FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #39

[billyjoesgirl]

I totally understand that, I guess my mind just gets to thinking about ALL of the other families who have lost a child and go about things in such a different way, basically just focus on trying to get their lives back together after such an ordeal.

 

[nursebeeme]

. It benefits the Somer Thompson Foundation, which works to raise awareness about protecting children from sexual predators, as well as to support victims' families.

bumping up the meaning of the foundation (Thanks Noway). I do not think it is money going toward the family but a foundation set up to prevent this from happening to another child and support for any parents who go thru this same thing.

 

[billyjoesgirl]

So in a way, without verification from LE, CCSO, FBI and such, its official? This is what happened to Somer Thompson?
Has JH been charged and I missed something?
Or did Beseler just give the go ahead on starting a foundation under this cause, but wont release the actual COD?

I don't get it

 

[nursebeeme]

A foundation is a non-governmental entity that is established as a nonprofit corporation or a charitable trust, with a principal purpose of making grants to unrelated organizations, institutions, or individuals for scientific, educational, cultural, religious, or other charitable purposes. This broad definition encompasses two foundation types: private foundations and grantmaking public charities.

A private foundation derives its money from a family, an individual, or a corporation. An example of a private foundation is the Ford Foundation.

http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/foundfun.html

foundations have laws, etc and most likely Somer's foundation will have a lawyer in the mix in some way, shape, or form to handle the monies collected and how they are allocated out in terms of what the foundation determines to spend money on. Foundations will also usually have a board. There is more on foundation basics at the link above

 

[nursebeeme]

So in a way, without verification from LE, CCSO, FBI and such, its official? This is what happened to Somer Thompson?
Has JH been charged and I missed something?
Or did Beseler just give the go ahead on starting a foundation under this cause, but wont release the actual COD?

I don't get it

I would think that the family, who are victims as well, want something positive to come of what happened to their child. There has not been a COD released...and no one charged...

I see this foundation as a way for the family to do something proactive.

Just to throw this out there additionally... but did you know that Chelsea King's body has not even been "officially" positively identified and won't be until the pretrial hearing?? But the community has already set up runs in her honor and her parents are all over getting sexual predator laws changed.

I personally applaud any parent who can go thru this sort of attack on their child and turn it into something positive like helping prevent similar attacks and helping other families in similar situations.

Just moo of course

 

[Dr.Fessel]

So in a way, without verification from LE, CCSO, FBI and such, its official? This is what happened to Somer Thompson?
Has JH been charged and I missed something?
Or did Beseler just give the go ahead on starting a foundation under this cause, but wont release the actual COD?

I don't get it

BBM Can you tell me what you are talking about here?

 

[BeanE]

So in a way, without verification from LE, CCSO, FBI and such, its official? This is what happened to Somer Thompson?
Has JH been charged and I missed something?
Or did Beseler just give the go ahead on starting a foundation under this cause, but wont release the actual COD?

I don't get it

I think any of us can start a foundation for any cause we wish, without input, approval, or involvement of LE, CCSO, FBI, Beseler, etc, can't we?

Maybe I need to read up on this a bit more.

 

[billyjoesgirl]

well I can honestly say that i hope it doesn't take years and years for charges to be filed, and justice to be served. I've noticed that for the most part this story has dropped out of the headlines and news nationwide. Its still a big deal in Orange Park though and in the state of FL.
Im interested to see what will actually be done with the money raised.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Jax 4 for one, the latest story about the fundraiser, read the comments.

EVERYTHING isnt quite right to me about this story, that is just my personal opinion.

It would take me an eternity to list all the questions I have, but im sure they will filter out one by one. It depends on what we are allowed to discuss on here, I guess.

I always read the comments and it appears it is the same few people that always trash the family and any fundraisers. The good people set them straight over and over but they keep coming back. I think they are simply filled with hate.

 

[billyjoesgirl]

BBM Can you tell me what you are talking about here?

With no COD, why start a foundation under such a cause.
for example what if she was hit by a drunk driver, wouldn't you be raising money for something relating to that?
I mean, no one knows what actually happened to her, do they?

And no Im not saying that anyone needs approval from CCSO or beseler, but I would want to know from LE, what cause I should start my foundation based on, as to not look stupid in the end if the COD was something other than a sex offence/murder.

That why I keep asking, is this what really happened to Somer?

 

[nursebeeme]

With no COD, why start a foundation under such a cause.
for example what if she was hit by a drunk driver, wouldn't you be raising money for something relating to that?
I mean, no one knows what actually happened to her, do they?

And no Im not saying that anyone needs approval from CCSO or beseler, but I would want to know from LE, what cause I should start my foundation based on, as to not look stupid in the end if the COD was something other than a sex offence/murder.

That why I keep asking, is this what really happened to Somer?

I think the family has a good enough of an idea as to what happened to their child to go forward with a foundation of any sort. They are not saying that this is what happened to Somer... they are doing something positive in her name.

 

[billyjoesgirl]

I always read the comments and it appears it is the same few people that always trash the family and any fundraisers. The good people set them straight over and over but they keep coming back. I think they are simply filled with hate.

I agree. I don't post there, but I do read the comments on the new stories.
Im not out there to trash talk the family. It has to be very difficult to work through this.
I just have the few issues with the fundraisers, as I stated in the earlier posts. Hooters being a sponsor and the after party, just seem inappropriate.

 

[billyjoesgirl]

Well its been great to keep this thread on top for a while this morning, it was kind of sad to see it drop to page two a few times.

Saturday will be a big day then for Somer, or at least for the victims families.
Raising awareness is a good thing. If the people of Florida aren't aware of the sex offender problem by now, then the kids of that state are in dire straits.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Hi all - haven't posted on this thread in ages, but I've continued to follow the case closely.

First of all - a great big TY to all of you for keepin' on keepin' on! Somer deserves Justice!!!

Second of all, I would like to add my own :twocents: about the arrest of JH, and LE naming him a POI, but still not charging him with the murder, even after having him in custody after all this time.

IMO, if JH's DNA had been found on Somer or on anything that was found with her or near her that was directly related to her, he would have been charged with her murder by now.

Since he hasn't been charged, I'm led to believe that LE is still looking for some concrete evidence that can tie him to the murder.

IDK what LE found in the Gano house that led them to name him a POI, but it must not have been strong enough evidence to name him a suspect & charge him with the murder, otherwise they would have already done so.

IMO, they're still looking for the killer.

ETA: It's been 5 months since her murder. JH was arrested Feb. 11. His computer has been in LE's possession since August of '09. His last places of residence have been searched, evidence collected, processed, etc. I have no doubt LE has obtained a warrant to collect his DNA since arresting him last Feb. IMO, if there was solid evidence to link him to the murder & charge him accordingly, it would have been done by now.

BBM

Here is my belief on this.

The State of Florida wants to stick a needle in this freaks arm when it is all done and over.

We are probably looking at over a million dollar trial and that is not counting the million they have probably already spent on this.

As soon as he is charged the state has to turn over all the evidence they have on him and the clock is ticking on a speedy trial.

DNA does not prove Murder. JH can say yep I molested her but I did not kill her, someone else did.

They have tons of evidence that needs examined and tested.

The fact that JH is sitting in jail right now with no bond and it appears it will be years before he gets out gives the State of Florida a gift they usually do not have the luxury of, putting a solid case together.

If they jumped the gun and charged this guy and then he got out on some loop hole or tainted evidence from a rush job the People would be furious.

Last but not least, we have my signature line.

 

[nursebeeme]

I second all of that Doc

 

[Noway]

Since there has been no mention of this being a 501(c)(3) -- because if they are asking for donations I think they would have had to indicate their charitable donation status -- I think this Foundation must fall under the nonprofit corporation (snipped from nursebeeme's post, #384 above):

A foundation is a non-governmental entity that is established as a nonprofit corporation or a charitable trust, with a principal purpose of making grants to unrelated organizations, institutions, or individuals for scientific, educational, cultural, religious, or other charitable purposes. This broad definition encompasses two foundation types: private foundations and grantmaking public charities.

A private foundation derives its money from a family, an individual, or a corporation. An example of a private foundation is the Ford Foundation.

ETA
But I think the nonprofit corporations still must make their financial records available to the public. Since they gave the Ford Foundation as an example, I looked it up, and they do have financial statements on website. http://www.fordfound.org/

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Well its been great to keep this thread on top for a while this morning, it was kind of sad to see it drop to page two a few times.

Saturday will be a big day then for Somer, or at least for the victims families.
Raising awareness is a good thing. If the people of Florida aren't aware of the sex offender problem by now, then the kids of that state are in dire straits.

Yeah I can't stand when it's on page 2.

I try to keep Somer's thread and Shaniya's thread on the first page. But, sometimes I am not able to get online to bump them.

I don't think Somer has been forgotten. I just think people are trying to wait patiently for justice. I wish I had more patience.

 

[Noway]

You are right that there does not have to be a connection between the purpose of the foundation and how Somer died.

I have a friend who runs an organization to help families whose loved ones have gone missing, but she has not personally suffered through that herself. She just realized that there were people out there needing help.

 

[angelswatchoverthem]

I think its great that this charitable event is happening for children that have fallen victim to these sex crimes, and their families. It certainly gives the families something positive to focus on in memory of their children. I must say reading through these posts, the hooters thing is" inappropriate", and an after party? This event is for child victims ultimately isn't it?
What are they going to do with the donations to help families?

 

[angelswatchoverthem]

You and I see things differently there, Kimberly, but we'll have to wait and see what it's all about and how it all works out over the years.

She is so distraught right now that she cannot even visit Somer's grave (or at some point said this). I think it would be in her best interest to get herself healthy and then jump into the missing/murdered child arena. And the same with her children.

I think George and Cindy did it too fast and I think Diena did too.

ETA
I think being involved with helping families of missing/murdered children will bring back the horror and she will be back to square one in dealing with it if she doesn't get herself to a good place in her life first.

(again this is all making sense in my head)

You have a good point there. Bereaved parents just need to work through their grief initially, and it is very early days for Deina and her family. It hasn't even been 12mnths. yet. Grief over the death of a child is a huge emotional rollercoaster, and takes a very long time to come to terms with. I am saying this because i speak from experience! It is "one day at a time". I was told not to do anything major for at least 12mnths.or to make any major decisions either. If she feels she is strong enough to do this, and really wants to, then she should go with that, but only as much as she feels comfortable doing. I can relate to not wanting to go to the gravesite, they are not there anyway. She can remember her child in other ways.
I won't make comment about the "circus" that is being played out with the Anthony's but i don't feel there is any comparison in this case.