FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #34

[Ms Suzanne]

Key word here "he reported." I'll bet it took him a long time to get his story just right so that it would not offend anyway - reporters do that. It looks very bad on the newspaper if they are not careful with their words, plus it might hurt some innocent person. IMO something happened that was VERY wrong, but the supervisor never checked it and he was the one who found no wrong doing. JMO

It doesn't matter.The case was closed as unfounded.

 

[New1]

Did ST get the reports from DCF under the FOIA and then give that one to the reporter?

don't know. I don't think so though, but ST is not the source of the rumor. I don't even know ST. If you read his statement in the paper, he said he wasn't notified of this incident.

 

[New1]

Did ST get the reports from DCF under the FOIA and then give that one to the reporter?

Come to think of it, didn't the reporter say, HE himself was the one who requested the FOIA?

 

[New1]

And sat on it until her could interview DT? he had it awhile before he ran it in the article.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

Come to think of it, didn't the reporter say, HE himself was the one who requested the FOIA?

I think I remember that too.The reporter found out there was no basis for the allegation.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

And sat on it until her could interview DT? he had it awhile before he ran it in the article.

I believe he said he tried to do a fair article and I feel he did.He tried to get the correct story before he posted it.I respect him for that.

 

[New1]

I think I remember that too.The reporter found out there was no basis for the allegation.

How did he find this out do you think? By interviewing DT? He said he waited till he could interview DT. I thought it said the supervisor (who just signed off on it without checking), ruled it to be unfounded, not the reporter.

 

[houndstooth]

Since I have not gotten an answer from a mod yet, and might not, I will not take the chance of posting the rumor. I will say that I knew about it before this story broke, but my jaw dropped at what I believe to be "spin" put on it by a sympathetic reporter. It was similar to the one I knew about beforehand, but not exactly. So, end of discussion about the rumor.

I am interested.

There are other aspects to the investigation to consider. For instance, what if the same councelor who called the hotline last year, called DT about Somer fighting in school the day she went missing?

It isn't what the report found or didn't find that is all that needs to be considered but that it wound up leading to a State agency's investigation.
You follow?

 

[Ms Suzanne]

How did he find this out do you think? By interviewing DT? He said he waited till he could interview DT. I thought it said the supervisor (who just signed off on it without checking), ruled it to be unfounded, not the reporter.

May I please ask.Do you have a link to his article and his reporter notes?I believe if I remember it correctly he said the DCF lady?told him this.

 

[New1]

At any rate, I said I wasn't going to post the rumor, so relax and forget about it till the "rest of the story" as Paul Harvey would say, comes out if it does. Or not.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Where is that original article where in the comment section the reporter tells how he got it.

I keep thinking he just said it was gotten through an FOIA request, not that he got it that way.

See I can't understand where he got the info about what the twin said about being lost. The reporter should not have gotten that info since it would be protected.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

He never says he is the one that got it with a FOIA request.

He says the report was submitted to him.

I don't think he could ever get a DCF report concerning any of those other kids but ST could.

I think ST submitted this report he got from his lawyer digging to the reporter who checked into it and wrote the story.

IMO

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/...’s_safety_expressed_a_year_before_her_slaying


A few general thoughts:

--No one "leaked" this info. It came as the result of a public records request. I believe we would be remiss in not seeking all the records in a case such as this.

--For those who suggest I be ashamed for reporting this story, I would appreciate if you read our full body of work in this case, including the one-on-one interview with Somer's mom and the year-end piece. That also includes a particular post I made after one of the stories. Several people in that instance chose to criticize me for voicing support for Diena. It was something I felt strongly about at the time and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, though I may not be as preachy next time.

Diena Thompson has been victimized in the worst way by what a brutal killer did to her daughter. I have found inspiration in her strength and in those who have supported her. My job is to report on what we as a newspaper decide are relevant developments in this case - past or present - and to do it in a fair, balanced and accurate manner. I will continue to do that job to the best of my ability, never forgetting that a loving mother has lost her baby girl.

Jim




Jim Schoettler's picture
DCF records
Submitted by Jim Schoettler on Wed. 1/13/2010 at 9:18 pm

Miranda,

Thanks for your comment. DCF is very, very protective of records covered by statute. Trust me on that. But, as it's been explained to me, in a case involving a child's death, such records become public as long as they are not considered part of an onging investigation. As it was explained to me, the info released by DCF (BTW, there was plenty of stuff like other names, etc., redacted) was not deemed relevant to the ongoing investigation. In fact, I've been told that DCF consulted with the Clay SO before releasing the report.

Hope that clears some things up.

Jim

 

[Ms Suzanne]

WOW.Thank you very much for finding this article Dr. Fessel.I could not find it.It was giving me a headache.I need sleep soon LOL.

 

[human]

Anyone have an other ideas on who could have done this horrible crime? Anything out in the community that is being said?

It's a small community. It's strange that no one seems to have any ideas of what could have happened or any other info.

 

[NSC]

I know LE is pursuing certain leads at this very moment - however these are not allowed to be discussed here as they involve under age kids - sorry that is how the cookie crumbles.

BTW, unfounded means they there is not enough physical evidence to present in court -- taking children out of a home is not a simple process - same as such with many rapists who are guilty but a conviction is not possible through lack of physical evidence. it is a shame so many are VERY guilty of crimes but the evidence is unfounded -- they are released on technicalities to walk the streets and recommit their crime. Sympathy to such a thing, IMO is a way of enabling these the people who commit such crimes.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

They closed this case with no basis.Maybe we can please move on to maybe sluething other areas.Like what human said.Who could have possibly done this to Somer.

 

[pingpong]

If the report found that a child wasn't safe on the way home, and the school system aknowledged it, then the school may have been in violation of the
Florida Safe Passage Act.


http://www.fldoe.org/safeschools/safe_passage/2002pdf/safe_passage_tap.pdf

These are my opinions only

 

[houndstooth]

Now I am struck anew by statements made by DT in the early days. "Somer, you're not in trouble".
Whether she KNEW then that her daughter was no longer alive at this point. Or if she "thought" someone had her as she says. There is no way she believed that Somer would ever hear this disclaimer. Even I knew reading those words back then that Somer would not be watching TV to hear this. So what was the point. Who were the words directed to instead? What purpose did they serve?

They were a public disclaimer to a question she may have been asked, or maybe contemplated by previous State agency employees that she did not "get angry" about whatever happened at the school. She was "not angr"y with Somer before she went "missing". When I would bet dollars to donuts that DT WAS very angry when she found out S did not come home again or got in trouble again at school that day. At some point anyways.

 

[NSC]

They closed this case with no basis.Maybe we can please move on to maybe sluething other areas.Like what human said.Who could have possibly done this to Somer.

Well since you ask - I believe it was an "It" or a few "ITS" However, we are not allowed to discuss minors as it is against TOS -- I know for a FACT they are being looked into because a few of us has worked VERY hard over the past few weeks and were on the phone with LE more than a few times this week --

In meantime, since this subject is off limits and IMO, there is not an adult "IT" to discuss beside DT and her negligent irresponsible parenting- I am going to continue to discuss DT negligence in light of the report that was deemed "unfounded" by a government agency that is overloaded and bogged down - that does not have the resources to babysit these parents 24 hours a day to make sure every T is crossed and every I is dotted -- Which obviously, DT were not crossed or dotted --

The new comments on the news sites - DT friend sticking up for her? :sick: ONLY reinforces everything some of us are observing - it's called the final nail in the coffin - no pun intended - only the people in the WRONG can make themselves look ever more negligent without having to try.

 

[Ms Suzanne]

I don't see any negligent behavior on somers mother and they didn't in the report.It's really over.As negligent or irresponsible parenting.We were told not to discuss that.Let's please move on.I feel they are looking into people.I feel they are really now just waiting on DNA evidence to see and where it points them too.I pray they really do get evidence to find and convict Somers killer.