. Motive. There is no such thing as an “accidental” murder. There is always a motive, even though it may only make sense to the offender. Hopefully, after a careful review of all of the circumstances surrounding this little girl’s tragic death, police will be able to develop a theory on “Why” she was killed. ”Why”, after all, is one of the quickest ways to determine “Who” it was that killed her.
So, until we know more, or until an arrest is made, any speculation made about mode of death or motivation are purely speculative. This case will be a great topic of discussions for the “experts”. That is, until the next case comes along.
As we know killers usually kill within a comfort zone that of where they live, work or are familiar with. This neighborhood is heavily populated and located about a mile from a lot of restaurants. I find it odd that first of all a first grader walks home with no supervision, and that nobody else walking home from school saw anything out of the ordinary. This makes me think that it would be somebody that the other children in the neighborhood would be familiar with or have seen around before and not necessarily stand out to them. Knowing that there are over 80 registered sex offenders is certainly surprising. They aren’t really saying much with this case… The child was identified through a birthmark located on her body and the clothing she was wearing was the same as she was wearing when she disappeared. The mother’s boyfriend didn’t have a comment to investigators, and it took him an awful long time to report the child missing, he left it up to other children to go look for her according to Jacksonville news. When they said they took evidence from the home, if it was something Somer had in school that would be very interesting. The mother claims it is very unlike the child to run off where the babysitter claims that the child was always running off and she would always have to call around to see if she was at a neighbor. There are alot of open ends in this case and not many facts are presented which makes it difficult to formulate an opion.
correction, some killers are likely to kill in a comfort zone.
seeing as the child was still dressed in her clothing from the pervious day, if there was any type of sexual abuse to the child the offendor would have redressed the child, which could mean a number of differnt things.
My knee jerk reaction is that the crime was one of opprotunity. A little girl may be taken into a vacant house with little or no trouble. A ‘thinking killer’ might think he could leave the body in the house until night time. Then, it would be much easier to dispose of the girl in a dumpster.
On the other hand, the Mother could be a suspect. Problems arise. 1. One would think someone would see the girl go to her house or go into her house. This could zero in on the Mother. She too could wait until dark to dispose of the body.
Another option: If the girl had an argurement with with people she was waking with, she could walk ahead in a ‘huff’. The children or child she agrued with might be very angry with the girl. Given the opprotunity the other child/children could have attacked her say with a 2x 4. ( I realize this is a stretch)).
Another factor is that the authorities seem to be diredted to check the dumpsters. Who directed them?
It is my feeling that forensics are the key meaning :the time of death, any fibers, blood or semen,CAUSE OF DEATH. As presented, the girl’s death brings up many more questions than answers.
P.S. Pardon grammatic and syntax issues. I wrote this before 6:00am
I believe that the killer. Is known to the community because in broad daylight nobody saw what happened to this little 7 year old girl and what was she doin walkng home from school all by herself??? I am a mother of a 7 year old daughter and ill be damned if I would let her walk anywhere by herself let alone home from school!!!
Ireally do not understand y this 7 year old girl would be walking home alone from school.obviously if nobody noticed the girl in broad daylight with someone out of the ordinary than this individual is someone that is known to the little girl!!!
This is by far a sad crime. having a seven year old little girl myself, I can’t even imagine what that little girl endured before taking her last breath. Kids at this age are so fragile, and scared of everything! Living in a neighborhood like this, does raise some questions as to how parents should take extra precaution with their kids. I can understand that under many financial circumstances one cannot always choose where they live. I recently moved into a new neighborhood and before doing so I ensured that I checked the website that provides detailed information on sex offenders in any neighborhood and surrounding schools. Unfortunately not all sex offenders are registered and as a parent I must ensure that none of my kids walk around the neighborhood without an adult. this little girl was walking with other kids, and sadly even kids cannot protect other kids from evil predators. Having teenagers is no exception in a world filled with so many people like ” child killers”. While MY teenagers claim I am paranoid, and at times feel embarrassed that I walk them places, I still always ensure that I do the best I can to get them to their destinations either by me, my husband, or a trusted family member. Sometimes as parents one must make personal and financial sacrifices to ensure the safety of ones children. As you students get older and decide to become parents yourselves i would strongly have you consider your children’s vulnerability. If things are like this now, imagine ten years from now, things will by far be worse!