Girl's Body Found In SE Georgia Landfill

Sad, Sad, Sad....

Clay County Sheriff Fears Body Is That Of 7-Year-Old Somer Thompson

POSTED: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
UPDATED: 9:39 pm EDT October 21, 2009

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- Clay County authorities report that the body of a small child was found in a landfill near Folkston, Ga., where Orange Park's garbage is dumped.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation confirmed later Wednesday the body is that of a girl. Investigators said an autopsy will be performed Thursday morning in Savannah, Ga.

"We hope and pray that it's not the body of Somer (Thompson), but the garbage that was in that area was collected from Orange Park," Beseler said.

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Seven-year-old Somer Thompson disappeared while walking home from school Monday afternoon. A massive search of Orange Park has been under way since Monday evening.

Clay County detectives found the body about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at a the Chesser Island Landfill in Charlton County. Sgt. Dan Mahla said the scene at the landfill has been contained, and evidence technicians will process the scene as much as possible overnight. The FBI, GBI and the Charlton County Sheriff's Office are all at the landfill investigating. "This was just a hunch -- a standard investigative practice -- and discovered what we feared we were going to find," Beseler said. "Everyone in Clay County, everyone in Florida grieves for this family right now." Beseler announced the grim news at an 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.

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