FL - Somer Thompson, 7, Orange Park, 19 Oct 2009 #37

[ChickenPants]

Attorney Freed spoke on DT's behalf when JH was named a POI, he is still working with her, I have not seen anything to say his role has changed. I'm not sure what you mean by him being absent?

As far as child trafficking, if they have any indication that JH was involved in the production of child , and not just downloading it, i could see that as a possibility of being looked into, but I have not read or seen anything to point to that.

Thanks, Dar., for the info. Maybe some of the had to do with trafficking? I don't know. I understand the arrest report is pretty graphic and disturbing but I have had no desire to read it. I was surprised that on the 19th of this month there were no t.v. interviews, as usually there are on the anniversary of SOMER'S death. I am trying to establish a connection between Attorney Freed's expertise in child trafficking, his role as LE liason with the family, and if possibly it could be helpful in the naming of ______ as a POI.

 

[Noway]

You know I think there was a real disconnect with the computer being turned in and a rush not being put on it when a Somer went missing. I don't know the reason for it but it might have been they didn't think a rush needed to be put on it since it had already been so long.

I think is was a major slip up.

Do you think it would have made a difference? Somer's body found on 10/21 and computer back to CCSO with SAG report on 11/12.

That is not really that much time ... 22 days ... and that is just when the complete report was returned. It's possible they were in contact with the SAG Cyber Crimes Unit in between getting bits and pieces. (ETA: NOPE ... see my post below #449)

 

[Noway]

When did JH move to Mississippi? TIA

 

[ChickenPants]

I do wonder about the neighbors. Wouldn't you think that if that happened in your neighborhood and you noticed JH, wouldn't you think back to any hinky things and call LE?

It was really strange that there was nothing out there on comments on the new sites about hinky people in the neighborhood. I know where I live, people would be commenting up a storm.

That brings back the memory of the earlier LE presser listing all of the ways a perp could be profiled. Missing work that day. Unusual interst in the crime, etc.

What I recall most clearly is Besler saying that there was somebody out there who knew something and wasn't coming forward. At the time I thought, "he suspects he knows who that person is!" I am amazed that after all this time, a person has not come forward who would have some real, tangible evidence. Why do you think this is?

Does anyone have any ideas.

Would a possible witness fear retribution? If the murderer is ______J.H. and somebody saw something, why would they NOT say so? IMO he doesn't strike me as too bright - to be able to go after a witness, but who knows about people and their associates?

I have read about him and apparently he had a very unenviable, sad, bizarre life. Lots of terrible things in that family, things not accepted by society as normal. It is probably better for him that he is locked up. For those who want him dead, he strikes me as the type who would have reason to kill himself eventually.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

I think your explanation was logical enough.

They have tips that lead to JH. He would not give DNA. The logical thing is to contact his bio parents and see if they are willing.

Since he was not (at least initially) they turned to his dad.

I cannot think of any other reason other than to eliminate him from a source of DNA they linked to the killer. (JMO, speculation on my part )

That's what I think too.

I go the next step then if that DNA did not match up what could possess a sheriff to still name him a POI?

He would be publicly ridiculed and ran out of LE for it.

 

[Noway]

A spokesperson for the Attorney Generals says the sheriffs office never asked them to prioritize the analysis. She says had they asked, testing could've been done in a week. She also says they didn't have any indication the computer had anything to do with the Somer Thompson investigation.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/conten...is-Jarred-Harrell/rZiO0SLzdUukfp8sSy5o8w.cspx



This blows my theory above.

 

[dar107]

When did JH move to Mississippi? TIA

His Aunt said he moved there about 2 1/2 wks before he was arrested. Could be he was feeling the heat and split,IMO. LE was very tight lipped, but it was reported that they were expecting test results back very soon, JH could have also got wind of his father being swabbed.

 

[eyes4crime]

My guess on the DNA is that about 6 weeks ago when they got DNA from the POI's father, they had some DNA results back from Somer's testing. It would go something like this.

DNA of some found on Somer.
JH suspected but refuses to give DNA sampe to match against DNA found on Somer.
JH's father gives DNA sample which is matched up against the DNA found on Somer - that results would show that JH's father is related to the person who left their DNA on Somer (and could also give paternity results for JH).
The match of the DNA from Somer to the DNA from JH's father is enough to get a warrant to force JH to give DNA.

Because they went to JH's father and asked for DNA samples, I am 99% certain that they found DNA samples on Somer. I'm also certain that those DNA samples didn't not match anyone in the registry which is why they initially were under the assumption that it was a child molester that came out of retirement.

In the article, it says that JH eventually agreed to a DNA test....but it didn't state when he agreed and most likely he agreed once he was taken into custody and was told that they could force him to give the sample.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/crime/2010-02-17/story/man_of_interest_in_somer_thompson_slaying_had_unstable_childhood

BBM

I'm bringing forward this terrific quote from Angleena a few pages back - it's his/her speculation regarding the DNA...

 

[passionflower]

That and maybe something they found on her clothes or shoes? They even said they were using shovels at JH's house on Gano and then we had the digging at the burned out house. That never made sense to me.

the dog poop??? sorry but if a dog was around Somer????

 

[Dr.Fessel]

That brings back the memory of the earlier LE presser listing all of the ways a perp could be profiled. Missing work that day. Unusual interst in the crime, etc.

What I recall most clearly is Besler saying that there was somebody out there who knew something and wasn't coming forward. At the time I thought, "he suspects he knows who that person is!" I am amazed that after all this time, a person has not come forward who would have some real, tangible evidence. Why do you think this is?

Does anyone have any ideas.

Would a possible witness fear retribution? If the murderer is ______J.H. and somebody saw something, why would they NOT say so? IMO he doesn't strike me as too bright - to be able to go after a witness, but who knows about people and their associates?

I have read about him and apparently he had a very unenviable, sad, bizarre life. Lots of terrible things in that family, things not accepted by society as normal. It is probably better for him that he is locked up. For those who want him dead, he strikes me as the type who would have reason to kill himself eventually.

They might have been trying to get a family member to think about it and talk who was in denial. I really thought the person who did it lived with family or friends, I have seen that in other cases like this. I can't remember the guys name but it was a case in pocatello idaho. The guy lived with his brother and the brother got to thinking about it and realized the guy was home and he had vacuumed out his car right after the girl went missing. He turned in the vacuum cleaner bag to the cops. I think these people often have trouble holding jobs and tend to live with others.

No I can't see anyone scared to turn him in.

 

[ChickenPants]

Did Somer wear any jewelry?

Was she allergic to something and maybe had a MedicAlert bracelet?

Or do they just rake the yard and go through everything in case there is blood on something?

Red hair ribbon? It was alleged that her mother put her hair up in a ponytail that morning, in a red hair ribbon.

 

[Noway]

That's what I think too.

I go the next step then if that DNA did not match up what could possess a sheriff to still name him a POI?

He would be publicly ridiculed and ran out of LE for it.

Depending on the source of the DNA ... Jarred could have touched her and transferred his DNA to her ... and not killed her.

He could have returned to his air conditioned shed ... but he could have seen what happened next.

He could have kept quiet because to put himself in the spotlight as a witness would put him in the spotlight as to his extracurricular activities.

BTW, it was explained to me that the AC in the shed was not unusual in Florida ... to protect whatever contents the shed held. I'd been thinking computer equipment, photography equipment, etc. ... but just about anything could get ruined stored w/o AC in FL.

 

[ChickenPants]

That's what I think too.

I go the next step then if that DNA did not match up what could possess a sheriff to still name him a POI?

He would be publicly ridiculed and ran out of LE for it.

IMO it is logical in the minds of LE - before this case grows cold - to take two pertinent factors: a large amount of child on a computer, and residence near where the child was last seen, and call him a POI. POI is not a suspect. It says "we are unusually interested".

If they did NOT act on this tip from Buchanan, what do you think the community would do - how would people react? First, they send the computer to the wrong places, and then finally give it a low priority, which in a ways says "child isn't important"....then, months later, it's brought to their attention by an outspoken man with a tale to tell which includes his own daughter being traumatized - a man who is eager to blab to the press about everything. They would be labelled inept and negligent.

SO what harm does it do the investigation to have him sitting safely in jail? They have a legitimate reason to have him incarcerated because the is a crime. Meanwhile, people feel better that they have SOMEBODY.

He is a "POI" but they have NOT ruled out anybody as a SUSPECT. It is a matter of semantics. One child pornographer has no more access to child or children in Orange Park.

They know more about this and we can guess and have theories all we want.
The murderer has not charged.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

They named Lisa Stebic's husband as a POI in her disappearance and also Josh Powell as a POI in his wife's disappearance. Since neither of them have been charged with a crime in either case, they must have named them Persons of Interest without having any evidence on them. JMO

There is alot of difference in having evidence and having enough evidence to convict on. I am not really up on the stebic case but in the powell case I think they have lots of evidence a crime was committed and are waiting for test to come back and spring to come so they can look for the body.

 

[ChickenPants]

Depending on the source of the DNA ... Jarred could have touched her and transferred his DNA to her ... and not killed her.

He could have returned to his air conditioned shed ... but he could have seen what happened next.

He could have kept quiet because to put himself in the spotlight as a witness would put him in the spotlight as to his extracurricular activities.

BTW, it was explained to me that the AC in the shed was not unusual in Florida ... to protect whatever contents the shed held. I'd been thinking computer equipment, photography equipment, etc. ... but just about anything could get ruined stored w/o AC in FL.

Well, Noway, is it not significant that he has a LONG history of child but no arrests or convictions on child molestation?

Not everyone who is into child acts it out to that extent. Of course, it remains a possibility that it could develop into that.

He wasn't even hiding anything. His computer was out in plain sight. Who had his password to get in there after he left? He didn't bother to erase anything or take it with him. If he had killed Somer, would he have been THAT STUPID? I think it's a legitimate question.

Most child predators carefully plan their crimes and groom the children. There are no reports of him having contact with any of those children, just that Somer petted a dog that some people have said was his. One report I read said that he was never even outside when she petted his dog. Has any other parent reported that he has approached their child?

LE will take every bit of that into consideration, I am sure.

 

[New1]

I do wonder about the neighbors. Wouldn't you think that if that happened in your neighborhood and you noticed JH, wouldn't you think back to any hinky things and call LE?

It was really strange that there was nothing out there on comments on the new sites about hinky people in the neighborhood. I know where I live, people would be commenting up a storm.

Yes, I think that if a child had gone missing in the neighborhood where I lived and I had noticed a neighbor outside smoking and washing his car only around the time children were walking home from school past his house, it would set off a really big red flag to me and I would remember report it right away, not after months had passed and he was arrested for child and named a POI in the child's murder. As dense as I am sometimes, I don't think it would take me that long to suspect him.

 

[ChickenPants]

There is alot of difference in having evidence and having enough evidence to convict on. I am not really up on the stebic case but in the powell case I think they have lots of evidence a crime was committed and are waiting for test to come back and spring to come so they can look for the body.

I'd guess they would call JH factors "circumstantial" evidence - circumstances which point to possible involvement or motive of crime.

What they need is the corroborating evidence - substantial things like the DNA or FIBERS or prints or blood or scratches, things they talked about - that would go along with the circumstances to tie up a neat little package. And also witnesses. And a legitimate confession would not hurt, either.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Well, Noway, is it not significant that he has a LONG history of child but no arrests or convictions on child molestation?

Not everyone who is into child acts it out to that extent. Of course, it remains a possibility that it could develop into that.

He wasn't even hiding anything. His computer was out in plain sight. Who had his password to get in there after he left? He didn't bother to erase anything or take it with him. If he had killed Somer, would he have been THAT STUPID? I think it's a legitimate question.

Most child predators carefully plan their crimes and groom the children. There are no reports of him having contact with any of those children, just that Somer petted a dog that some people have said was his. One report I read said that he was never even outside when she petted his dog. Has any other parent reported that he has approached their child?

LE will take every bit of that into consideration, I am sure.

The computer was turned in a couple of months before Somer was killed.

 

[eyes4crime]

Yes, I think that if a child had gone missing in the neighborhood where I lived and I had noticed a neighbor outside smoking and washing his car only around the time children were walking home from school past his house, it would set off a really big red flag to me and I would remember report it right away, not after months had passed and he was arrested for child and named a POI in the child's murder. As dense as I am sometimes, I don't think it would take me that long to suspect him.

I must be missing something cause I don't understand why all the focus on the neighbor! I doubt the neighbor has much to do with any forensic evidence that may come back. Let's not forget about the big reward that may prompt people to suddenly remember oddities. moo

 

[ChickenPants]

The computer was turned in a couple of months before Somer was killed.

Yes. Pedophiles are usually more careful about who has access to their little secrets, is what I am trying to say. He does not fit the type of a molester/murder IMO. Not when you consider all of the factors we have been discussing, such as carefully planning, having prior contact and covering his crime(s).