FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #16

[alexandra]

I've even looked on e-bay and craigslist....and I'm starting to think these items don't exist. Two sites that I couldn't search tho were K-Mart and Sears...sites were down for maintenance.

 

[eyes4crime]

The fact that her book bag and lunch box weren't found with her is significant. What kind of scenario would occur that would separate a child from what they're carrying?

I have to think about this.

What comes to mind is being picked up, maybe from the back where arms can be held down, and tossed in the trunk.

 

[sorrell skye]

If someone snatched her in a hurry, (for instance, pulled her into a car) wouldn't it be likely that she would've dropped at least one of those items? The book bag wasn't a backpack type that is worn over the shoulders, so it could easily be dropped. Same goes for the lunch bag.

 

[sorrell skye]

What comes to mind is being picked up, maybe from the back where arms can be held down, and tossed in the trunk.

I posted before you did, and then I read yours - and I agree. She could've been grabbed from behind before she even knew what was happening!

 

[amysmom]

I agree, amysmom - they need to edit that info to make it clear that both items have not been located. For crying out loud, if they want the public to help, they need to provide accurate info.

I felt sad when I looked at those drawings of her book bag and the little pig lunch box. I started thinking about how excited she must have been when she picked them out, and how happy she was when school started so she could finally use them. Little kids look forward to the start of the school year - especially little girls. They get to wear their new clothes and carry their new backpacks and lunchboxes.

The info is all over the place on site too! :banghead:

I'm sure Somer picked out some very kool items but "Girly Skull"? :waitasec:

I'm so out of that loop..Now I feel even more sad (

 

[alexandra]

I posted before you did, and then I read yours - and I agree. She could've been grabbed from behind before she even knew what was happening!

I kind of think someone grabbing her would have drawn more attention. I'm inclined to think she just got in the car or at least got close enough to an open door of the car where he could have pulled her in without making such a scene...jmo. I wonder if she only had these 2 items with her and not the backpack. I would think so. All 3 items would be a huge load for a little 7 yr old. But have we ever heard for sure?? Did she have the book bag instead of the backpack that day I wonder?

 

[doggies]

If she knew him, she may have just gotten in. The first thing she would have done is let go of them.

 

[doggies]

Maybe they were bought at a grocery store? Sometimes, especially around time for school to start, they carry these things, and w/Diena being a single mom w/3 or 4 (we don't know about the 13-year old yet, do we?) kids to get ready for school and no child support, she would have had to be very frugal, I would imagine. And maybe that's why Somer had so many-perhaps others gave her one.

 

[alexandra]

If she knew him, she may have just gotten in. The first thing she would have done is let go of them.

You know, these predators are so crafty. If he was waiting at the park for instance he may not have even been in his car at the time. He could have sent her over to his car to check something out, to get something...who knows. Then once she was in the car, he could have jumped in and took off with her. There are so many ways they can lure a child. A puppy, a toy, the possibilities are endless. It's so sad.

 

[doggies]

OK, I'm gone for the night. I've created enough havoc on here. Sorry again, guys.

 

[amysmom]

I wonder if she only had these 2 items with her and not the backpack. I would think so. All 3 items would be a huge load for a little 7 yr old. But have we ever heard for sure?? Did she have the book bag instead of the backpack that day I wonder?

I wish the Mom (?) who took her to school that day noticed but there is a good chance she did not & same goes for sibs.

 

[Trino]

Do you suppose S's mom really knew exactly what these items looked like?

 

[Natal]

The fact that her book bag and lunch box weren't found with her is significant. What kind of scenario would occur that would separate a child from what they're carrying?

I have to think about this.

Being murdered?

 

[alexandra]

Do you suppose S's mom really knew exactly what these items looked like?

It's possible she didn't. She had 3 kids she probably bought new school clothes and school supplies for. It could be hard to remember the details of what each item looked like, particularly after what she's been through. But you would think she would know where she bought them and could dig up a picture of them that way. That's what has me stymied.

 

[alexandra]

Do you suppose S's mom really knew exactly what these items looked like?

Just thought though...it's possible she bought the book bag and lunch bag from a consignment shop. That would explain why she wouldn't be able to look up pictures of the items from a store where she purchased them.

 

[hopetohelp]

ok, so while I was sitting there unable to watch amw (because I have directv and I guess we don't subscribe to the basic channels) I decided to research any similar aged girls missing in Florida. Here's what I've got:

12-29-69, age 9, Peggy Rahn, missing from Pompano Beach, FL. Disappeared while walking to the beach with a friend - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2242dffl.html
12-29-69, age 8, Wendy Brown Stevenson, missing from Pompano Beach, FL. Disappeared while walking to the beach with a friend - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2241dffl.html
02-28-72 - age 13, Debora Sue Lowe, Pompano Beach, FL. Disappeared while walking to school - http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/mcicsearch/Flyers/Flyer2PicCAP.asp?ID=11243&case_nbr=
9-22-72 - age 13, Gail Lorraine Joiner, missing from Thonotosassa, FL while walking her pet racoon after school - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2190dffl.html
12-29-72 - age 13, Deborah Sue Lowe, missing from Pompano Beach, FL. Disappeared walking to school. Gerald Schaefer has been considered as a POI in the case - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1673dffl.html
07-21-74 - age 9, Jean Marie Schoen, missing from Springfield, FL. Disappeared while walking to the store - http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-25/story/is_it_a_different_world_for_our_kids
08-01-74 - Annette Anderson, age 11, and Mylette Anderson, age 6, missing from Oceanway, FL. They disappeared from their home. http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-25/story/is_it_a_different_world_for_our_kids
09-3-74 - age 12, Theresa Amando Alsanto, missing from Marathon, FL. Disappeared while seeing a movie with a friend - http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/mcicsearch/FlyerNewPerson.asp?Case_Id=3536&case_nbr=
09-27-74 - Virginia Helm, age 12, missing from Jacksonville, FL. Disappeared while walking to the store - http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-25/story/is_it_a_different_world_for_our_kids
10-12-74 - Rebecca Anne Green, age 12, missing from Fairfield, FL. She disappeared walking back from the store. Her remains were found a month later - http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-25/story/is_it_a_different_world_for_our_kids
06-10-75 - age 12, Susan Basile, missing from Port Orange, FL - Gerald Stano confessed to murdering her but could not lead authorities to her body and he is believed to have fabricated at least some of his confessions. http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/2547dffl.html
07-22-76 - age 12, Dorothy Delilah Scofield, missing from Ocala, FL - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/363dffl.html
11-15-82 - age 7, Jennifer Sofia Marteliz, missing from Tampa, FL. Disappeared on her way home from school - http://tampabayonline.net/reports/marteliz/intro.htm
12-06-82 - age 9, Maribel Oquendo-Carrero, missing from Homestead, FL - disappeared while walking to the store - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1817dffl.html
4-15-83 - age 5, Alicia Escobido, missing from Miami, FL. Disappeared from an apartment complex laundromat - http://missing87975.yuku.com/topic/1999/t/UNSOLVED-CHILD-MURDER-ALICIA-ESCOBEDO.html
5-27-84 - age 8, Marjorie Christina Luna, missing from Greenacres City, FL. Disappeared while walking home from the store. Her body was found 12 days later - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/304dffl.html
http://www.find-missing-children.org/Posters/poster228.htm
11-27-85 - age 12, Martha Jean Lambert, missing from Elkton, FL. Disappeared from the front of her home - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/308dffl.html
02-1-90 - age 13, Andrea D'Anne Durham, missing from Fort Walton Beach, FL. Disappeared from her home - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/132dffl.html
10-00-91 - age 13, Christina Evans, missing from Tampa, FL. Was reported missing in Oct '91 and it was assumed she was a runaway. On 06-10-92, her murdered body was found in a field on Dale Mabry Hwy and Ballast Point Blvd - http://www.tampagov.net/dept_Police...solved_homicides/unsolved_evans_christina.asp
02-16-93 - age 12, Jennifer Odom, missing from Dade City, FL, disappeared after the bus dropped her off after school. Her body was found a week later - http://www.sptimes.com/2003/02/16/Pasco/_Nothing_will_ever_be.shtml
03-30-93 - age 13, Jennifer Rae Perry, missing from Marathon, FL. Disappeared after an argument with her mother. Although she was a habitual runaway, she's been missing since '93 and there has been at least one other disappearance in Marathon - http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/p/perry_jennifer.html
07-11-93 - age 10, Andrea Gail Parsons, missing from Port Salerno, FL. Disappeared walking from a store - http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/765dffl.html; http://www.find-missing-children.org/Posters/poster51.htm
05-28-06 - age 3, Jewel Mahavia Strong, missing from Panama City Beach, FL. She disappeared while at the beach with her parents. It is assumed that she drowned - http://www.missingkids.com/missingk...NCMC&seqNum=1&caseLang=en_US&searchLang=en_US

I can't really find records of missing FL children or unsolved homicides of FL children from the late 90's on in which there hasn't already been an arrest. Maybe someone has additional records.

 

[Trino]

Just thought though...it's possible she bought the book bag and lunch bag from a consignment shop. That would explain why she wouldn't be able to look up pictures of the items from a store where she purchased them.

Agreed that this is possible. However, I just don't know that such personal items and relatively inexpensive items would be purchased at a consignment shop. Then, too, pink gets pretty dirty. Why doesn't the mom just say where she got them? Wouldn't that be easier to trace than relying on an artist's rendition? (Another thing that doesn't add up.)

 

[hopetohelp]

I don't think Somer was separated from her bookbag and lunchbox at the time of the abduction. Had that happened, those items would have been found, I think. I think that the killer took her and her things, and he either kept her things or threw them away separately.

Also, on the AMW website, it doesn't just say that Somer has pink bows (which I agree could be interpreted as pink when mom thinks they're read) but it also says that her hair was in pigtails, instead of a ponytail. Wonder how they got that so wrong?

 

[hopetohelp]

Is the gate to the Gano house right by the sidewalk or further up, closer to the house?

I'm just wondering why she would go up to the gate and talk to a workman. I really think not talking to strangers is really drilled into kid's heads, though they certainly don't follow that as an adult would.

If she was walking along and saw someone working in a yard, would she engage that person in conversation?

It just doesn't make sense to me that she would go up to that house and engage in a conversation.

I just don't think that she would comment on the good work that they are doing. Very strange. It just doesn't add up to me.

Well, as her mom said, and I quote, "She never met a stranger." I don't think that the "stranger danger" lecture had much impact on her, if she even received it. (I'd just like to say here that parents need to let their children know that it's not just strangers who could hurt them).

 

[Trino]

Trying to think like an abductor...

If he grabbed a child, I doubt the perp would worry about bags. He would be in too much of a hurry to get away w/o being heard or seen. This indicates to me that she willingly went with the person - definitely knew him?

What would an abductor do with the bags? Would he intentionally separate them from the body? Would they possibly be in a car, and he later discovered them, separately discarding them? If the incident happened at the Gano address, wouldn't there be evidence the bags were there, i.e. soft bags?

Finally, has LE thoroughly searched Somer's house for the book bags - just asking, of course.