Jared Harrell Charged With Somer Thompson's Murder

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Somer disappeared while walking home from school with her siblings.

On March 26, 2010, Clay County Sheriff's Office charged Jarred Mitchell Harrell, 24, with the October 2009 murder of 7-year-old Somer Thompson.

"I stand before you today, surrounded by this group of law enforcement professionals that we call Team Somer, to announce to you that Jarred Harrell has now been formally charged with the murder of Somer Thompson," Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said.

The statement was followed by applause. Beseler then said the charges were the result of information from witnesses, DNA evidence and admissions from the suspect himself.

On April 1, 2010 a Clay County, Fla., grand jury returned a four-count indictment charging Harrell with Murder in the First Degree, Kidnapping, Sexual Battery and Lewd or Lascivious Battery.

Harrell pleaded not guilty to the charges when he appeared in court Thursday, April 8, 2010.

Harrell's name first surfaced as one of more than 4,000 leads that came in to the sheriff's office in the days after Somer's death, he said.

"We feel confident that Jared Harrell committed this crime," Beseler said. "The outpouring of support and generosity, and collective resolve to bring Somer's killer to justice, was the only light in the darkness caused by this tragedy."

A U.S. Marshals fugitive task force initially arrested Harrell in Meridian, Miss., on Feb. 11, 2010, and charged him with 29 counts of possession of child pornography in Clay County, Fla.

At that time, he was named a person of interest in Somer's murder.

On Feb. 24, 2010, Harrell was extradited from Mississippi to Clay County, Fla., to face trial and police added 12 counts of production of child pornography and one count of molestation of a child to his charges.

Cops say the 12 counts of production of child pornography refer to 12 separate images of a child and the molestation charge relates to that same child.

Police do not identify victim of the sex crimes, but say those charges do not involve Somer Thompson.

Harrell formerly lived at 1152 Gano Ave., in Orange Park, Fla. -- just a few blocks from the vacant home where Somer was last seen.

As part of the investigation, police executed search warrants on several residences, including the Gano Avenue home and others in Callahan, Fla., and Lauderdale County, Miss., as well as one vehicle.

Harrell was held on a $1 million bond.

Two Clues Released In Somer Thompson Case

On Saturday, Nov. 7, AMW released two clues in the case of 7-year-old Somer Thompson’s murder.

Take a close look at the artist renderings of the book bag and lunchbox that Somer was carrying the day she disappeared.

Police say these two items have not been found and could be clues in the case.

"Lots of traffic," Sheriff Rick Beseler said. "Lots of kids going home on bicycles and walking, and it’s just almost amazing that at that time of day a child could just vanish off the face of the earth without anybody seeing anything."

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2009, Sheriff Beseler made an appeal to the public for help.

"We have reason to believe that there are individuals who have information pertinent to this investigation who have yet to come forward because they did not feel that their information was important or relevant to this investigation," Sheriff Beseler said. "Specifically, we're referring to people who may know or associate with the offender in this case."

He asked people to report anyone who has recently changed their behavior in the following ways:

• - Leaving the area unexpectedly, even if it seems that they have a good reason

• - Missing work or other routine engagements particularly on the afternoon or night of the incident

• - Unexplained injuries such as cuts, bruises, particularly on the head, arms and hands

• - An unnatural interest in the Somer Thompson investigation and paying close attention to the media

• - Talking about this incident with others

• - An increase in nervousness or irritability

• - The sudden shaving of facial hair or head hair or the growing of a mustache or beard

• - No longer operating their work vehicle for any reason, including reporting it stolen, giving it away or hiding it in a garage

• - A change in the use of alcohol or cigarettes usage, either increase or decrease

Police Vow To Catch 'Child Killer'

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Somer's mother said she was creative, full of energy and loved to talk.

Somer disappeared Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, while walking home from school in her Orange Park, Fla., neighborhood.

Police immediately issued an AMBER Alert and launched and "all-out search" for the girl.

They hoped to bring her home safely, but the search came to a tearful conclusion.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, authorities discovered Somer's body in the Georgia landfill where trash from her neighborhood is taken, just 55 miles away.

Police said that finding the body quickly increased their chances of finding the person responsible.

"There is a child killer on the loose and that's why we're gonna catch this person and bring them to justice," Sheriff Beseler said in a press conference.

"I fear for our community until we bring this person in. This is a heinous crime that's been committed and we are going to work as hard as we can to make this community safe," he said.

Tips poured into a hotline, set up specifically for this case. Detectives picked up workable leads and followed up immediately, but nothing panned out.

On Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, exactly a week after Somer's disappearance, police set up road blocks and re-interviewed people in the area.

They were hoping for a lead and they got one.

A child had seen Somer on the sidewalk in front of a vacant home where there was a house fire a few months ago.

The home in Orange Park, Fla., is only 500-600 yards from Grove Park Elementary where Somer was in the second grade.

There had been a fire at the house and workers were there remodeling it. The workers said Somer walked inside the fence around the home and even spoke to them.

But then, they say, she left. That was the last known siting of Somer alive.

The owners of the home, who no longer live there, gave permission for police to process the home as a crime scene using the FDLE crime lab. Cops hoped for a break, but nothing turned up.

Task Force Continues To Work Until Case Is Solved

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Somer was in 2nd grade at Grove Park Elementary School.

A task force of officers from the sheriff's department, USMS, FDLE, FBI and additional specialists will continue to work on the case until it's solved.

More than 4,000 tips came in to police, and detectives immediately followed up on all workable leads.

All sex offenders living within a 5-mile radius of the area where Thompson disappeared were questioned, but that didn't mean that cops ruled them out.

"No one has been cleared of suspicion of this crime until we arrest a suspect," Sheriff Beseler said.

They identified the garbage truck that carried Thompson's body to the landfill and worked to pinpoint where that trash originated.

A reward fund for information leading to the arrest of her killer reached more than $45,000.

"I feel somewhat responsible for the people who live in my community -- and their safety. And when something like this happens, I take it very personal," Sheriff Beseler said. "I feel responsible for catching this person and making sure that no one else in our community loses a child – no other parent has to go through what Diena Thompson is going through right now."