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

[ChickenPants]

ACTUALLY NO

I don't know?

DOES anyone KNOW?

Sure sounds like we are missing something tho ChickP.

Yes, it seems like we are missing a lot...it is frustrating. Child being a terrible thing, if this man was just say, smoking and washing his car, and he had no prior record of child molestation, and, God forbid, there is no evidence linking him, then it's sad to think of all the manpower going into him while there is still a monster on the loose.

You have to wonder if the community has not become somewhat complacent thinking he is the one, while there is a possibility that the real killer is smugly secure knowing that the heat is off.

So I hope and pray that those parents are still out there walking their children to school every day. If this guy got away with child for so long, and lived right in the neighborhood, and got out of the state, who knows what other kinds of hinky people may be in that neighborhood thinking they can still get away with things?

 

[ChickenPants]

I would just like to say that I don't think the murderer (if not locked up) would take a chance doing this again during an open investigation, and I am so glad because that would mean the other Thompson children are safe, the family does not have to worry that they are in danger. This has been such a big conern all along.

I was impressed to know that law enforcement actually stayed with them for three weeks, which shows how much they cared. I am confident they continue, in whatever way they deem possible, to give them ongoing support.

 

[ChickenPants]

Great post.

ITA

I may be wrong, but I think you misunderstood my post.
What I meant was, when put together with all of the things you have just listed, the fact that he was seen outside smoking and watching the little children was thought to be an incriminating factor to at least one neighbor. In otherwords, it is one more thing that fits the profile. A suspicious way of acting.

 

[New1]

they haven't released that information so as to preserve the integrity of the case. but they have dna and I would assume that dna was found to be male dna. so I would speculate that yes she was sodomized or sexually assulted. the creep probably either strangled her or she died of blunt force trauma to the head " two most typical ways children are found murdered"

That's what I thought. Speculate. Which means we don't know one way or the other. My memory is not perfect, but I don't remember the Sheriff saying they found DNA (male nor female) on Somer, just that they recovered a lot of evidence. I could be mistaken though.

 

[ChickenPants]

I keep thinking about the FBI raking the yards. Something they are looking for there.

What do you think they may have been looking for there? Something of Somer's?

 

[Dr.Fessel]

Does anyone have any logical explanation why the FBI would ask for JH's dads DNA other then the fact he is JH's dad?

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I can't think of another reason Doc

 

[New1]

I'm not uncomfortable with it. I think they were waiting for tests. JMO

I just don't think they would name him a POI if they didn't have something on him.

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

 

[human]

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.

 

[ChickenPants]

They know how it got there just like they know in any bust of this type when more then one person has use of a computer. The sheriff mentioned a few ways they did that and another way i bet they do it is see if the person is signed into any other password protected place like yahoo messenger, or gaming rooms or mail at the same time they are downloading the . The step father also telling his story about finding kiddie in JH's possession adds to it.

That's a good point, Dr. F. I am wondering how many computers they took and sleuthed, also. Like when they ruled out all of those RSO's...how could they have possibly checked or confiscated all of their computers? Who knows how many other people in that vicinity - or farther reaching - have salacious images on their computers?

But then again, child is different than just salacious images. So you'd think they would zero in on that at least.

Which is why I find it disturbing that AFTER they had the computer in possession, they somehow forgot about it when Somer died. Somebody slipped up - or they would have made that connection, don't you think?

You'd have to call it a lucky break (or something sinister - don't know what) that Mr. Buchanan came forward with that information now. And they have moved so quickly.

 

[Noway]

What do you think they may have been looking for there? Something of Somer's?

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?

 

[Dr.Fessel]

What do you think they may have been looking for there? Something of Somer's?

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.

 

[eyes4crime]

Does anyone have any logical explanation why the FBI would ask for JH's dads DNA other then the fact he is JH's dad?

You ask for logic? The only logical reasons I can think of is:

1. LE thinks he may be the perp

2. LE thinks he is the father of JH and went to him for DNA because JH was uncooperative. Seems LE wanted a match of DNA for something.

3. anything beyond the first two has no logic.

 

[Kimberlyd125]

I also find the fact they have dug at several locations very telling.

IMO they are looking for something specific.

 

[Noway]

Does anyone have any logical explanation why the FBI would ask for JH's dads DNA other then the fact he is JH's dad?

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 )

 

[ChickenPants]

ChickenP, it was his neighbor ... CT is one of them ... a few pages back where we talked about Blue Tooth earpiece.

ETA: It was more pages than I thought ... about p. 13

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?storyid=151931&catid=3

Thank you, Noway, I had no clue where to look.

 

[eyes4crime]

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?

Maybe, LE were looking for cigarette butts with JH's DNA on it - pop cans/cups he may have thrown away - or a fast food container. guess it could have been anything.

 

[Dr.Fessel]

That's a good point, Dr. F. I am wondering how many computers they took and sleuthed, also. Like when they ruled out all of those RSO's...how could they have possibly checked or confiscated all of their computers? Who knows how many other people in that vicinity - or farther reaching - have salacious images on their computers?

But then again, child is different than just salacious images. So you'd think they would zero in on that at least.

Which is why I find it disturbing that AFTER they had the computer in possession, they somehow forgot about it when Somer died. Somebody slipped up - or they would have made that connection, don't you think?

You'd have to call it a lucky break (or something sinister - don't know what) that Mr. Buchanan came forward with that information now. And they have moved so quickly.

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.

 

[Noway]

Did they DIG or did they RAKE?

Raking might find fibers, hair (needle in a haystack?) but digging ... I think they would look for signs of ground being disturbed (maybe perp buried lunch box, bookbag, hat/scarf (if those indeed are missing).

 

[Kimberlyd125]

Noway:

I've seen dig and rake.