FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #31

[sadnpod]

I remember something about him sitting on the curb, while other children were playing with wheel chairs....LOL.....sad? help?

he and some other kids were pushing one wheelchair around, then one kid took off in another wheelchair down the street and st sat on the curb.. and yes he looked sad..

 

[sadnpod]

Cam,,, that was only one notice of going to bed...there are suppose to be three...

 

[txsvicki]

Do I understand correctly that the twin brother was outside playing with no adults out there? I'm not interested in the older kids being out there or a group either. Maybe they want things to be normal for the kids, but I can not understand anyone, much less this family allowing them to be out alone at all, period.

 

[sorrell skye]

Sorrell, Both these posts you have written were dead solid perfect. It sums up about what are we really looking for here. Are we in need of a nanny state to legislate against stupidity? It doesn't work like that. Are we looking for a legal definition of negligence or a moral and ethical definiton?
Do the posters who ask the questions want there to be criminal negligence charges filed regardless of, or in addition to, who is culpable for her murder?

Or are you seeking agreement from an ethical perspective that it is really just plain old every day ordinary dumb to leave kids that young by themselves at home or with the run of the neighborhood because anything can happen, at any time, from setting the house on fire to getting into regular trouble like kids are prone to do to the........unthinkable.

In addition to the questions I raised, you have also raised some interesting ones, Hound. Thank you!

I won't even begin to presume what is in the minds of those on either side of the childcare/no childcare debate. I'm certain that if there was any criminal negligence on the part of the mother for not providing after-school daycare, she would have been charged accordingly by now, two months into this awful tragedy.

As far as I'm concerned, the discussion of whether or not the parent(s) of the victim arranged after-school care or not is irrelevant to her murder, since at this point no one knows WHO murdered her (except the murderer & hopefully LE). If at a later date when an arrest is made, and if that person turns out to be a stranger or someone who would not have had access to her if she had been accompanied by an adult or had been safely ensconced in an after-school program, it might become relevant, or not. Time, and evidence, will tell.

I was merely trying to offer an alternate POV to those who are either of the opinion that the mother was negligent for not providing after-school supervision, and to those who are of the opinion that the mother is entirely without blame for not providing an adult escort after school. It's been an ongoing debate (and one in which I have never participated in until now), and as far as I'm concerned, the legality/illegality of the situation has no legitimate bearing.

Adults make decisions (regardless of what the law may or may not require) and live with the consequences of those decisions - period.

Legal definitions are written by legislators. As far as moral and ethical definitions - I will leave those to the priests and philosophers.

Nevertheless, it behooves all of us to make our own right decisions, despite what the legislators, or priests, or philosophers might decide is legal, or moral, or ethical.

If we, as competent adults, can't determine that for ourselves, then we are not competent adults. Period.

 

[txsvicki]

I have to rant and guess I'll do it here since it is about kids walking from school and being on their own til parents get off work. I was reading an online newspaper that had a story about some church giving out lunches to the needy in the late afternoon once a week. Usually it's to elderly and children who stop by when they leave school. The church person being interviewed foolishly said that these kids usually stay and play til parents get off work, "otherwise they'd be on their own". I commented that it is not right to give out any details about children this way. All some pervert would have to do is go there a get a lunch and befriend the kids. This church person announced to all that these kids are on their own the rest of the week. Totally stupid.

 

[eyes4crime]

Just an "opinion" on "family members" and "friends" etc on these boards...I KNOW that they are "vetted" and checked out by the owner...

and the mods let us know they are "legit"...

but in some of these very active threads that info could have been pages and pages...or hundreds of pages...or 4 or 5 threads in the past

those of us who come on here have no idea who is who....JMO it would really be nice and helpful IF those who have a "vested interest" in cases, friends, family, neighbors, locals, law enforcement or whatever, would have a sig line that stated their "connection" so that it would be readily available and regular "posters", readers, lurkers could then better understand where they are "coming from"

I do remember a poster on this thread who was a former neighbor of DT's...but I was NOT aware that some others are (it seems) somehow related, locals or whatever

Seems to me there are several on this thread with a vested interest - they live in and around Orange Park or are family/friends - not of mom Diena and her family but of Dad T. and others. Thank goodness for Noway - she provides an abundance of facts to help even this thread out. mho

I have thought many times that Tricia could/should make it mandatory that family members/friends/locals identify themselves either by signature or by something she puts in their avatar. Since I'm not the only one thinking this, I'm going to e-mail Tricia with the suggestion and our rationale behind the suggestion. Thanks for your input.

 

[eyes4crime]

The first bold by me.. we ask them to prove what they are saying
The second bold by me.. This have not been proven either

I commented: When someone comes on as a family member and makes a comment - how do I know that what is being said is 'fact', 'opinion', or 'rumor'. It's very confusing as evidenced by the many who come onto this thread and tell you just how dysfunctional it is...nobody can figure anything out. Spreading rumors and smut about a grieving mom, her deceased daughter, and her surviving children does NOT represent WS as I know it.

When family/locals/ come on the Somer thread spewing information, hateful or not, I want to know if it's fact, rumor, or opinion...what is your problem with that? We shouldn't have to sit back and guess!!!! this isn't a chat forem - it is a crime blog. mho

In reference to you saying you want 'proof' that mom Diena is grieving - I have to ask: What kind of proof? What would satisfy this ridiculous request for you? TIA

 

[javagirl]

So I can not find any info that Mr Freed (DT lawyer) has anything to do with JC
I have looked at both his website and JC website and partners
So I dont know why JC is no longer visable in this case

The JC states three objectives, the first of which is ...to be available to innocent victims of violent crimes. They do highlight Somer on their webpage. As a local, I can tell you they are a very caring, compassionate group founded by a man (now deceased) who genuinely cared about victims of crime.

 

[sadnpod]

I commented: When someone comes on as a family member and makes a comment - how do I know that what is being said is 'fact', 'opinion', or 'rumor'. It's very confusing as evidenced by the many who come onto this thread and tell you just how dysfunctional it is...nobody can figure anything out. Spreading rumors and smut about a grieving mom, her deceased daughter, and her surviving children does NOT represent WS as I know it.

When family/locals/ come on the Somer thread spewing information, hateful or not, I want to know if it's fact, rumor, or opinion...what is your problem with that? We shouldn't have to sit back and guess!!!! this isn't a chat forem - it is a crime blog

. mho

In reference to you saying you want 'proof' that mom Diena is grieving - I have to ask: What kind of proof? What would satisfy this ridiculous request for you? TIA

BBM
There is only one poster that is "family and local" that I know of and that would be me. So even though your post is not directed to me specifically, as in by name, it obviously is and implies I am the one spreading rumors and smut about DT, somer and the other kids. Is this YOUR opinion? Because it is NOT true. I have never said anything close to smut about somer or her sibs. If there is confusion it is due to your posts referring to other posts that are smut or whatever. Seriously. You imply, imply, imply all kinds of things that have been said by me, yet when I ask for the post, you refuse repeatedly to link them. Because your version of what was said does not exist. Yet here we are again. Where are these posts you are referring to by family and locals spewing garbage?
I always state whether my posts are fact, or rumor. EVERYTHING I post is my opinion. I dont think anyone has to "figure out" or guess if what I say is fact, rumor or fiction. I dont think I need to be branded by a signature line telling who I am. As I am the only one.. . how hard can that be to figure out?

As I have said ad nauseum, you are welcome to believe me or not, ignore me or not.

Pin posted several posts yesterday regarding AB that I found to be offensive. Yet, she is neither family or local as far as I know. There are probably many posters on here that may be family or local, but do not say so.

Attack the post.. not the poster...

It is my opinion that this part of TOS is what is confusing to you, as you cannot seem to follow it. You repeatedly attack me as a "family" member, yet do not supply the posts you are supposedly attacking even when it is requested. IMO this is a FACT.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Sad:

I recall a few others on here that claimed to know the family.
There was one that was a former neighbor, I forget the member's name.
Then, there was one who came on and posted that she knew DT and ST and had some disturbing things to say about ST and some claims that were made against him.

So, I do not see where eyes was referring to you. She was referring to the general situation of several people posting on this thread saying they know/knew this family. IMO

 

[Dee10]

Sorrell although I wholeheartedly agree with you, unfortunately we need laws like this for the neglectful parents that our out there, so the law is the tooth to be able to have the option of taking a child away or shutting down a "puppy mill" daycare. This would apply to the same as a DUI as well, if you didn't have a law, you couldn't get a drunk from behind the wheel and the list goes on. Unfortunately in our society, personal responsibility is something many people do not understand the concept of.

I just checked no news in the press today about Somer as this point anyway.

 

[javagirl]

concerning AB, someone mentioned her recently:
I don't think she should be bashed for her inability to help that particular day, I think she should be thanked PROFUSELY for the apparent many times she did step in and help. There is a family in my neighborhood who let their little ones roam the streets beginning while they are still in diapers.(just walking) They went in open garages, backyards, middle of road with traffic coming, out of the hood to the main road etc. This has been brought to the parents attention several times by more than one neighbor and it will NEVER change. They just don't get it. Someone in the hood for a garage sale almost hit one and was extremely angry and went to their door. It is what it is. But I know I have worried about these kids way more than the parents. I've lived in fear of finding one floating in my pool, or my teenage son hitting one (didn't let him get license for an entire year b/c of worry abt this) or hearing some terrible news abt one of them. The only thing I've known to do is to pray for their safety. Said all this to say, it is extremely frustrating to have to worry b/c the responsible party doesn't. Don't know if that is the case here but...when someone plays, someone pays.

 

[sadnpod]

Sad:

I recall a few others on here that claimed to know the family.
There was one that was a former neighbor, I forget the member's name.
Then, there was one who came on and posted that she knew DT and ST and had some disturbing things to say about ST and some claims that were made against him.

So, I do not see where eyes was referring to you. She was referring to the general situation of several people posting on this thread saying they know/knew this family. IMO

In eyes post.. the first line says when someone comes on as family...

that would be me.

It does not say friends of family, the other two are iwannano, smut for real about ST, who claims to be DT's friend and 4mernaybor, who was a former neighbor, and knows them both.

I only know of one other and they are now b a n n e d.

There is a history of eyes attacking me personally because of my relationship to ST, and not my posts. This is the point I was trying to make.

But I thank you for thinking eyes was not referring to me. Hopefully you thinking that is because you believe I am not someone who posts rumor, or my opinion as facts, or that I would ever say anything foul about somer or her sibs.

 

[kssgdby]

I am praying for ST and the children today as the visitation court hearing is today, that they may get to see their father again and restore some sense of normal to all of their lives. Mending hearts and lives and hope that in some way will bring peace to D as well to see happiness in her children.

 

[pingpong]

There was a great article published a while back by the Sarasota Herald Tribune titled "Broken Trust"

It's an in depth investigation about complaints filed with the Florida Dept. of Education.

There is also a book called "White Chalk Crime" by Karen Horowitz about what teachers have to deal with by administrators, and how they are silenced when it comes to bullying etc.

I'm posting this for parents of young kids who might think schools are how they used to be. The world has changed, and we must change along with it imo.

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?CATEGORY=MULTIMEDIA0202

 

[Kimberlyd125]

In eyes post.. the first line says when someone comes on as family...

that would be me.

It does not say friends of family, the other two are iwannano, smut for real about ST, who claims to be DT's friend and 4mernaybor, who was a former neighbor, and knows them both.

I only know of one other and they are now b a n n e d.

There is a history of eyes attacking me personally because of my relationship to ST, and not my posts. This is the point I was trying to make.

But I thank you for thinking eyes was not referring to me. Hopefully you thinking that is because you believe I am not someone who posts rumor, or my opinion as facts, or that I would ever say anything foul about somer or her sibs.

Ok, I understand your point but I must ask you a question just so we are on the same page with this rumor/fact thing.

If iwannano posts something about ST and says she knows it for a fact, how can you call it smut.
What is the difference in her saying that and you saying you know it is a fact that DT turned down childcare?
What is the difference?

 

[LogicalMinds]

What I would really like to see is that family/friends of family/law enforcement have a special avatar or at LEAST PUT IT IN YOUR SIG LINE...
PUT YOUR RELATIONSHIP OUT THERE>..then I have a better grasp of your posts...I hope this will be mandatory but until then, why not just change sig line to reflect that??
I am not pointing to any one person here...I think this should be a general courtesy
JMO of course

 

[sadnpod]

Ok, I understand your point but I must ask you a question just so we are on the same page with this rumor/fact thing.

If iwannano posts something about ST and says she knows it for a fact, how can you call it smut.
What is the difference in her saying that and you saying you know it is a fact that DT turned down childcare?
What is the difference?

I didnt say it was a fact that DT turned down child care, if I did I would provide back up documentation. I said I KNOW it to be true, and you can believe me or not. Meaning that is your choice.

iwannano's post on ST was stated as a fact, but no links to prove it. We have all researched registered sex offenders in every state, if this were a FACT, it would be documented and he would have to register. so, IMO it is smut and a rumor only.

What is the difference? I am still here. I have not posted smut and ran. I have answered questions to the best of my ability, even when it has no bearing on who, what, when or where somer was killed. I have stated who I am from the beginning. I have not been deceptive or evasive in identifying myself, whether I choose to put it in my signature line or not.

Lets just say for arguments sake that both of these rumors were fact...
(and they are not, just to clarify)

Which one could have a direct impact on somer becoming a victim and being killed on that day?

Which has rumors stated by other members who knew them all and agrees that DT has a problem now and a history of not providing adequate child care for her children? (this member is also still here and not hit and running)
Which has comments (also rumor) from neighbors stating that the children were consistently unsupervised?

What, to me, is really important..

Why would you not take advantage of child care for your children... WHY?
Why if there father was abusive would you not pursue prosecuting him? WHY?
Why if there father was not abusive would you do everything in your power but the legal path to support you (meaning you have to prove it) would you keep them away from all of their paternal family? Why?

The only answer in my mind is that the kids have things to say to child care workers or their father or their fathers family that you do not want these people to know. Anyone with a more logical answer.. please tell me what your opinion is of why?

AS USUAL THESE ARE MY OPINIONS!

 

[New1]

There are several people on the Somer thread who are locals or so called approved family members. Here's the problem:

When someone comes on as a family member and makes a comment - how do I know that what is being said is 'fact', 'opinion', or 'rumor'. It's very confusing as evidenced by the many who come onto this thread and tell you just how dysfunctional it is...nobody can figure anything out. Spreading rumors and smut about a grieving mom, her deceased daughter, and her surviving children does NOT represent WS as I know it. mho

I am particularly offended by those characterizing little Somer as an unhappy, angry, lonely, friendless, and neglected 7yo. How dare anyone do this to a deceased child!!!! Especially since she has been portrayed by many as happy and filled with love for people, friends, puppies, and kitty cats, and all animals. Just what gives anyone the right to portray Somer in such a pejorative way? I know - if you portray little Somer in this way - mom Diena looks neglectful and guilty, in other words, it serves your needs. mho

This thread is NOT just for those who are presently controlling it - it is for the scores of people who blog here at WS and those who read comments without logging on. This blog is available to the United States and beyond - the impression you give represents all of us. mho

I don't believe I have spread any rumors about anyone. When you say "you" are you talking about me? or they? As far as you not knowing if what you someone posts is "fact", "rumor", or "opinion", you don't. In this case we have very few facts. There are mistakes on the MPR (even one of the children's name is incorrect), the sheriff's explanation of the reason for having DTs address as the place where the 4 burglary suspects were arrested can't be true because it happened on a different day. He said it was because one of the officers was called away to the scene of the burglary and forgot to change the address. We cannot believe the media because the same media has reported things differently at different times. So just who can we believe? There is a lot of "information" out there, but is it correct? Who knows?

 

[Chickadee]

Update: Orange Park Girl's Abduction Claim
By
Rich Jones, News Director
@ December 22, 2009 11:22 AM Permalink | Comments (0)
Over a month ago we told you about a girl's claim that someone tried to abduct her in Orange Park not far from where Somer Thompson was last seen alive.
We've been pushing for more answers and today, were told by police that the girl's claims were unfounded.

More..........HERE