Death of Somer Thompson

Somer Thompson
Born	Somer Renee Thompson April 5, 2002(2002-04-05) Columbia, South Carolina
Died	October 19, 2009(2009-10-19) (aged 7) Orange Park, Florida

Somer Renee Thompson (April 5, 2002 - October 19, 2009) was a seven-year-old girl who went missing on her way home from school. She was abducted by Jarred Harrell, who sexually assaulted and strangled her. Her body was found on a landfill site in Folkston, Georgia, two days later.

Disappearance

On 19 October 2009, seven-year-old Somer Thompson was released from Grove Park Elementary School in Orange Park, Florida, at around 2:45pm. She met up with her brother and sister to take the mile walk home that they took on a regular basis. During the walk, Somer got into an argument with another girl from her school, and ran off. Her older sister Abigail thought Somer would catch up with them, but when they reached the second crossing guard, they realized Somer was not there. She was last seen in front of an abandoned house about 500 yards away from the school.

Body discovery

Two days later, the body of a small child was discovered on a landfill site in Folkston, Georgia. The next day, it was identified as the body of Somer Thompson.

Somer's funeral was held on 27 October 2009, at the First Baptist Church of Orange Park, near Jacksonville. She was buried at Jacksonville Memory Gardens.

Investigation

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement set up its forensic mobile unit at 1080 Gano Avenue, where Somer was last seen. Somer's DNA was found in the house, along with the DNA of 24-year-old Jarred Harrell.

Harrell was arrested, and later admitted to abducting, sexually assaulting and strangling Somer.

Conviction

Five months later, Harrell was charged with Somer's murder.

He allegedly made contact with Somer on her way home from school. He sexually assaulted and strangled her in a house she walked past every day, and disposed of her body in a dumpster, which ultimately ended up on a landfill site in Folkston, Georgia.

Legacy

Shortly after Somer's death, The Somer Thompson Foundation was set up; an online website tribute to Somer. A message was left on the website - "Justice for Somer is justice for children."

References

• http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/33446804/ns/today-today_people/t/mother-somer-thompson-i-feel-i-failed/
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36051745/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/man-charged-somer-thompsons-murder/
• http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/sources-suspect-jarred-harrell-charged-connection-somer-thompson/story?id=10208882
• http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/somer-thompson-killer-serial-child-predator/story?id=8915179
• http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/02/12/national/main6200498.shtml
• http://jacksonville.com/news/somer-thompson?/content/death-somer-thompson
• http://www.nydailynews.com/topics/Somer+Thompson
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6406241/Police-searching-for-missing-Somer-Thompson-find-body-of-girl.html
• http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/crime-law-justice/crimes/crime-victims/somer-thompson-PEOCVC0000063.topic

External links

• National Center for Missing and Exploited Children

Persondata
Name	Thompson, Somer
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 5, 2002
Place of birth	Columbia, South Carolina
Date of death	October 19, 2009
Place of death	Orange Park, Florida