FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #13

[doggies]

Originally Posted by Noway
Did SP have a car there I wonder. Why didn't she ask him to pick the kids up?
***
I can probably answer some of that question for you, Noway.
1) He probably wouldn't have had a clue where to go.
2) He MAY not even have known what the kids looked like
3) Permission has to be given for anyone other than parent (or stand-in) to pick kids up
4) They (correctly) should have been alarmed if that happened, vs getting home and finding him already there.
5) And last but not least, she was probably trying to make it easy on him, since she was the one doing the favor.
It all comes down to WHY on that day, doesn't it? Well, no, not all, of course, but so much.

 

[nursebeeme]

"Properly supervised"?

Woulda coulda shoulda..........

So tell me.... if I were to usually pick up my child on a daily basis from school, and then one day, my child asks if it's ok for her to walk home with friend A & B, who also walk the same route? I say yes, and then she is abducted on the way home. You will blame me, no?

I don't think it is about blame at all... it is what we learn over time that can help us better keep our children safe.. I read a few days ago, forget which thread now, that Somer's school is starting a parent volunteer program to have adults volunteer to be at drop off and pick up points for walkers... and walk with them to the school. The parents who volunteer will have to have background checks done. It sounds like a wonderful idea.

Over and over we hear the echos from parents who have learned the same lesson the same hard way... that our kids should never be alone. Perhaps Somer's case can really make a difference...

Again, I don't think it is about blame at all... but how many times does it have to happen... that a child is alone and something bad happens to them before something really changes to ensure that our children are not alone... I think this walking program they have started is a step in the right direction.... imhoo of course

 

[melley]

I thought there was more info about making it between crossing guards.... was that before the tanks?

 

[Mels3kidz]

A few days ago when I did a google search on Somer's home address, I pulled up the street view. Ironically, it was a garbage day and you could see that everybody had their own individual cans at the curb. Should still be the same pic out there if you google it. The address appears on the police report if you need it.

They look like standard garbage cans to me. I just can't image that the killer could stuff her into one of these (even in a trash bag) and the workers not notice when they emptied the can. Remember by this time she most probably would have been in full rigor mortis. .(I hate typing that). .and fairly difficult to manuever. I really think that she had to have been in a commercial dumpster.

Melissa

 

[Noway]

A few days ago when I did a google search on Somer's home address, I pulled up the street view. Ironically, it was a garbage day and you could see that everybody had their own individual cans at the curb. Should still be the same pic out there if you google it. The address appears on the police report if you need it.

fyi, The street view images are not in real time and may be 6 months older or older. But this house gives you an idea what they put out there. (This is street view on Horton ... not sure of address .,, just had garbage cans ... revised photo so none of house was showing).

 

[Sunnybrook]

Something that has always puzzled me:
In the original police report, DT states she received a call from SP (he says she called him) around 4pm that Somer did not come home. She got off early from work, went straight to OPAA and picked up her older son. They searched for Somer and then flagged down an officer around 5:30pm.

From that point on, each time DT recounts her actions, the statements are conflicting and never the same as the original. What happened between 4pm and 5:30pm, this seems to be a critical time in the chain of events. Based on her habits, Somer wasn't really late when Mom called and began searching at 4pm. Why would DT call and know that Somer was missing and it sounds strange, but I keep thinking, when was Somer really missing, before 4pm or after 4pm.

 

[txsvicki]

After all the horrible things that happen to kids today it's best not to tempt fate. Scrimp, change jobs, whatever it takes to get the kids in an after school care program or hire someone to pick them up. Get some of these organizations involved in forcing school districts to provide after school care. Don't leave them home alone or little kids playing outside or walking the street alone unsupervised. They could be snatched at gunpoint, but why make it easier for the predators.

 

[Peliman]

Here aremy questions on the garbage.
1. There is no way that anyone could get a body into the garbage dump area, I don't think, especially to end up in Somer's neighborhood spot. I don't think that anyone can have access to a dump and not only that, how would they traverse a mound of garbage and coincidentally end up in Somer's neighborhood garbage dump area? I think that is totally out of the picture.

2. I posted before that hubby was at a motel when a garbage truck came and took the garbage out of the dumpster. That is with a mechanical arm. They shake it out and then compact it in the truck, mechanically. Don't think that would work to be able to see legs at the dump. JMO and not meditating on that thought. Plus, aren't dumpsters in commercial places such as stores, etc locked? Does anyone know? That would make a difference.

3. That leaves residential. If the garbage was to be picked up in the AM, no one could stash anything into my garbage can except maybe a piece of paper. I don't think the perp would be looking around for empty garbage cans hoping to find one.

4. I can't see my garbage guys ever letting the homeowner empty the stuff from the can into their trucks. Does that happen anywhere?

5. I can't see it being the park as there were just too many people around and it would be way too much of a risk.

6. People were looking pretty quickly for Somer. So how could anyone have time to ditch her unless they did put her into a car in a garage or shed and then dump her later. But strange that the garbage is from her neighborhood. To me that indicates that it is somebody from the neighborhood who knows the perfect place to put her into the garbage (I hate typing that!) Otherwise, they would be long gone. Why stick around? And stick around where?

7. The RSO on the police report. Continue to say, "Way too weird?" They just happened to put the correct name and address on the report of an RSO? If indeed iit wasn't the RSO, who was it because it certainly was somebody!

So what garbage can, dumpster? could be used? I think it's totally determined that it can't be a construction dumpster. Any ideas on it?

Hello Human, nanu nanu

Regarding trash carts, I've seen this type used in three cities. I also worked as a videographer with WTOC news in Savannah, Ga and was assigned to a found body call to determine if it was homicide or suicide. When I arrived the scene was taped off for two blocks and LE led us to believe it was a suicide in a car down an alley. Officers were all over keeping people and news crews away. I finally got permission from a home owner to go in their back yard and took pics of the legs of a body in the back of a trash compactor truck.

Eventually it was learned the truck drove down the alley on trash day and two guys walking behind the truck emptied home owner trash carts into the back of the truck when the cart was emptied the body went into the rear compactor of the truck but it was spotted and not compacted, LE was called to the scene, we knew then we had a homicide.

These type carts can now be emptied automatically with only one person driving the truck.

I only tell you this story because I know the details first hand and in no way implies this was how she got to the dump area but that it could happen. Here's a picture of the dump carts cities are using now and I don't know if they are used in the area this girl went missing.

http://www.nngov.com/city-manager/images/trash_cart

 

[Dr.Fessel]

I thought there was more info about making it between crossing guards.... was that before the tanks?

The tanks are right by the burned out house I believe and a cross guard at the end of the block and she did not make it to that one.

 

[Emma Peel]

Well the one little kid said she made it to the tanks.

That sounds like that would be taking an alternate route home...(without looking at a map) ... right?

 

[Dr.Fessel]

That sounds like that would be taking an alternate route home...(without looking at a map) ... right?

No, I thought that was in a straight line home.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

That sounds like that would be taking an alternate route home...(without looking at a map) ... right?

Oh yes for sure.

 

[Noway]

Noway, he would have had to have gotten her out of the house, when could he have done it?

I don't know what he did after he sent AT off to look and then sent her back out to look real good.

But he was alone with ST until about 5 when C. Perry C. and Diena and A. Coan arrived. (well, maybe not ... I don't think AT went out again after Diena was told Somer hadn't come home ...)

I don't know what his actions were during that time. Did he send ST into the family room to watch TV while he frantically called the people on the list on the fridge?

BTW, in my neighborhood area I have seen only 2 other adults walking kids home. The rest of the kids walk in groups or by themselves.

 

[sorrell skye]

IIRC Somer was last seen on Gano. Several threads ago, google street images were posted that showed how long and straight Gano St. is. Am I remembering correctly, or not? I remember looking at those images and wondering how someone could disappear from view on such a long, straight street. Does anyone else remember thinking that?

 

[sorrell skye]

I have asked myself that same question - was SP calling the list of friends? It has never been mentioned by anyone in any interviews.

 

[eyes4crime]

IIRC Somer was last seen was on Gano. Several threads ago, google street images were posted that showed how long and straight Gano St. is. Am I remembering correctly, or not? I remember looking at those images and wondering how someone could disappear from view on such a long, straight street. Does anyone else remember thinking that?

The pictures shutterfly posted showed how straight and narrow the walk home was - I remember wondering the same thing as you.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

I don't know what he did after he sent AT off to look and then sent her back out to look real good.

But he was alone with ST until about 5 when C. Perry C. and Diena and A. Coan arrived. (well, maybe not ... I don't think AT went out again after Diena was told Somer hadn't come home ...)

I don't know what his actions were during that time. Did he send ST into the family room to watch TV while he frantically called the people on the list on the fridge?

BTW, in my neighborhood area I have seen only 2 other adults walking kids home. The rest of the kids walk in groups or by themselves.

If he did not leave the house then she would have had to been in his trunk when the police got there. By the time all the statements were made I am sure the police would have looked through his car.

 

[Kewpiedoll]

That sounds like that would be taking an alternate route home...(without looking at a map) ... right?

Tanks were on Gano close to the burnt house.

Shutterfly posted some awesome maps and outlined Somer's walk with her siblings, and then up to the point of the tanks, where the little boy saw her last.

 

[Noway]

Are we sure the garbage in which Somer was found was picked up on Tuesday?

Because the garbage on her street is picked up on Wednesday. Her house is outside the city limits.

Garbage within the city limits is picked up on Tuesday.

I'm just not sure what "garbage from Somer's neighborhood" would mean ... would it include streets that are within the city limits?

I remember finding a map of the city limits but it was bad and blurry so if anyone has a better one, let me know.


Melley ... your post made me wonder:

Could someone be on vacation and having a house sitter in their house? Or someone stopping by their house to get mail and bring in paper and make sure trash got out on the right day.

 

[human]

Something that has always puzzled me:
In the original police report, DT states she received a call from SP (he says she called him) around 4pm that Somer did not come home. She got off early from work, went straight to OPAA and picked up her older son. They searched for Somer and then flagged down an officer around 5:30pm.

From that point on, each time DT recounts her actions, the statements are conflicting and never the same as the original. What happened between 4pm and 5:30pm, this seems to be a critical time in the chain of events. Based on her habits, Somer wasn't really late when Mom called and began searching at 4pm. Why would DT call and know that Somer was missing and it sounds strange, but I keep thinking, when was Somer really missing, before 4pm or after 4pm.

Sunnybrook, the light went on in my head to exactly what you are saying! The hairs on my arm are standing up when I say this! Yes, very very strange indeed! Things that didn't add up all of a sudden are adding up, maybe!