Somer's Book Bag, Lunchbox Missing

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Somer disappeared while walking home from school with her siblings.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, AMW exclusively released two new 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, but their discovery could point straight to Thompson's killer. If you have information about these items, or think you might have seen them, call our hotline right away at 1-800-CRIME-TV.

So far, there are no suspects and no persons of interest in Thompson’s murder.

Police said someone must have seen something the day was abducted on her walk home from school in Orange Park, Fla.

"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."

Now, he's asking anyone with information to come forward.

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 on 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 so 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 at 1080 Gano Ave. 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.

No Suspects, Investigation Continues

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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.

Nearly 3,000 tips have come in to police and detectives immediately follow up on all workable leads.

All sex offenders living within a 5-mile radius of the area where Thompson disappeared have been  questioned, but that doesn’t mean cops have ruled them out.

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

Police still do not have any suspects at this time, but tiplines remain open 24 hours a day.

Detectives know the cause of death in Thompson's murder, but are not announcing it, for fear of compromising the investigation.

They have also identified the garbage truck that carried Thompson's body to the landfill has been identified and work to pinpoint where that trash originated.

A reward fund for information leading to the arrest of her killer has 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."