Somer Thompson was kidnapped and killed on her walk home from school on Oct 19, 2009.
Now, Jared Harrell is serving six life sentences for the crime, but Action News has learned Harrell's location is being kept a secret.
Diena Thompson said, "I never in a million years would have gone for a deal if I knew it meant protecting the guilty and letting the innocent still hurt and wonder where he is."
Thompson says the Florida Department of Corrections refuses to reveal where Jared Harrell is. Action News obtained the plea deal made between the prosecution and defense. Nowhere does it say
Harrell's location is to be kept secret. Action News pressed the DOC for answers and was told, “Information regarding Harrell is confidential and exempt per a Florida law."
Action News law and safety expert Dale Carson says a little-known statute allows the state to keep Jared Harrell's location under lock and key. "They are protecting him. Under Florida law, he's being protected by the state."
Twice, Action News asked the DOC to explain why an inmate would fall under this statute. Both emails went unanswered.
Diena Thompson believes the state blames her for Jared Harrell's high profile. "I'm being credited for why where he's being held is a secret. He's the monster," Thompson said.
Action News has also learned that the man who killed Jordan Davis is also being protected under the same Florida statute. Michael Dunn’s location is now being kept secret by the Department of Corrections.
WJAX
