FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #32

[sadnpod]

Diena Thompson declined to be interviewed Friday by The Associated Press. She spent part of the day making funeral arrangements, and a law enforcement officer was seen carrying a child's white dress from the family's home. A viewing will be held Monday night and a funeral will follow on Tuesday.


I suppose he could have just carried it to a vehicle? Or Diena was at the funeral home and they (funeral home) wanted the dress?


It was in a Jax4 story too. (just searched in case other media sources reported it a different way)

http://www.news4jax.com/news/21411401/detail.html

This just reminded me of how many times I heard the disappointment in the peoples voices when they commented on the casket being closed. Do you think LE wanted it presented as a viewing to entice the perp to attend?

 

[Sunshine77]

I am suggesting that since there are so many people who aren't sure about DT, don't suspect she was involved, or don't think she did anything, to form a case on her behalf. To present facts that would rule her out.

Everything I write here is JMO of course.
I respect your position of wanting facts to rule her out, but I have yet to see any real facts that make her a suspect or person of interest in my mind. I haven't ruled it out completely, but just don't see it right now. She used to be more of a person of interest to me, but it's a sort of combo of little things that have made me focus less on her recently.

Sad recently posted (I'm paraphrasing here so somebody please correct me if I am wrong) about the ongoing divorce/custody hearings, and that ST is beginning phone contact to eventually work up to full visitation if everything goes well.

IMO, I can't see a judge, who knows way more about the facts in this case than any of us, leaving the surviving children in DT's custody if DT, or anyone in the household, was putting the children in danger, either by abuse, neglect, direct or indirect involvement in Somer's murder. Even if DT hasn't been charged criminally yet, the children could still be put in ST's custody but that hasn't been done yet (I'm not giving a judgement or my opinion on this, just it is what it is). For that matter, we have at least four mandated child abuse reporters that at least some of the details of this case are known to: a judge, law enforcement, therapist(s), and teachers. I have a hard time believing that at least one, if not more, of these individuals would report suspected abuse/neglect. I have seen posts here over time that allege substance abuse, mental problems, inadequate supervision of the children, possible physical abuse, possible sexual abuse, etc. IMO, either 1) The people who these children are actually visible to have no reason to suspect these are a current issue (leaving open they may have been in the past). 2) All of the above people are turning a blind eye and failing to report. or 3) These concerns have been reported to child services, and they found no reason to remove the children from her custody. So far, we have nothing reported about child services being involved with the family. There were reports of their involvement in Haleigh and Caley's case. So it could be another one of those things not reported in this case, or it could be they are not involved.

And before everyone turns on me (lol), I know that child services fails, I know that judges fail, and I know there are always those few cases where all the systems in place fail a child. And that child could have been Somer. However, given what has happened to Somer, I can't see all these same people and systems continuing to fail her siblings and not take some action to protect them. Was this household perfect? Probably not, but it probably also isn't as bad as some make it sound.

Another telling fact for me (that I posted a while back) is that law enforcement has been involved in fundraising for the family. I can't believe they would do this unless cleared in their mind.
wife of sheriff's deputy co-organizes carnival fundraiser
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/25/national/main5420298.shtml
FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) and JFRD (Jacksonville Fire Rescue) involved in bike ride
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/4/b/5/highres_11489877.jpeg

The Sheriff is elected in Clay County. Law enforcement involved in fundraising if DT was involved in any way wouldn't go over well at election time, IMO. Neither would some large scale deception like her body wasn't really found at the dump, or was found on Monday night leading people on a bogus 2 day search. JMO.

There are very few real facts in this case. We don't know at this point if the apparent contradictions are the result of deception/mistakes/some other reason on the part of law enforcement, poor reporting/mistakes by the media, or deception for whatever reason on the part of DT/other family members/witnesses. Or a little of all of the above. Again, JMO.

 

[houndstooth]

Diena Thompson declined to be interviewed Friday by The Associated Press. She spent part of the day making funeral arrangements, and a law enforcement officer was seen carrying a child's white dress from the family's home. A viewing will be held Monday night and a funeral will follow on Tuesday.


I suppose he could have just carried it to a vehicle? Or Diena was at the funeral home and they (funeral home) wanted the dress?


It was in a Jax4 story too. (just searched in case other media sources reported it a different way)

http://www.news4jax.com/news/21411401/detail.html

You know what I'm going to say. For all the skepticism that has been expressed about what the true situation is in this case, those words say it better than I ever could. There is no spin that can be made that would make this into anything other than what it is: DT does not have access to S. At all. LE would not be carrying the dress because they are gofers, please. Not even this was left for her to do.

If you can think of any legitimate reason for this besides what seems transparently obvious, Id like it see it. This is to anyone. TIA

 

[Noway]

But it's not just DT who did not have access to Somer (by bringing the dress).

They had a LE officer ... not an aunt, grandmother, or family friend, etc., bring the dress to the funeral home (if that is the case).

They didn't want ANYONE outside of LE seeing Somer.
JMO

 

[houndstooth]

But it's not just DT who did not have access to Somer (by bringing the dress).

They had a LE officer ... not an aunt, grandmother, or family friend, etc., bring the dress to the funeral home (if that is the case).

They didn't want ANYONE outside of LE seeing Somer.
JMO

Oh I agree. But how would that have worked. Um, Ms T. you can't bring the dress but if your Mom would like to or your Grandmother, heck even the neighbor, that would be fine. Why, you ask? Um er. We'll just send an officer over, thank you for your cooperation.

 

[Noway]

I guess that should be possibly seeing Somer since dropping off a dress at a funeral home, you wouldn't be likely to see Somer because you'd be dropping the dress off in the arrangement room/office, not the area where Somer would be.

JMO

ETA
But I suppose you might ask and be more comfortably pushing the issue if it were just the funeral director and you.

(YOU being the non-LE person dropping off the dress, not houndstooth specifically).

 

[sadnpod]

Everything I write here is JMO of course.
I respect your position of wanting facts to rule her out, but I have yet to see any real facts that make her a suspect or person of interest in my mind. I haven't ruled it out completely, but just don't see it right now. She used to be more of a person of interest to me, but it's a sort of combo of little things that have made me focus less on her recently.

Sad recently posted (I'm paraphrasing here so somebody please correct me if I am wrong) about the ongoing divorce/custody hearings, and that ST is beginning phone contact to eventually work up to full visitation if everything goes well.

IMO, I can't see a judge, who knows way more about the facts in this case than any of us, leaving the surviving children in DT's custody if DT, or anyone in the household, was putting the children in danger, either by abuse, neglect, direct or indirect involvement in Somer's murder. Even if DT hasn't been charged criminally yet, the children could still be put in ST's custody but that hasn't been done yet (I'm not giving a judgement or my opinion on this, just it is what it is). For that matter, we have at least four mandated child abuse reporters that at least some of the details of this case are known to: a judge, law enforcement, therapist(s), and teachers. I have a hard time believing that at least one, if not more, of these individuals would report suspected abuse/neglect. I have seen posts here over time that allege substance abuse, mental problems, inadequate supervision of the children, possible physical abuse, possible sexual abuse, etc. IMO, either 1) The people who these children are actually visible to have no reason to suspect these are a current issue (leaving open they may have been in the past). 2) All of the above people are turning a blind eye and failing to report. or 3) These concerns have been reported to child services, and they found no reason to remove the children from her custody. So far, we have nothing reported about child services being involved with the family. There were reports of their involvement in Haleigh and Caley's case. So it could be another one of those things not reported in this case, or it could be they are not involved.

And before everyone turns on me (lol), I know that child services fails, I know that judges fail, and I know there are always those few cases where all the systems in place fail a child. And that child could have been Somer. However, given what has happened to Somer, I can't see all these same people and systems continuing to fail her siblings and not take some action to protect them. Was this household perfect? Probably not, but it probably also isn't as bad as some make it sound.

Another telling fact for me (that I posted a while back) is that law enforcement has been involved in fundraising for the family. I can't believe they would do this unless cleared in their mind.
wife of sheriff's deputy co-organizes carnival fundraiser
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/25/national/main5420298.shtml
FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) and JFRD (Jacksonville Fire Rescue) involved in bike ride
http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/4/b/5/highres_11489877.jpeg

The Sheriff is elected in Clay County. Law enforcement involved in fundraising if DT was involved in any way wouldn't go over well at election time, IMO. Neither would some large scale deception like her body wasn't really found at the dump, or was found on Monday night leading people on a bogus 2 day search. JMO.

There are very few real facts in this case. We don't know at this point if the apparent contradictions are the result of deception/mistakes/some other reason on the part of law enforcement, poor reporting/mistakes by the media, or deception for whatever reason on the part of DT/other family members/witnesses. Or a little of all of the above. Again, JMO.

BBM
If Im remembering correctly... there was a later article when the sheriffs wife voices her displeasure at the amount of fundraising that continued. Edited BY me... Noway brought it to my attention that it was NOT the sheriffs wife, but a sheriffs deputy's wife...

 

[sorrell skye]

That's what I had initially believed, too. Until Sad posted way back when that when ST and she were @ the funeral home (IIRC, it was the funeral home) for the visitation, ST requested to view her, but the funeral home personnel recommended not to. Sad posted that she spoke with the person in private & asked him if it was because of garbage compacting. She said the funeral home person told her no.

This was way back when Chee posted that she had heard a rumor through a friend (whose daughter had told her) that her body was found covered with construction debris & glass.

Thanks hounds, I didnt think of it like that. Maybe your post will allieviate the nightmares I was looking forward to after that compactor video.:sick:

I have bumped my own post for context of a question I have.

Sad - I don't know if you saw the above post of mine. I made it earlier today when we were discussing the possible reasons for a closed casket. Several people were speculating that it might have been due to garbage compaction. So I brought up what you had posted last month shortly after the funeral regarding what the funeral home person told you (please see above quote of mine).

I'm just wondering why you would have nightmares if your fears had already been alleviated by the funeral home person who, as you posted in the past, assured you that she was not crushed by the garbage compaction.

Can you please help me understand? I'm a bit confused right now, because I, too, was greatly relieved last month when you told all of us that her poor little body had not endured further trauma by the garbage compactor.

 

[Noway]

Was it the Sheriff's wife? Nevermind, I see that Sad said "Sheriff" but the post above that by Sunshine says Sheriff's deputy". I wish we had strikethrough here!

"I've been crying since day one," said Amanda Wendorff, a co-organizer of the fundraiser. "When it's a child, it just touches a community."

Wendorff, the wife of a Clay County Sheriff's deputy, has four children of her own. She urged people at the carnival to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious — underscoring the fear that is running deep in the community.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/25/national/main5420298.shtml

 

[impatientredhead]

But it's not just DT who did not have access to Somer (by bringing the dress).

They had a LE officer ... not an aunt, grandmother, or family friend, etc., bring the dress to the funeral home (if that is the case).

They didn't want ANYONE outside of LE seeing Somer.
JMO

My MIL's funeral was closed casket due to major head trauma being the cause of death (baseball bat or tire iron from what we have gathered), but the funeral home director who was WONDERFUL with the family would not let anyone view the body. There was some drama about the main suspect in the death pushing the issue to view the body the funeral home director said absolutely was not happening at his location and if someone was going to insist on it they would need to make arrangements with the coroner and the morgue.

 

[Sunshine77]

Now I'm really banging my head against the wall:banghead:

You don't normally see LE acting as gophers, I agree there. Seems very strange to me. But, also don't think dropping off a dress would mean DT would view the body. I think other articles mention her meeting with the funeral home to discuss arrangements, so why restrict access this time?

The article was written on Friday. Was her body back in Orange Park at that time? I know the autospy was Thursday, but timeline from there gets fuzzy for me. It has been posted somewhere that it was said it wsa possible her body wouldn't be back in time for the services the next week---I can't remember if it has ever been established when it was released, other than by the time she was buried? Any links? TIA.

 

[Noway]

The thing about the fundraising ... it does not seem to be the family that is organizing these many fundraisers. It's other people.

And yes, the family is participating at various levels and the money is going (in many cases) to Diena/Thompson Family. But whose ideas were they? Is there a common link between all of these?

ETA
Do these people contact Diena first and say "We want to do a fundraiser for you and your family. We'd like to ___________" and have you and your children and any family and friends _________________.

Does Diena have a chance to say, "How sweet of you, but really, there have been so many fundraisers for us. Why don't you donate the money to ___________, a very wonderful organization that helps _____________!"

 

[Kimberlyd125]

My MIL's funeral was closed casket due to major head trauma being the cause of death (baseball bat or tire iron from what we have gathered), but the funeral home director who was WONDERFUL with the family would not let anyone view the body. There was some drama about the main suspect in the death pushing the issue to view the body the funeral home director said absolutely was not happening at his location and if someone was going to insist on it they would need to make arrangements with the coroner and the morgue.

so sorry for your family. That's just horrible. What a gruesome way to leave this earth.

Sounds to me like the funeral director had the familys best interest at heart and was willing to stand up for what he knew was right.

 

[sadnpod]

I have bumped my own post for context of a question I have.

Sad - I don't know if you saw the above post of mine. I made it earlier today when we were discussing the possible reasons for a closed casket. Several people were speculating that it might have been due to garbage compaction. So I brought up what you had posted last month shortly after the funeral regarding what the funeral home person told you (please see above quote of mine).

I'm just wondering why you would have nightmares if your fears had already been alleviated by the funeral home person who, as you posted in the past, assured you that she was not crushed by the garbage compaction.

Can you please help me understand? I'm a bit confused right now, because I, too, was greatly relieved last month when you told all of us that her poor little body had not endured further trauma by the garbage compactor.

Hi sorrell... We went back over this in another post. When I asked the funeral home person he just looked down and shook his head. After thinking about it, I may have interpreted it the way I wanted to (as no). He didnt actually say no. Im sorry if I confused you.

 

[sorrell skye]

In my experience, family members are the ones who deliver burial clothing to the funeral home.

But then, none of my family members have been murdered, thank Goodness.

 

[impatientredhead]

LE will act as a gopher if it gives them access to someone they want to talk to, observe, etc... In the first few days of our situation LE was around and very helpful in areas they didn't need to be. Probably partially human compassion, and probably largely invited access to the inner sanctum of family interactions. I am almost positive I gave my MIL's clothing to an officer. Someone came to the house to get them, we didn't go to the funeral home with them that I know for sure.

 

[sadnpod]

Was it the Sheriff's wife? Nevermind, I see that Sad said "Sheriff" but the post above that by Sunshine says Sheriff's deputy". I wish we had strikethrough here!

"I've been crying since day one," said Amanda Wendorff, a co-organizer of the fundraiser. "When it's a child, it just touches a community."

Wendorff, the wife of a Clay County Sheriff's deputy, has four children of her own. She urged people at the carnival to be on the lookout for anyone suspicious — underscoring the fear that is running deep in the community.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/25/national/main5420298.shtml

Sorry noway...

 

[Sunshine77]

BBM
If Im remembering correctly... there was a later article when the sheriffs wife voices her displeasure at the amount of fundraising that continued.

I find some of it to be in poor taste. I try to hold it in perspective that others are organizing the fundraisers (but with DT approval) and the money is going into a trust for her siblings. But when it comes down to it, it's not about the fundraising, IMO.

 

[impatientredhead]

so sorry for your family. That's just horrible. What a gruesome way to leave this earth.

Sounds to me like the funeral director had the familys best interest at heart and was willing to stand up for what he knew was right.

He was a godsend in sea of drama.
He had to inform a couple of extended family members on the suspects side of the family (who seemed to be on a data gathering mission and were just making the immediate family uncomfortable in general) that while their attendance was gracious their leaving would be appropriate. Between those scenes, the police and media, the delay in getting the body released, the meltdowns he had to field..... I sent him a big bottle of Scotch when I got back home. No clue how he manages his job.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Hi sorrell... We went back over this in another post. When I asked the funeral home person he just looked down and shook his head. After thinking about it, I may have interpreted it the way I wanted to (as no). He didnt actually say no. Im sorry if I confused you.

again I have no reason to doubt you sadnpod, but this is why I harp on the issue of taking what even those close to the case have to say with a grain of salt. I don't think you purposely mislead us but a lot of what you post is how you see things. Many here take EVERYTHING you say as fact and repeat them as fact.

Again I respect you and think you have a kind and caring soul and would never mislead, but chit chat happens and sometimes even those with the best of intentions make mistakes.

Jmo