Every parent's nightmare. Are there lessons from Somer Thompson tragedy?
For those of you not familiar with this case, Somer Thompson is the 7 year old girl who disappeared while walking home from school on Monday. After a massive search and a nationwide outcry, her body was found yesterday in a Georgia landfill near the Florida state line.
The police report states that she got into a fight with another girl at school. While walking home with her sisters and some friends, she ran off ahead of the group and was never seen again. Imagine how they're feeling?
Reports are saying that the family lived near 161 registered sex offenders. Do you know how many live in your neighborhood? You should. Check the state database here.
Is knowing where the sex offenders in your neighborhood live enough? The latest reports say that none of the offenders in Somer's neighborhood are suspects, so what as parents can we do to protect our children?
Personally, I have experienced the loss of children close to me. My cousin recently gave birth to twins, and due to complications one of the girls did not survive. Listening to her speak at her daughter's funeral was one of the most moving events of my life. No matter how tragic that was, there is no way to compare that incident to the rage this family must been feeling towards the person responsible for murdering their daughter.
As I am writing this post, the reports are saying that the investigation is focusing on a vacant house in the neighborhood where she vanished. The police are also saying that they know how she died, but are not releasing that information yet.
HOW DO WE KEEP OUR CHILDREN SAFE! Honestly, I am at a loss.
Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Somer, and hope that the person who committed this horrible act is brought to justice swiftly.
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