Police Search for Somer Thompson`s Killer
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: There`s a monster roaming free, and police are now turning to the public to find Somer Thompson`s killer.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sheriff leading the investigation into her murder warned the public the killer could be in their midst.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Someone in the community will unknowingly be associated with that offender and may be in a position to observe those behavioral changes of that person.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Investigators believe Somer`s killer is likely exhibiting changes in behavior or giving clues that the people around them might not recognize.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Cops in Orange Park, Florida, have released a profile of a possible suspect. Things to watch for.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of the things that they were saying that people in the public should look out for are unexplained injuries, or cuts or bruises on the person.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Particularly on the head, arms and hands.</s>UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The sheriff didn`t expound. That information suggests when Somer`s body was recovered from the Georgia landfill, there may have been evidence she struggled with her killer. There are people they believe who have information pertaining to the investigation and they may not know it. Other things to look out for include anyone who suddenly left the area. Missed work or routine commitments, especially on October 19th, the day Somer was abducted.</s>BROOKS: I`m Mike Brooks in for Nancy Grace. Little Somer Thompson, thrown out like the garbage, found in a landfill in Folkston, Georgia. Who is responsible for the murder of this little, little, gorgeous little girl? It just -- it just makes me sick. I want to go straight out to Natisha Lance, producer for THE NANCY GRACE SHOW joining us here in Atlanta. Natisha, you`ve been down there. You know the latest investigation. What is going on right now in Orange Park?</s>NATISHA LANCE, PRODUCER, THE NANCY GRACE SHOW: The latest in the investigation is that there may be a break in the case, at least according to a district attorney who is about 200 miles away from where Somer Thompson went missing. Now, there`s is a man by the name of Kenneth Kellam. He`s 36 years old. He was just recently arrested on about eight charges of trying to abduct two fourth grade boys. Now, among those charges is attempted child molestation. He was just -- he was recently arrested. And this district attorney believes, due to the geographic closeness to where Somer was abducted from, that he could also be connected to the Somer Thompson case.</s>BROOKS: That`s amazing. And now I want to go straight out to Greg Edwards. He is the Dougherty County district attorney, joining us by phone from Albany, Georgia. Mr. Edwards, thank you for being with us.</s>GREG EDWARDS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY (via phone): Glad to be here.</s>BROOKS: Tell us -- give us some background on this -- on this predator, Kenneth Kellam.</s>EDWARDS: Some of the information that we have includes the fact that he was released from Florida in 2008. He is a convicted sex offender. And one of the things that struck us in our investigation, relative to what was going on with him here, was his modus operandi. In other words, he was loitering near an elementary school. He had a van that appears, by current appearances, to be set up for the quick abduction and molestation of a child or an adult for that matter.</s>BROOKS: Now, why do you say that it was set up, you believe, the van may have been set up for a quick abduction?</s>EDWARDS: Well, there are things that have been revealed from our search warrants that lead us to this conclusion. I can`t get into many more details at this point.</s>BROOKS: Understandable.</s>EDWARDS: Because our case is still pending. But we think that the mobility afforded him by his van and the geographic feasibility of his being a possible suspect is why we notified the authorities in Orange Park about our findings. If you take a quick glance at the map, you can see that, you know, that`s really about a two- or three-hour drive from here, from Dougherty County, from Orange Park, taking the interstate.</s>BROOKS: No, exactly, not far at all. I used to live, I lived down near Brunswick. When I was at the federal law enforcement training center, I used to come down. I mean, it`s not far at all. You right come down from Albany, down by Aldosta (ph), and you`re almost right there in Jacksonville.</s>EDWARDS: That`s correct. Now, the thing is, there had not been a direct connection between what we have and what`s going on in Orange Park, but we felt obligated to pass that information on at that moment, once we -- you know, we gleaned what we could from our investigation.</s>BROOKS: Absolutely.</s>BROOKS: And -- and, of course, you know, we just wanted to make sure that the authorities in Orange Park -- we did not have privy to their investigation, but of course, we felt it imperative that they at least get this information. I`ve been advised that they have well over 1,500 or so tips that they were following up on. But of course, we wanted to just let them know what we had.</s>BROOKS: No, no, and I think -- I`m really glad you did that, because we need to find the killer of Somer. And we know that this guy is a registered sex offender in Florida. Has a history in the Tampa area. So you draw a line between -- between Tampa, Orange Park, and Albany, and you`ve got a little triangle that cuts all the way across the state of Florida, up into Georgia. You know, I hope and pray that this guy had something to do with it, because this guy has been a predator for too many years. Joining us by phone, a very special guest. Joining us by phone from Orange Park, Florida, is Samuel Thompson, the father of Somer. Mr. Thompson, thank you for being with us, again.</s>SAMUEL THOMPSON, SOMER`S FATHER: Thank you for having me, very much.</s>BROOKS: Well, you`ve heard what Mr. Edwards said. What are your thoughts right off the top of your head?</s>S. THOMPSON: Well, my first thoughts -- my first thoughts are if he`s the guy who killed my little girl, I want the first ten seconds with him.</s>BROOKS: I don`t blame you.</s>S. THOMPSON: My second thought is, God says that I have to forgive this man for what he`s done. And I have, in Jesus` name. But, I want him punished to the full extent of the law. And if Florida has the death penalty, he deserves it. But, if this is not the man who hurt my little girl, then he doesn`t deserve the punishment for what happened to my girl.</s>BROOKS: Mr. Thompson...</s>S. THOMPSON: I just want the right person. I want justice to be served the way it`s supposed to be. And, I can`t tell you the pain that this person who took my daughter from me has put me through. It`s almost put me to the point that I don`t want to take my next breath. But God tells me to go on.</s>BROOKS: You know, Mr. Thompson, I don`t know -- I don`t know how you`re doing it. I really don`t. All my years of law enforcement, crimes against children, it`s just -- the families that are affected by this is just -- it`s just incredible to me. But I want to remind our viewers, Kenneth Kellam has not been charged in anything involving Somer Thompson right now, but law enforcement officials are looking to see if there`s any kind of link -- DNA, evidence found at the scene, evidence found on the body of little Somer -- is possibly connected with Kenneth Kellam. And whoever is responsible for this needs to be brought to justice. And now, tonight`s "CNN Heroes."</s>RICHARD BRANSON, OWNER, VIRGIN ATLANTIC: Hello, I`m Richard Branson. Last year, I had the honor of serving on the blue-ribbon panel that selected the top ten "CNN Heroes" of 2008. These everyday citizens who are changing the world are recognized during "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute." As founder of Virgin Unite, which tackles social and environmental problems around the globe, I`m absolutely thrilled to help CNN introduce one of this year`s top ten honorees. Now, more than ever, the world needs heroes.</s>BETTY MAKONI, HELPS RAPE VICTIMS IN ZIMBABWE: In Zimbabwe, 10 girls per day, they are raped. They need an advocate to help them break silence. My name is Betty Makoni. I founded an organization that rescues girls from abuse. When a girl gets to the villages, she`s provided with emergency medication, reinstatement in school, as well as counseling. It gives them the confidence to transform from victims to leaders.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To child abuse, just say no. To child abuse...</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say no.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say no.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say no.</s>MAKONI: This is the job I have always wanted to do. It gives me fulfillment, and in girls I see myself every day.