death of Somer Thompson

A 24-year-old unemployed restaurant worker has been charged with murder in the death of a seven-year-old Florida girl whose body was uncovered in a Georgia landfill last year. Jarred Mitchell Harrll was charged in the death of Somer Thompson, who went missing on October 19th.  Her lifeless legs were discovered two days later about 50 miles from Orange Park. Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said detectives used DNA evidence, witnesses and statements from Harrell himself to solve the case.  “Our collective resolve to bring Somer’s killer to justice is the only light in the darkness caused by this tragedy,” Beseler said, noting the nearly 50 members of Team Somer — the sheriff’s office investigators who worked the case. Harrell has been in custody since February 11th, when authorities arrested him in Mississipi on Florida charges of child pornography.  At the time of Somer’s disappearance, Harrell was living at his parents’ suburban Jacksonville home, detectives said.

 He originally came to the attention of police after being kicked out by his roommates, who discovered child pornography on his computer.  The parents of one of his roommates later drove by the home of Harrell’s parents, which is located near Somer’s house.  Seeing Harrell’s car in the driveway of his parents’ home, they notified detectives.