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Somer Thompson Killer Gets Secret Protection in Prison
Apr 29,2012 at 6:48 PM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Jarred Harrell is getting the ultimate protection from Florida's prison system.

Harrell was recently sentenced to six life sentences for murdering, sexually assaulting and kidnapping Somer Thompson.

Now, due to the nature of his crime, Florida's...more Department of Corrections has put Harrell in protective custody and won't release the prison location where he's serving his time.

"He's being kept at an undisclosed location for protective needs," said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Jo Ellyn Rackleff.

First Coast News has been tracking his location since he was first processed at Northwest Florida Reception prison in Chipley. Almost all inmates and their prison are listed on the Department of Corrections' Web site.

But Harrell's information disappeared two weeks ago.

Rackleff confirmed Harrell is still in Florida, but she refused to say where.

"The warden can make the call that the inmate needs to
Orange Park

Somer's Sunshine Park Opens Today
Watch the story
Apr 5,2012 at 7:52 AM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The community held a special ceremony this morning to dedicate Somer's Sunshine Park.

The park is located on the corner of Debarry and Gano avenues in the Grove Park neighborhood. Somer Thompson was walking home from Grove Park Elementary School when she was...more kidnapped and killed in 2009. 

Somer's Sunshine Park was a community-wide initiative. Klaybor and Associates volunteered their services to design the space and several businesses donated materials to complete the work. The Town of Orange Park estimates without contributions, the park would have cost about $25,000. 

Orange Park Councilman J. B. Renninger, Clay County Commissioner Travis Cummings, Sheriff Rick Beseler and Somer's mother, Diena Thompson all spoke during today's ceremony. Volunteers will release butterflies and cut a purple ribbon, which was Somer's favorite color.

Diena Thompson said today is particularly difficult because it would have been Somer's
Orange Park

Somer's Sunshine Park to Open Today
Watch the story
Apr 5,2012 at 2:45 AM EST
ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The community will hold a special ceremony this morning to dedicate Somer's Sunshine Park.

Renderings Revealed of Somer Thompson Memorial Park
Watch the story
Mar 13,2012 at 12:24 PM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Crews have begun work on a Somer Thompson memorial park in Orange Park.

Local design firm Klaybor and Associates released drawings of "Somer's Sunshine Park," which include a circular paved walkway, ornamental grasses and shrubs, as well as a butterfly garden....more

Somer disappeared in October 2009 while walking home from school.  Clay County investigators said Jarred Harrell later confessed to kidnapping and murdering the girl in his home nearby.

Harrell pleaded guilty to the crimes earlier this year. 

The park was dedicated in October 2011.  Workers will be back at the site today. 

A community work day will be held March 24.  "Somer's Sunshine Park" is expected to open April 5.
Orange Park

Disturbing Details in Jarred Harrell Interrogation Tapes
Watch the story
Mar 1,2012 at 7:52 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Disturbing details from Jarred Harrell himself confessing how he killed 7-year-old Somer Thompson.

The video was just released by Clay County Sheriff's Office.

Jarred Harrell Interrogation Tapes Released
Mar 1,2012 at 2:51 PM EST

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- Jarred Harrell walked into the Clay County Sheriff's Office interrogation room and told detectives. "I've been in this office before."

A relaxed Jarrad Harrell sat right down and started talking to detectives.

Investigators already had information...more to work with. One detective commented that Harrell told them a lot in the 10 hour drive from Mississippi, where he was arrested, to Clay County.

"I noticed Somer in the doorway between the kitchen and the garage. When I saw her there I was startled," Harrell told detectives.

Harrell said a number of doors were open to his home and Somer just walked inside.

"I said what are you doing in here. She started getting anxious. She started screaming. At that point, I walked over and tried to quiet her," Harrell said.

Harrell then told police he put his left hand behind Somer's head and his right hand over her mouth.

"She kind of went limp and urinated on
Green Cove Springs, Middleburg, Orange Park

Somer Thompson Autopsy, Other Evidence Released
Watch the story
Mar 1,2012 at 1:07 PM EST

KINGSLAND, Ga. -- First Coast News has obtained the autopsy reports, toxicology tests, crime scene photos and other documents surrounding the discovery of Somer Thompson's body at a Georgia landfill.

First Coast News made a public records request on Friday and got the evidence...more Monday.

SLIDESHOW: Somer Thompson Crime Scene photos

The images show the spot where Somer's journey came to an end at Chesser Island Road Landfill after Jarred Harrell admitted to throwing her body out with trash.

One picture shows the crime scene tape put up around the body. Images from the air show the massive amount of trash investigators had to process to gather evidence. They even vacuumed up debris around Somer's body for more clues.

Diena Thompson commented Friday on the release of new details now that the case is over.

"I don't have any other choice. It's stand up and fight or lay down and die. This is what I've got to live with," Thompson
Orange Park, St. Marys

Orange Park Man Sentenced for Child Porn
Mar 1,2012 at 11:18 AM EST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A man who police found had child pornography on his computer during their investigation into the disappearance of Somer Thompson has been sentenced to five years in federal prison.

According to a release from United States Attorney Robert O'Neill, 66-year-old...more Orange Park resident Charles Watkins was sentenced in federal court Thursday to five years in federal prison.  In addition, Watkins was sentenced to 10-years of supervised release after his prison sentence is served.

First Coast News reported on Watkins arrest in March of 2010.

During the investigation into the disappearance of Somer Thompson, Watkins was questioned at his Orange Park home.   Watkins lived near Thompson.  Police questioned Watkins during their search fo the area for sex offenders and other related offenses.

Watkins home was about a quarter of a mile from Somer's home.

While police were at the residence Watkins gave them consent to search his
Orange Park

Somer Thompson Investigation Documents Unsealed
Watch the story
Feb 14,2012 at 9:06 AM EST

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The coroner listed Somer's cause of death as asphyxiation with multiple blunt force injuries.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, investigators noted it was 84 degrees with 41 percent humidity at the Waste Management Chesser Island Landfill in Charlton County,...more Georgia.  That afternoon, they made a gruesome discovery.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation documents First Coast News just obtained,  Special Agent M.J. Washington was one of the many investigators.

He saw human remains "intermingled in the debris and trash" and "partially covered with dirt, trash and wood."

Mixed in with this massive mountain of debris, those remains were later found to be those of 7-year-old Somer Thompson.

Investigators released pictures of the trash, but redacted pictures of Somer.  The report paints a disturbing picture of a little girl who was put through a living nightmare, all at the hands of the man who confessed to
Orange Park

Investigation Documents Unsealed in the Somer Thompson Case
Watch the story
Feb 13,2012 at 7:52 PM EST
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The coroner listed Somer's cause of death as asphyxiation with multiple blunt force injuries.

On Wednesday, October 21, 2009, investigators noted it was 84 degrees with 41 percent humidity at the Waste Management Chesser...

Diena Thompson: Somer's Killer Will Meet Justice in Prison
Feb 8,2012 at 8:20 AM EST

NEW YORK -- Diena Thompson, mother of slain 7-year-old Somer Thompson, was interviewed by Matt Lauer on this morning's Today Show. 

Thompson was there to discuss the recent guilty plea of murderer Jarred Harrell.
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Orange Park

Court Papers Reveal How Jarred Harrell Lured Somer Thompson
Watch the story
Feb 6,2012 at 3:24 PM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Now that Jarred Harrell plead guilty to Somer Thompson's assault and murder, court documents in the case have finally been released.

The pages detail the last moments of Somer's life.

"You're not even a human being. Your name is not Jared Harrell. Your...more name is monster," Somer's sister, Abigail told Harrell.  

After Harrell entered his plea, her family finally had the chance to face him in open court.

"I hope you have to suffer just like me and my family did," she said.  

Newly released court documents detail the last moment's of Somer's life on October 19, 2009.

One of the last people to see Somer was a contractor who told police Somer stopped to talk to him, and told him he was doing a nice job on a house.

Then classmates saw her in front of Harrell's home with her head in her hands after getting in an argument with another child.

According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Somer
Orange Park

Source: Jarred Harrell Set to Plead Guilty
Watch the story
Feb 4,2012 at 12:34 PM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- An anonymous source has confirmed to First Coast News that Jarred Harrell is set to plead guilty in a pretrial hearing Friday in Green Cove Springs.

Thursday morning Clay County Sheriff's Office PIO Mary Justino sent a news release to members of the media advising...more them, "There is the potential for significant court action in regards to the potential prosecution of this defendant."

MORE: Somer Thompson Case Timeline

Harrell was charged March 2010 with premeditated murder in the 2009 death of 7-year-old Somer Thompson.  Harrell is also charged with sexual battery on a victim under 12, and lewd and lascivious battery.

A gag order was issued by Judge William Wilkes on Dec. 14, 2010, that prohibits anyone involved in the trial from speaking publicly.  The order also prohibits the release of court documents until a final resolution.

Justino's statement said Harrell will be in court Friday, which would be the first time
Green Cove Springs, Orange Park

Jarred Harrell Guilty in Murder of Somer Thompson
Watch the story
Feb 4,2012 at 12:31 PM EST

GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. -- The man accused of killing a 7-year-old Florida girl whose body was found in a Georgia landfill has pleaded guilty to molesting and strangling her.

MORE: Source: Jarred Harrell Set to Plead Guilty   

Jared Harrell is accused of killing Somer...more Thompson who disappeared from her Orange Park home in 2009 while walking home from school. Her body was found in a landfill two days later.

PICTURES: Jarred Harrell Sentencing

Authorities said Harrell's mother lived on the street where the little girl walked. He was arrested a year ago in Mississippi on unrelated child pornography charges before he was indicted in Florida on first-degree murder.

Today, Judge Don Lester sentenced Harrell to several life sentences for molesting and strangling Somer. Lester allowed victims' statement from the family.

MORE: Documents released on Jarred Harrell Case

Somer's mother, grandmother, grandfather and twin
Green Cove Springs, Orange Park

Candlelight Vigil for 7-Year-Old Somer Thompson
Watch the story
Feb 3,2012 at 8:54 PM EST

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- "You are my sunshine, my only sunshine," family and friends of 7-year-old Somer Thompson sang at a candlelight vigil near her home in Orange Park Friday night.  It was one of Somer's favorite songs.

Justice, after years of torment.  It's a way to remember young...more Somer "and for keeping her memory alive," her mother Diena Thompson said.

It's a day no one wants to remember, but no one can forget. 

"Somer Thompson, my wife and I were here the day the Amber Alert went out," former neighbor Glen Conley said

A missing young girl hit very close to home for Chastity Letson. 

"My daughter was in her class, in her reading class, and I've just been out searching from the day she went missing to the day she was found," she said.

Neighbors shared their positive memories about Somer.  "Watch her stand on the corner and them playing in the yard in the daytime, and we would wave and they would wave," Anthony Johnson said.
Green Cove Springs, Orange Park