Somer Thompson: Police Have Publicly Named a Person of Interest

There is an update in the Somer Thompson case that rocked the nation in October 2009 after she disappeared and was found slain a few days later. According to Spivey & Wax (2010), the police have finally named Jarred Mitchell Harrell, as a person of interest in the Somer Thompson's investigation. He became a person of interest after investigators learned that in August 2009, his ex-roommates had turned his computer in to the Jacksonville Sherriff's Office. They were concerned over some questionable content, which they found on his personal computer.

In addition, Mr. Harrell is also charged with one count child molestation, but child name is not being released. None of these charges relate to the Justice for Somer investigation, but the case is still being investigated by the Sheriff's Department. He lived in his mother's home on Gano St. near the abandoned house, which Somer would have walked past on her walk home from school. Officials in charge of the investigation have stated that he was arrested at his new home in Meridian, MI.

According to Wax & Butler (2010), he was subsequently charged with 29 counts of possessing child pornography, as well as extradited back to Clay County Jail to face more charges. After reaching Florida, he was arraigned on 12 new charges of producing child pornography and one count of child molestation. However, in order to protect the child's identity, the victims name will not be released. Mr. Harrell is described by neighbors as a man who stayed inside all the time and was a loner.

However, they stated he would come outside, whenever the children walked by his home after school. According to Oliver (2010), Somer was known to stop by his mother's home, in order to pet his family's friendly whit dog. The local neighbors in Somer's community have already spoken out about their own opinions about this man's guilt or innocence. Some neighbors have claimed that they moved out of the neighborhood, due to his odd behavior.

However, he is still waiting to be charged and judged by a jury of his peers, on whether he is guilty or innocent in the slaying of this little girl. The Jacksonville Sherriff's Office was called by Mr. Harrell's ex-roommates about two months before Somer Thompson was murdered. So, some believe that Somer could have been saved, if the police had looked at the computer before her death. Yet, the police department admitted they didn't make the connection at first.

The investigation led them to Somer's neighborhood and police discovered that he lived in the area where she was last seen by witnesses. Now, the local community waits for the Sheriff to confirm that this man is going to be charged in the Somer Thompson case. He will sit in jail until he is brought to justice on the other charges, as the State of Florida prepares its case against him. So far, the police have not declared him as a suspect in Somer's case, but they have stated that he is a person of interest.

References:

Oliver, K. (2010) Somer Thompson's Mom Wants Daughter's Killer "To Die"; Diena Thompson
Says She Blames Herself
Retrieved on March 2, 2010 from the World Wide Web
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2010/02/12/crimesider/entry6201425.shtml

Spivey, E. & Wax, D. (2010) Neighbors: 'He Only Came Out When the Kids Came Out of School'
Retrieved on March 2, 2010 from the World Wide Web
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/special/somer/news-article.aspx?storyid=151931&catid=338

Wax, D. & Butler, A. (2010) Governor Requests Extradition for Jarred Harrell
Retrieved on March 2, 2010 from the World Wide Web
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/special/somer/news-article.aspx?storyid=152211&catid=338