SOMER THOMPSON: WHY WAS JARRED HARRELL ARRESTED FOR MURDER

Somer Thompson's Mom's Message to Accused Murderer: 'We Got You'
Cops: Jarred Harrell's Brutal Killing of Somer Thompson Was Likely 'Crime of Opportunity'
By LEE FERRAN / ABC NEWS
March 26, 2010

Praising the murder charges against the suspect in the death of 7-year-old daughter Somer, Diena Thompson today addressed the accused killer to say, "We got you."

"I stood here ... and said, 'We're coming to get you, we will get you,'" an emotional Thompson told a Florida news conference of her previous statements. "And I'd like to take this opportunity to say to you, Jarred Harrell, we got you."

Clay County police chief Rick Beseler was applauded earlier today when he announced the first-degree murder charge against Harrell from under a banner that read "Justice for Somer." He was also charged with sexual battery and lewd or lascivious molestation of a child younger than 12.

Calling Harrell a monster, Thompson said she was glad "some one is finally going to pay for this horrific crime."

Police said they believe Harrell, 24, encountered Somer as she walked by his house on her way home from school. Beseler said police have evidence that Harrell then assaulted Somer, killed her and disposed of her body. Two days after her death, Somer's body was found in a landfill in Georgia. She died, police said, by asphyxiation.

(snip)

Neighbors described Harrell as antisocial and withdrawn, and said they saw Thompson occasionally stop to pet a little white dog near his former home.

READ ABOUT SOMER THOMPSON CASE...
http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/sources-suspect-jarred-harrell-charged-connection-somer-thompson/story?id=10208882

SOMER THOMPSON: HOW THEY CAUGHT JARRED HARRELL

Ex-Roommate of Jarred Harrell Left Town Before Somer Thompson Announcement
Taren Reed / FIRSTCOASTNEWS.COM
3/26/2010

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The stepfather of one of Jarred Harrell's ex-roommates who turned Harrell's computer over to police after finding child pornography on it said the ex-roommates left town when they heard about the charges.

Harrell was arrested and charged with premeditated murder in the death of Somer Thompson today.

MORE ABOUT HARRELL'S ARREST, CHARGES

Rod Buchanan's stepdaughter lived with her fiance and Harrell in an apartment on Wells Road in Orange Park. In August 2009, Buchanan said Harrell's computer was turned over to police.

According to the State Attorney General's office, Harrell's computer arrived at its cyber crime unit on Sept. 25, 2009. The unit wasn't able to start taking the computer apart to do forensic testing until Oct. 9, when an official search warrant was received. The testing was completed Nov. 10, nearly a month after Somer was killed.

JARRED HARRELL'S COMPUTER PROCESSING TIMELINE

Buchanan didn't give his stepdaughter's name, but said she knew an arrest and announcement would be made today so she packed up and left Orange Park. Buchanan said the roommates won't be speaking with the media.

When Somer Thompson disappeared in October 2009, he and his wife saw how close Harrell lived to Somer and reminded police about his computer that was turned over in August. Buchanan said they pointed detectives in the right direction.

READ ABOUT SOMER THOMPSON AND KILLER JARRED HARRELL...
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=153882&catid=3