rockin'robin
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ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The news everyone feared came before dawn Thursday: The child's body found in a southeast Georgia landfill is that of missing 7-year-old Somer Thompson.
Clay County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Mary Justino said it was a visual identification based on the appearance, clothing and the birthmark on Somer's left shin.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was to conduct a autopsy at a state crime lab in Savannah, Ga., Thursday morning to determine the cause of death.
"There is a child killer on the loose and we're not going to rest until we catch this person and bring him to justice," Beseler said Thursday morning.
The body of a small child was found about 3 p.m. Wednesday in a landfill near Folkston, Ga., where Orange Park's garbage is dumped.
A van was seen driving out of the landfill just before midnight Wednesday, escorted by several police cars. It was unclear if it was the medical examiner removing the body because the van was unmarked.
Beseler said he got a call about the visual confirmation about 9 p.m. and called Somer's mother, Diena Thompson.
"Needless to say, she was absolutely devastated," Beseler said. "It was the hardest phone call I've ever had to make in my life, and I hope I never have to make another one like that."
While Clay County detectives are at the Chesser Island Landfill just south of Folkson, an FBI forensic unit is the lead agency in processing evidence at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Charlton County Sheriff's Office was assisting.
Somer disappeared while walking home from school Monday afternoon. A massive search of Orange Park had been under way since Monday evening.
Beseler announced the grim news that a body was found at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that was delayed for about 20 minutes because of a "major development."
Gov. Charlie Crist was on hand hoping to rally efforts to find Somer and the Justice Coalition was set to announce a $30,000 reward for Somer's safe return.
stead, that reward will be for information for the capture and conviction of whoever is responsible for putting the body of the child in the trash.
"Everybody's just terribly, terribly sorry and your heart goes to the family," Crist said.
Beseler said Dumpsters in the area are emptied on Tuesdays, and that particular garbage investigators were searching was dropped off Tuesday afternoon.
"Tuesday morning, one of my detectives, Bruce Owens, came forward and said, 'You know, I think it'd be a good idea to follow those garbage trucks and let's look at the garbage on the front end rather than waiting and maybe later on trying to go and uncover something,' which was a stroke of genius," Beseler said. "It was a precautionary thing. We didn't have any idea at that time that this would come about. But it was just a really good move."
Owens spoke to the media Thursday morning.
ID: Body In Georgia Landfill Is Somer - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
Clay County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Mary Justino said it was a visual identification based on the appearance, clothing and the birthmark on Somer's left shin.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation was to conduct a autopsy at a state crime lab in Savannah, Ga., Thursday morning to determine the cause of death.
"There is a child killer on the loose and we're not going to rest until we catch this person and bring him to justice," Beseler said Thursday morning.
The body of a small child was found about 3 p.m. Wednesday in a landfill near Folkston, Ga., where Orange Park's garbage is dumped.
A van was seen driving out of the landfill just before midnight Wednesday, escorted by several police cars. It was unclear if it was the medical examiner removing the body because the van was unmarked.
Beseler said he got a call about the visual confirmation about 9 p.m. and called Somer's mother, Diena Thompson.
"Needless to say, she was absolutely devastated," Beseler said. "It was the hardest phone call I've ever had to make in my life, and I hope I never have to make another one like that."
While Clay County detectives are at the Chesser Island Landfill just south of Folkson, an FBI forensic unit is the lead agency in processing evidence at the scene. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation and Charlton County Sheriff's Office was assisting.
Somer disappeared while walking home from school Monday afternoon. A massive search of Orange Park had been under way since Monday evening.
Beseler announced the grim news that a body was found at a Wednesday afternoon news conference that was delayed for about 20 minutes because of a "major development."
Gov. Charlie Crist was on hand hoping to rally efforts to find Somer and the Justice Coalition was set to announce a $30,000 reward for Somer's safe return.
stead, that reward will be for information for the capture and conviction of whoever is responsible for putting the body of the child in the trash.
"Everybody's just terribly, terribly sorry and your heart goes to the family," Crist said.
Beseler said Dumpsters in the area are emptied on Tuesdays, and that particular garbage investigators were searching was dropped off Tuesday afternoon.
"Tuesday morning, one of my detectives, Bruce Owens, came forward and said, 'You know, I think it'd be a good idea to follow those garbage trucks and let's look at the garbage on the front end rather than waiting and maybe later on trying to go and uncover something,' which was a stroke of genius," Beseler said. "It was a precautionary thing. We didn't have any idea at that time that this would come about. But it was just a really good move."
Owens spoke to the media Thursday morning.
ID: Body In Georgia Landfill Is Somer - Jacksonville News Story - WJXT Jacksonville
