ORANGE PARK - Family and friends cried and said goodbye Tuesday to a slain 7-year-old, Somer Thompson, during a public memorial service and a private burial.
As a white hearse and procession left the First Baptist Church, supporters of the family along the way held banners urging justice for the little girl who disappeared as she walked home from school Oct. 19. Her body was found under garbage in a Georgia landfill two days later.
Rev. David Tarkington told the family and mourners they needed to recall the good memories, The Jacksonville Times-Union reported.
Afterward, mourners launched hundreds of purple balloons into the air. Purple was Somer's favorite color.
Even folks who never met the little girl came to her funeral.
Several among the mourners said they intended to turn their despair, anger and determination into new missions in life – to raise funds to support Somer’s family, to find justice for Somer, to protect other children, to make sure her killer gets his due.
Meanwhile, police have received about 1,500 leads, but have not named a suspect or person of interest.
The 7-year-old girl disappeared one week ago on Monday as she was walking home from school. Her body was discovered two days later in a landfill in southern Georgia. Police say she was slain, but have refused to release a cause of death.
Authorities are expecting heavy traffic near the church and along the route to Jacksonville Memorial Gardens.
Delays are expected along the procession route. Mourners are able to arrive along the procession route early if they wish to stand on the sidewalks along Kingsley or Blanding to pay their respects as Somer's hearse and the family passes by them.
Suspects
If authorities are close to a suspect in this case, they’re not telling the news media.
In fact, they go out of their way to say they are not naming any suspects or persons of interest right now.
The latest information from the Clay County Sheriff's Office is that they've gotten more than 1,400 tips and detectives are still working to investigate those potential leads .
Meanwhile, this community in Orange Park and Jacksonville is turning out in full force to support Somer's family
A benefit was held Sunday to raise money for funeral costs and to help the family. More than $18,000 was raised.
On Monday, seamen from the Jacksonville Naval Air station stopped by with donations as well.
At a candlelight vigil outside the family home Sunday night, Somer's mother spoke briefly to everyone who came out.
"All I want to happen is that my baby didn't die in vain. And that we catch him. Everything that everybody's done for me, it means the world to me. I love y’all," Diena Thompson said.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. It will be immediately followed by a graveside service and burial.
At the family’s request, News 13 will not be able to bring you pictures or video from inside the service.
Thompson Praises Detectives
Diena Thompson told supporters at a vigil outside her home Saturday night that the detectives are working hard to find "it," referring to the killer.
She also thanked the hundreds of supporters who have held nightly vigils and built a huge makeshift memorial for her daughter Somer.
Somer was last seen alive walking home from school on Monday in their Jacksonville suburb. Investigators have finished sifting through evidence from a vacant house near where she disappeared and the Georgia landfill where her body was found Wednesday.
FDLE Gets Hundreds Of Leads
As investigators continue to comb through the garbage, they said they are also trying to trace the routes of the trash trucks back to the original place where her remains were left.
On Saturday, investigators said they have gotten 1,100 tips and leads in relation to the search for the person who killed Somer. Of those tips, detectives and agents are following up on 200.
Investigators now say their work is now finished at 1080 Gano Ave, the site where Somer was last seen. Additionally, investigators also say the work is now finished at the Chester Island Landfill.
Everything they found at both locations is now in the hands of the FDLE crime lab in Jacksonville.
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Somer’s mother joined friends and supporters once again Friday night outside her home for a candlelight vigil, as she has done each night since her daughter disappeared.
This time, however, Diena Thompson had news to share.
“We are not going to be able to see Somer,” she said. “They’re going to give me a lock of her hair, but I’m not going to be able to see her.”
With a child killer still on the loose, other parents in Somer’s neighborhood have sprung into action.
A new group calling itself “Mothers Against Predators” said it wants to gather the names of parents willing to walk children to and from school in an effort to keep them safe from predators.
Members said Somer’s death has left them very concerned for their children’s safety, and it was time for everyone to step up and take action.
“Everybody needs to come out of their home to watch their children, to watch their kids,” said Brenda Carr, with Mothers Against Predators.
The group said it will also conduct background checks on everyone who wishes to get involved.
Deputies said they have interviewed all of the 161 registered sex offenders who live within 5 miles of Somer’s home.
Despite their interviews and search through trash and a vacant home near the spot where Somer disappeared, authorities said they do not have any suspects.
$35,000 Reward
Donations for a reward are being accepted by both Crime Stoppers (1-866-845-TIPS) and by the Justice Coalition at 904-783-6312.
Tip Line
If you have any information on the case, call (877) 227-6911, or e-mail CART@claysheriff.com.
Want To Donate?
Donations for funeral expenses for the family of Somer Renee Thompson can be made at any Vstar Credit Union. Account No. 702794000
VyStar Credit Union
P.O.Box 45085
Jacksonville, FL 32232
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