ORANGE PARK -- The body of a small child was found Wednesday at a landfill in southern Georgia.
It is not known if this is the body of Somer Thompson, 7, who vanished from her North Florida home on Monday.
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According to the Florida Times-Union, a newspaper in Jacksonville, Somer's father said he was told by police a birthmark on the child's body found in the landfill matches the birthmark on Somer's body.
The body was found at a Folkston, Ga. landfill, which is just over the Georgia-Florida border.
"It's with deep regret and sadness that I have to inform you that a body has been found in the landfill in Folkston, Ga.," Clay County Sheriff Rick Beseler said at a news conference Wednesday. "The body appears to be that of a small child. We do not have a positive identification at this time."
Somer was last seen as she walked home from school Monday.
An Amber Alert was issued and foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Somer's mother, Dina Thompson, and 200 others gathered outside the little girl's home Wednesday night and sang songs, including Somer's favorite "You Are My Sunshine."
Dina Thompson thanked the community for their support, but blamed herself for not knowing what happened.
"We hope and pray that it's not that body of Somer, but the garbage that was brought into that area from that location was collected in the Orange Park area," Beseler said.
According to the newspaper, Somer's twin brother Sam, who was with her when she separated from a group walking home, carefully rearranged flowers strewn at a memorial for his sister.
He said, "Somer is going to be so happy when she sees this, if we ever get her back."
A tip line has been set up to contact authorities at (877) 227-6911. Tips can also be e-mailed to CART@claysheriff.com.
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