Trial
Highlights
DEATH
March 15, 2006:
Judge Andrew Owens confirms the death penalty for Joseph
Smith.
December 1, 2005
Just before 8 pm on Thursday Dec. 1st, the jury recommended
(10-2) the death penalty to Judge Andrew Owens. Some time
in January, Judge Owens will hear additional testimony without
the jury, and will soon thereafter render his final penalty
decision. Judge Owens must 'strongly consider' the jury's
recommendation, but is not bound by it.
FEBRUARY 14,
2006
The jury recommended the death penalty for Joseph Smith, and
on March 15th Judge Andrew Owens will decide to either go along
with the jury's recommendation or sentence Joseph Smith to life
in prison without the chance for parole.
Here's
more information about his statement, and we now wait until March 15th to
hear the judge's decision.
PENALTY PHASE
(12/1/05)
During the prosecution's closing arguments, a court room
observer shouted out "Let's just string him up right now," and
was hustled out of the court room by security guards. This
is very unfortunate because it gives the defense one more ground
for appeal, and this verdict will certainly be appealed.
The prosecution
summarized the aggravating circumstances and highlighted how, in
its opinion, each aggravator had been proven in this case.
The prosecutor asked for the death penalty for Joseph Smith.
The defense then
gave a very professional closing argument, admitting that three
of the six aggravators had been proven - but the others may not
have been. The defense also explained how each jury member
could give their own weight to each of the aggravating and
mitigating factors. He reviewed Smith's battle with drug
addiction and depression - how this caused so many of Smith's
legal troubles and how badly Joe Smith wanted to get off drugs.
He asked the jury to consider all this in deciding life or
death.
The jury will now
deliberate on the fate of Joseph Smith.
Aside
Attorneys for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and other media
outlets have been arguing for the release of the gruesome crime
scene video and autopsy photos which were shown to the jury, but
held from public view.
The courts have consistently sided with the media - but
Charlie Crist, State Attorney General, and Republican candidate
for Governor in 2006 has gone as far as asking the Supreme Court
for an order to keep the gruesome evidence sealed. The
release is expected within days.
PENALTY PHASE (11/30/05)
The defense completed its case to reduce Joseph Smith's
penalty to life in prison with its 19th witness on his behalf.
But
a brutal letter that Smith wrote to an inmate in a Manatee
prison
perhaps reveal his true nature. He expresses anger at his
brother for making statements to the FBI, and says "if he (his
brother John Smith) ever comes to prison to visit, I'll break
his jaw." Smith also gave advice to this prisoner on
how to beat up another inmate. "Punch him in his adam's
apple - that will disable him, then you can beat him up good.
Give him a few shots for me."
Smith's mother,
brother, estranged wife, and his three daughters did not
testify.
The jury will hear
closing arguments and receive its final instructions Thursday
and begin deliberating on the sentence. Their decision is
only a recommendation, the final verdict will be decided by the
judge in this case, Judge Andrew Owens.
PENALTY PHASE (11/29/05)
More defense witnesses spoke today regarding their memories
of Joseph Smith. Yet to appear is Joseph Smith's mother,
and there is speculation that Joseph Smith himself may speak -
all in an effort to get a life sentence rather than a death
sentence.
PENALTY PHASE
(11/28/05)
The prosecution began the day by laying out the
requirements for Aggravated circumstances which would allow
the death penalty. While all the circumstances seemed to
apply to this case, the final one was chilling - when the victim
is under the age of 12.
The prosecution
then brought family members to the stand to read victim impact
statements. Those statements had been reviewed and certain
comments were removed from the statements by the judge.
Perhaps because the family members were reading instead of
speaking, there was not an excess of emotion - although Joseph
Smith did appear to shed a few tears when Carlie's mother Susan
Schorpen read her statement.
The defense
proceeded to call a variety of family, friends and business
partners of Joseph Smith in an effort to convince the jury of a
life sentence rather than the death penalty.
Day Seven
(11/17/05)
After a little more than five hours of deliberation, the
jury returned a unanimous verdict - Guilty on All Counts -
including Kidnapping, Sexual Battery on a Minor under the age of
12, and Murder, a capital charge eligible for the death
penalty.
The sentencing
phase of the trial was scheduled, and will begin November 28th.
Day Six
(11/16/05)
Today the defense presented a brief case calling only a few
witnesses. After lunch, the prosecution launched a
detailed closing argument summarizing the most damning evidence
presented, including the video tape of the abduction,
confessions during conversations with family members, DNA
evidence, and other crime scene evidence to support the charges.
Then, in a
shocking move, the defense waived their right to a closing
argument. The judge removed the jury and asked Joseph
Smith if he understood what his lawyer had just done, and if he
agreed with that decision. Joseph Smith said that he did.
The jury was
excused for the day and will reconvene tomorrow morning to
receive their instructions and begin deliberations.
Day Five
(11/15/05)
Tapes of
several phone calls Joseph Smith made while in jail provided
devastating evidence, as Joseph Smith tells his mother he made a
terrible mistake, blaming his actions on the drugs he had taken.
His voice was heard telling his brother that now the only thing
he could do was to make the best of a bad situation.
A coded letter
written from jail by Joseph Smith to his brother John Smith was
presented in evidence. The letter indicated that he had
disposed of Carlie's body, her backpack and other belongings.
"The backpack and clothes went in dumpsters in four different
directions," the letter said.
Joseph Smith's
defense attorney hinted that his defense would take about one
day. This means closing arguments could be as early as
Thursday, and the jury could begin deliberating on Thursday or
Friday.
Day Four
(11/14/05)
Carlie Brucia's mother Susan Schorpen arrived for the first
time at the court, staying only briefly before leaving.
She indicated she has been watching the proceedings on TV.
The most damning
piece of evidence was presented today by the prosecution - a DNA
match to Joseph Smith from a semen sample found on Carlie's red
shirt. The probability of a false match is 280 billion to
one.
Day Three
(11/10/05)
The jury sees the
gruesome photos and video of the discovery of Carlie's body
in the field behind the church. Police and FBI experts
discuss how they
matched fibers and hair found in the car to Carlie's.
The defense
continues to ask whether hair samples were taken from other men,
and whether other suspects were pursued.
Tebrugge asked whether any fibers from Smith's
clothing were found among the evidence collected from Carlie's
body, and Korsberg said none were.
Once again, Tebrugge invoked the names of other men connected to
Smith and to the crime, suggesting investigators should have
taken samples of their hair and clothing and examined whether
they were present in the evidence collected.
He asked whether samples from tow truck driver Ron Choquette and
John Smith, Joseph Smith's brother, were collected for
examination with the evidence collected.
Korsberg said they were not.
Day
Two(11/9/05):
Joseph Smith's brother is reluctant, but
gives damning testimony of Joseph Smith's confession and
description of the crime.
Joseph Smith confessed in a jailhouse meeting
with his brother four days after Carlie's abduction that he used
cocaine, then had "rough sex" with Carlie and strangled her.
Day One of the
Trial (11/8/05):
People behind the
scenes have been saying all along that some very disturbing
facts about Carlie's mother's lifestyle would come out at the
trial. While it is not 'politically correct' to bring this
up, the following represents a very disturbing glimpse into the
lifestyle Carlie's mother lead, and the fact that Carlie was
often times not safe.
The night before
Carlie's abduction she slept over her best friend's house. Here
is some incredible testimony on the opening day of
the trial from the mother of Carlie's friend - Connie Arnold -
who was supposed to be "taking care" of Carlie.
November 7, 2005, 15:37
Carlie testimony: Connie Arnold
Connie Arnold, a friend of Carlie's mother and
the owner of the home where Carlie spent her last night,
testified Monday that her daughter Danielle and Carlie had been
friends for about six years. Arnold was one of the last people
to see Carlie alive.
Arnold has said little publicly about the night before Carlie
was abducted or the day of the abduction.
Carlie stayed at Arnold's home on the Saturday night before
Super Bowl Sunday, and Arnold testified that the girls completed
a book report and watched television. She said Carlie left the
home a little after 6 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday.
Defense attorney Adam Tebrugge questioned Arnold about whether a
male tenant was living in a room that adjoins the home. Arnold
said she didn't recall. He also asked about Arnold's boyfriend,
Ron Choquette, a truck driver who had been living at the home.
Arnold said she did not know his last name, even though he had
been living there for months.
Tebrugge asked about the night before the abdcution. Arnold said
she left the home about 11:30 p.m. and went to Schorpen's (Carlie
Brucia's mother's) home.
They went to another friend's house where Arnold got into an
argument. Arnold said she didn't use drugs or drink alcohol at
the friend's house.
She said she and Schorpen drove to her home about 5:30 a.m., and
Schorpen asked Choquette for $20. They left again, and went to
Schorpen's home.
At 3 p.m., she left Schorpen's home and returned to her home.
Choquette had just left, and Danielle, Carlie and another friend
were at the home, she said.
Each one of us is feeling grief,
love, anger - by sharing our thoughts we can begin to heal
ourselves and help others through this difficult time.
Carlie
Brucia was one my most loyal and caring best friends. Till
this day it hurts me to keep on hearing about it every day. I
feel like this whole thing is a bad dream. What I have come to
realize is that when you have a best friend you have to hold
on to them or else one day you’ll regret it Carlie I miss you
drearily and know that you are watching over us. And another
thing I have come to realize is we all didn’t lose an angel we
gained one. Carlies parented there is no fault in this god
just wanted his angel back!!
Sincerely
to all of you out there: Jennifer
They're just kids.
We see them waiting at bus stops, running around our
neighborhoods, walking on the streets, riding scooters and
skateboards, playing baseball, football, cheerleading - parents
shuttling them from place to place. We don't really know
them in great detail.
We all woke up on
Friday morning to find that one of these children was taken from
us.
We come to find
out that Carlie was beautiful, joyful, intelligent and deeply
loved by her family and close friends.
We come to find
that in this ONE CHILD there was an infinite beauty, an infinite
joy, an infinite intelligence, and an infinite love. In
ONE CHILD there was INFINITE POTENTIAL. As a community, we
understand this as we mourn and grieve together.
But we walk past
100,000 of these children in our community every day. We
don't even begin to think, or realize, or appreciate the
infinite potential that surrounds us. We don't even begin
to realize how much we love even our own children. We
don't see how much these children mean to us, how much they mean
to the community.
We will carry
Carlie with us forever, and I hope that we each carry
with us the lesson to look at life in a more meaningful way.
This is a sad time
in our community and we all grieve this terrible tragedy.
Thank you for doing this.
Our thoughts and
prayers are with Carlie's family and close friends. We
cannot even begin to imagine your anguish - we give you all our
love and good thoughts.
The whole nation
and the whole world is mourning with you. You are not
alone Sarasota.
I hurt so bad for
you, Carlie, and for your family. I hold all of you close in my
thoughts and prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are
with the family and all the people who this special little
angel touched.
To all of Carlie's family,
We never knew your
lovely daughter Carlie, but now she will always be remembered
as a girl who had many friends,and a young person who chose to
be friendly to many, she will always be remembered, may God
bless the Brucia family.
With Love; Solomon-Lenora
I am a mother of a twelve year
old. I am a mother first, I also have two older children,
nieces, nephews and a granddaughter. I am devastated that the
Amber alert did not go out as fast as it should, when are they
going to get it right. How many more of our babies have to
die. My heart is broken like she was my own, a mother feels
the life of their child before it is born, it’s a miracle of
life. We can't protect our children every minute of every
hour, but parents, please be more careful even if you sound
like a warden, know where your children are always. Trust few,
unfortunately I am very careful, because of the stories and
some personal experiences. My daughter is always in arms
reach, I know where she is, I don't allow her to walk alone. I
live in a nice area, but there is no such safe place. I would
like to see congress pass better laws to protect our children
from these animals. The movie stars that don't believe in
death row I tell them have your child taken away in a horrific
crime, then talk to me. How dare the judges and the justice
system fail us. Keep these animals where they belong behind
bars or let the parents have them for an hour, death is too
good. They torture and rape our children, they should be
severely punished. I would like to get involved please notify
me if you need anything. With my sincerest love & sympathy God
bless our Angels. My e-mail is
mgp721@msn.com
Illegal drugs are
a big part of the problem in this story. Our police
officers are constantly arresting drug offenders, but our judges
keep putting them back on the street. We need to realize
how serious illegal drugs are, and keep these people off the
streets where they go back to drugs and an illegal lifestyle
almost immediately. God Bless You Carlie - now it's up to
us to change this system.
Our hearts go out to you, she is
in a better place now were no one can hurt her anymore. I hope
he gets the death sentence for the awful crime he committed.
I am so very sorry. I
prayed that Carlie would be returned to you safely, now I pray
for you, to ease the terrible pain you must endure. There are
no words when you lose a child this way. I wish you strength
that you may find a way to go on with your life, and keep the
memory of your lovely child with you always. Please, try not
live your life with anger in your heart; it will only distort
the memory of your lovely daughter. I am so very sorry. No
parent should ever have to endure the pain you are feeling.
You are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Alan B.
Lake Worth, Fla.
I cry, knowing someone can do harm to a child and take our
hope for the future.
I am so sorry about your daughter. Carlie is a beautiful young
girl with her whole life ahead of her. My thoughts and
prayers are with you. I know this is a difficult time for
you and that nothing anyone can say or do to make you feel
better and I hope that Joe P Smith spends the rest of his life
in jail for what he did to her.
As a free people,
we have a choice of what we will and will not accept as a part
of our human community. I'm a strong believer in the death
penalty, and for reasons other than revenge or punishment. Only
when we can truly understand the nature of what this
beast (please do not call him an animal - no animal has the
choice not to murder then does so anyway) did to this
most beautiful, wonderful sweet girl, we will understand that to
completely remove him from our human community is the
true intelligent and spiritual choice. And I don't
mean housing and feeding the rage-filled body and mind of a
murderer. No. Regardless of how hypocritical it may seem ( and
in truth it's only paradoxical) it will only appear so
to someone who hasn't absolutely understood the incredibly
profound difference between a Carlie Brucia and a Joseph Smith.
Carlie invited joy, happiness and playfulness into her
own heart, and expressed those qualities with all who came to
know her. Mr. Smith, on the other hand, invited something very
black and evil into himself and chose to express that. Have we
really - I mean really - understood that what
this monster did excludes him entirely from our human community?
Carlie's life was sacred and blessed and it was taken by someone
blind to its worth. Now that Mr. Smith knows his own life is
going to be taken (and it will be) perhaps
the sacredness of human life will be revealed to him before
taking his final breath. It certainly won't ever happen
by sitting in a prison cell, festering and rotting away. I'm not
for housing and feeding evil. I'm for destroying it. In truth,
we honor the Light by destroying the darkness. We honor the
Light that IS Carlie by destroying the darkness that is Mr.
Smith. Light never dies, Carlie. Now you are forever shining.
May the terrible suffering of your family be somehow
lightened through the warmth of the Light that will always shine
as you.
A parents wish is to see their
child grow up. Carlie parents wish was short lived. I never
knew Carlie, but I do have my own children and can just
imagine how this experience may of felt. It is a tragedy that
this has happened to Carlie, however it is a blessing that it
has brought our community closer. Carlie untimely passing
will be remembered always and many parents have learned a
lesson, but many children will be safer because of it. My
heart is broken for Carlie, and goes out to her family and
friends. And I am sure that Carlie will be a guardian angel
to help watch over many children to come...
If the 'system'
allowed this suspect, Joseph P. Smith, out onto the street, we
MUST change the system! There is absolutely NO reason why Mr.
Smith should have been out walking the streets after 13 arrests
and even his own probation officer going to a Judge and asking
that Mr. Smith be put BACK into jail. This entire tragic
situation could have been PREVENTED! For more, you can go to
http://newssarasota.excitewebpages.com to vote in a poll
where the results WILL be given to the ruling Judge that was
involved in allowing Mr. Smith back onto the streets.
I also have an 11 year old, 6th
grade daughter in middle school here in Sarasota. She is
so at the beginning of her next stage of life I would be
devastated to see her lose that opportunity.
This has taken so much more than
one life. There are other children involved, from those
related to Carlie, those just like Carlie, and the children of
the man who took her from us.
We pray for them all.
KEEP IT SAFE SARASOTA! Watch
your children, watch everybody's children when they can't be
there for them.
To Carlie's parents and loved
ones:
Weep not for me.
I'm just someplace you can't
see.
Know that I'm alright -- and we
are precious in His sight.
Do not grieve.
I am closer than you think.
The only thing that stands
between us now is time and space.
And life's a simple intermission
between states of grace.
Weep not for me.
Heaven's just within our reach.
Know that I'm alright.
And I am finally at Peace.
Carlie is
in a peaceful and happy place with God now. But the pain and
sorrow for her family, friends and others like ourselves carries
on. We pray for peace and understanding for everyone affected by
this tragic and senseless event. May the love and compassion of
God bring healing and closure to all.
in life you touched those close
to you.....
in death you touch us all....
The loss of a child is the most
emotionally devastating event a human can experience. Those of
us who have lost a child never "get over it", we learn to cope
with the loss and go on. Having a beautiful, innocent child
murdered is even more devastating.
The killer needs to be punished
and society needs to know that this animal will never walk the
streets again and take the life of another child. We, as a
society, need to get better at identifying those who will take
lives without a thought and remove them for the good of
society.
To Carlie's parents and family,
I offer the links to two support groups that may be of great
help to them. The first is Parents Of Murdered Children at
http://www.pomc.com/.
The second is Compassionate Friends at
http://www.compassionatefriends.org/.
Compassionate Friends is dedicated to grief support after the
death of a child.
Compassionate Friends was a very
valuable resource when I lost my son, and I recommend them
highly. The local contact number is 941-366-5025 and it's an
answering service. Just tell them you're looking for
Compassionate Friends and someone will call right back.
My sincere sympathy goes out to
Carlie's family for their loss, and I hope these links will be
of help in some small way.
We as a society need to take a
stand...as Parents,Lawmakers and Citizens. I was an abused
child, physically and sexually. The molestors, Predators and
Pedaphiles are among are own neighbors and attend our Churchs.
Because I was abused...there are several
books I would like to extend to this web site to please go and
get and "READ"...see what is going on around us...see if there
is a way to stop some of what is happening to our children, and
to heal the children that have been molested,raped...and STOP
the Carlie incident from happening to another child.
Books to read are: Nightmares Echo by
Katlyn Stewart, Beauty For Ashes by Joyce Meyer,Lost Boy by
David Pelzer and last but not least: Predators: Pedophiles,
Rapists, and Other Sex Offenders: Who They Are, how They
Operate, and how We Can Protect Ourselves and Our Children by
Anna Salter. Go to your book store or order online, but read
read and make yourself aware of what happens to the many
Carlie's out there.
Thank You, Kelly
I have two daughters. When my
oldest was four she wandered off at the beach after sunset.
In the ten or fifteen minutes before we found her walking down
the beach unharmed, I had a mini experience of what Carlie's
parents felt when she was first missing. I pray that I will
never experience the pain of a child's death. I hope it never
happens again to anyone. I grieve with Carlie's parents and
all of Sarasota. I am praying for the family daily. I also
pray for Mr. Smith's family that their lives will not be
ruined by what he did. And, yes, I also pray for him that he
may realize the enormity of what he did and sincerely repent.
I hope he is locked away forever. I do not believe in the
death penalty. God will punish. A feeling of vengeance hurts
the one feeling it more than the one it is directed to. That
does not mean that I am not filled with a terrible anger at
what he did. I hope Carlie's family will heal enough to go on
with life; I know that Carlie will always be in their hearts.
As a Police Officer who has worked on
two missing persons cases, Molly Bish and Holly Pieranian, in
central Massachusetts, I have seen first hand the devastation of
a family and community as result of an abducted child. One
thinks, how could this have happened here.
There is no rhyme or reason as to where it happens or who it
happens to, it appears to be very random in purpose and
location. One thing is for sure. You have to be a parent
first and a friend second. You have to keep an almost constant
vigil over your children, know where they are, who they are
with, and who are their friends. I know it can be a task,
I have three teenage boys of my own. But in order to at least
reduce the possibility of your child being abducted you must
follow the above rules.
I wish to send my sincere condolences to
the family of Carlie Brucia. It is difficult to deal with the
loss of a child, and even more difficult when that child is
murdered. God Bless you and guide you through this difficult
time and may he keep Carlie's soul close to you.
J.R.
Her life was cut short by some
monster, but now she lives in the hearts of an entire
nation.
We are extremely sorry to hear
of Carlie's death. We can't express the sorrow we feel in our
hearts. We pray that Carlie's family gathers the strength and
courage to get through this most difficult time.
Heaven has a new angel.
Sincerely,
The Robinson Family
First, I want to send from my family to
Carlie's family our deepest sympathies. Being a father of a
12year old, a 10 year old and a 3 year old, I can't even fathom
the emotions you are going through. My kids are the center of my
universe so I can imagine how difficult this is for you. I
haven't had a day with out tears since she went missing and even
more when she was found.
Still there are unanswered questions as
to why this guy was still on the streets and not behind bars
where he belonged. This aggravates the @!!!@ out of me! These
so-called carrier bad guys are always getting off, but those of
us that have a tiny slip or don't pay a speeding fine, get the
book thrown at us. I seriously think that our lawmakers need to
look really hard at the laws and rule governing persons on
probation and parole.
Again my heart goes out to the Brucia
family.
Sincerely
Jason, Melissa, Jason L, Jacquelyn and
Michael Brodsky
My wife and I cannot begin to know what
it is to lose a child in such a brutal way. Our thoughts and
prayers go out to the Brucia family in this time of grief. God
keep you all strong.
McKeith - Michigan
This is a time of grieving and we all stand by her family and
friends. I am a mother of a 5 yr. old boy who will never be let
out of my site again. Unfortunately Sarasota used too never be
this way, you could venture out without a worry, not anymore, i
am terrified too walk down any street at anytime day or night
now without thinking or having a frightening feeling someone is
walking behind me. I think that every home, church and place of
business should have a security camera installed outside of them
on each and every corner of the place. My sympathys are with
the Brucia family.
Thank You,
DM - Sarasota
Words cannot express the sorrow
and heartache my family and I feel for the Brucias. We moved
here from an urban area in the northeast 7 years ago with the
hopes of providing a safe place for our children to grow up.
If we aren't safe from monsters like Joe Smith in a small town
like Sarasota, where are we safe? The answer, of course, is
nowhere.
Everytime I think of Carlie and
what she and her family have gone through, I feel as if my
heart is breaking. It's not right, it's not fair, and if the
killer does not pay the ultimate price, it will not be just.
--The Flessners
For Carlie's family-
you don't deserve to go through this. No one does.
Although we all feel incredibly sad and angry - we realize we
only probably feel a fraction of what you are going through.
When you are ready- reach out to the community and we will be
there for you. Always.
We are very sorry for your loss. My
daughter and I have made you our prayer focus... everyday we
will pray for you, to have the comfort of the Lord, who is the
only one who can really know what you're going through. My heart
goes out to you, and we are grieving with you.
The Morris family
My
thoughts and prayers are with you all. This has really touched
my heart. I hope that justice is served, and the man that
did this pays. I will be thinking of you all every day.
Kim
We followed everything from day 1 and share the grief and sorrow
that everyone else feels.
Carlie may be in a place that everyone feels is a lot better for
her but she didn't have to leave the way she did. I hope and
pray that we have all learned an invaluable lesson about this
tragedy and I also have learned about caring and feeling about
others I never have known before without even knowing someone as
beautiful as Carlie. I have three beautiful grand children and
I don't get to see them because they live up north and I don't
get to travel. I miss them so much that it hurts. I also know
that when I see someone's child on the street by themselves and
that they are vulnerable to anyone else who is out there I just
wanna say to the parents that would you please take care of them
and keep them safe. This is not a safe world and there is too
much danger out there to be placing our children in the hands of
others.
Five days after I read what had happened to Carlie I saw a six
to seven year old little girl riding her bike in my neighborhood
all by herself and was very upset to say the least. We truly
wish that parents would really watch out for these beautiful
children as we adore them as much as they do and want them to be
as safe as possible. Please watch out for your children more
often than not. We love ours and respect yours.
Bill from Sarasota!
As the father of a 5 year old girl I can't begin to imagine the
loss that you have suffered. So young, full of hopes, dreams
and potential all taken away by the conscious decision of
another. I will never understand this, none of us will. Carlie
touched us all, we all prayed for the best and shared in your
loss when the worst came true. Know that my thoughts and
prayers are with you all.
Chris
My thoughts and prayers are with
Carlie's family and friends. I pray that God will ease your
pain and help you through your grief. God Bless You!!
Tearfully,
Lora C.
I cannot imagine the pain Carlie's
family is going through. I am a mother of a 6 yr old little
girl, and it deeply saddens me that someone would do this.
When I heard the news last Friday on my way to work I burst
into tears, I was hoping she would have been returned alive.
My prayers go out to the family and friends of Carlie. May God
Bless.
Keri M. Laurelli
In deepest sympathy to Carlie's family... We are very sorry
for your loss.
To all the other parents: as someone else posted on this web
site...Let not her passing be in vain. My husband and I were
shocked to see in two different areas, school-aged children
completely on their own, the day after Carlie went missing.
Let us not put all the blame on the justice system... Parents
be responsible with your children- this time and age is
not like when we were growing up, when we were told to go
outside and play and not come back until the dinner bell rang!
PLEASE PLEASE do not give these creeps the upper hand, by
making it easy for them to prowl on our children. Teach your
children to think on their own- teach then different
scenarios: "If I'm late picking you up, what would you do...?
"If you get lost, what would you do...? "If you come home from
school, and I'm not there, what would you do...? You can teach
them all the Karate or Tai Kwan Do you want- that's fine, but
let me tell you from personal experience, when I was a kid, I
was so frightened, I was attacked so fast, I was completely
frozen and could not move, and sometimes by the time your
fight or flight kicks in...it might be too late. [I was more
fortunate] Children are not naturally agressive beings they
are loving beings...that's why that makes them easy prey and
makes us responsible for keeping them safe. Just because they
are walking, talking, "moving and shaking" doesn't make them
able to protect themselves, they are still inside -that
vulnerable newborn you held in your arms a few years ago...
To the family and friends of
Carlie Brucia. Our sincere thoughts and prayers are with your
during this time. My family has lived in Sarasota for over 20
years, during this time my family has become quite familiar
with the community and its residents. When we heard of this
terrible news, my first thought was never could this happen in
Sarasota. Living here in Pennsylvania, there hasn't been a day
that our thoughts haven't turned to you and your family.
May God give you strength and
courage to continue your healing process. My family will
continue to pray for you.
May God Bless You,
Your Friends in Pennsylvania.
Our thoughts and prayer are
with you from Connecticut. We prayed and cried for Carlie,
now we are praying for her family.
Our family would like to share
our deepest sympathy to Carlie & her loved ones. There will
always be a place in our hearts for her, god bless...
Jun & Irene, California
We are so sad about what
has happen we pray to the family of carlie I think of her
every day now. I have two girls 7 and 10 and on that day
when they came home from school alls I could do is cry and
give a big hug. I hope the pain will go in time , but I know
its going to take a lots of time, We are praying for you.
Linda , and Family Palmetto
I am a mother of 3 my oldest
is my 11yr old daughter. we live in bellmore long
island. I grew up in the same neighborhood with sue.
walking home from a friends house should never have to end
like this. my heart goes out to the family and friends of
carlie. And I am outraged at the judicial system
that failed carlie. My tears have not stopped and I
hope that the monster who did this will suffer and will
be sent to hell from where he came from. God Bless
Carlie and her family. kelly greene
I would like to express my deepest
sympathy to little Carlie's family and friends. I teach
6th, 7th and 8th graders in a small town in Central
Nebraska, and it just breaks my heart to know that Carlie
will not be able to enjoy a fun-filled life. May God help
you through this sad time in your life. When a young life
is taken it affects so many. God bless you and may my
tears be felt in your hearts.
Linda Gray, Albion, NE
Dear Carlie:
Our prayers are with you and your
loved ones. We vacation in your wonderful community every
year and this news comes as shock to us. We blame this
unnecessary death on the arrogant Judge Rapkin who allowed
this predator (smith) undue leniency from certain
incarceration. FAB4 Family
Englewood, FL & Elizabeth, NJ
My husband and I are so
sorry for the loss of your beautiful daughter. When we
first heard of it, we just prayed that she would be found
alive. What a devastating thing. Our hearts and prayers go
out to you, your family and friends that knew her. We
continue to pray that justice will be served to this animal
who did this to her. There is nothing they can to do him
that could possibly make up for the loss that you are
experiencing. We are so sorry!!!!!
Pete & Lori Knottnerus
Lake Zurich, IL
There is a new angel up in
heaven. I am a schoolteacher here in New York and have been
devastated by Carlie's fate. I was praying for her safe
return. Why can't children be safe on our streets? It wasn't
always that way. I remember when children stayed out
late and nothing ever happened. Now, it's sadly a new world.
Many sick people roam the streets looking for prey. Our
morals have declined as evidenced by the music heard on the
Super Bowl Half-Time show. Many TV shows and films
promote women as sexual objects. The only good outcome would
be that Florida passes a new law, called Carlie's Law, taking
such animals off our streets. Until then, there will be no
safety on our streets.
Yours truly, Myron Shulman
God needed an angel so he came
and got Carlie. My heart goes out to you in your loss, I can
only imagine the pain you are feeling like the pain I had when
I lost my mother, but know that she is close to you always, as
my mother is to me. They are in a much better place.
Carlie lived near my brother and
his family. Some of her friends live across the street from my
brother and just talking with them is so sad. They are young
children and so confused. This is such a terrible thing that
happened! My heart goes out to all.
Alice Wright
When I heard last
year that a local golf driving range had installed a car wash, I
found it odd, but the installation of a sophisticated security
camera system in that carwash gave the entire world a glimpse
into a horror that happens all too often. As a father of two
daughters and a former television newsman, my gut instinct told
me immediately that this was no isolated incident and that the
monster who did this was most likely a career criminal let out
by a hopelessly weak judicial system. Carlie's death is in no way
in vain, all of us with children will watch them more carefully
and hopefully judges will think twice when violent offenders
violate probation. Gordon Galbraith
I am
very upset about what happened to Carlie. I think its
really sad that these beautiful young innocent children can't
even walk home from a friends house or walk down the street
without being abducted and killed by thugs like this. I
think violence against children is the most horrible crime to
commit. I am 30 years old and one day I would like to be a
mother of two children. I used to tell my mother that I am
going to allow my children to do whatever they want but now from
all this evil and hate going on I know that I am going to be
very strict with my children.
What I noticed the most about Carlie was her beauitful smile
and I noticed that she was smiling in all the pictures that were
posted online . She will be missed. Times like this I want
to volunteer at a Missing Exploited Childrens center.
There has to be more done to protect our young youth against
felons and sex offenders like this.
He was a felon and he was constantly allowed to be released from
jail. Why would we give a felon so many chances?
Why would he do this? What would make him want to hurt
Carlie? Now Carlies friends and family will never see her
again. Never see her smile or enjoy her teen years or go
to college and be a wife and a mother someday. I don't
know Carlies family and friends but I am sure that they are
lovely people. My heart goes out to you.
Dearest
Parents of Carlie,
I know she is in a beautiful place now. God will watch over her
now. I hope the man that hurt her will suffer everyday of his
life. All of you will be in my thoughts everyday. I use to live
in Sarasota 20 years ago. I can not under stand something like
this happening there. May God Bless you!!!
To the family my
heart goes out to you. Just know that our nation will
never forget Carlie. She touched my heart, a person who
never met her. To Carlie you have heard the song I have
written about you as I sing it to the heavens. I promise
Carlie I will keep searching until I get the right person to
hear your song. Then Carlie the world will hear it.
God Bless All.
We are deeply saddened by this
terrible tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carlie's
family. She will never be forgotten! Heaven has gained a
beautiful angel.
Theresa
Durham, NC
My deepest sympathy goes out to
Carlie's family and friends.
Rest in Peace beautiful child. I
never knew Carlie personally, but I can honestly say that I
will N-E-V-E-R forget her. What a beautiful Angel we have in
Heaven. God Bless to Carlie's entire family and all of
her friends.
Carlie,
It's been almost a year and I still
think about you every single day. The weight I feel in my heart
is the same as it was the day I saw your picture on my T.V. You
are an Angel that will never be forgotten. Soar high Babygirl.
Debbie Bates
To the family of Carlie,
I
just watched the Montel Williams Show and found your story
truly touching. May God always be with you. You will stay in
my prayers.
The Walters Family
To
Carlie's family my thoughts and prayers are with you always,stay
strong for Carlie. You have the world behind you. ~~Carlie
rest in peace sweet angel, forever loved and missed~~~ a caring
mom in ga..carla wiley
Carlie,
It's been almost a year and I still think about you every
single day. The weight I feel in my heart is the same as it
was the day I saw your picture on my T.V. You are an Angel
that will never be forgotten. Soar high Babygirl.
Debbie Bates
A poem for Carlie and her family...
"Remember Me"
Remember me when flowers bloom early in the spring, remember
me on sunny days in the fun that summer brings. Remember
me in the fall as you walk through the leaves of gold and in
the wintertime... Remember me in the stories that are
told. But most of all remember each day... right from
the start, I will be forever near for I live within your
heart.
To Carlie's family, I think of Carlie often, she should be
here with you. You will continue to be in my thoughts
and prayers, God Bless you all. To Carlie... You will be
forever remembered.
.... Carla Wiley
My heart was deeply impacted by
these stories i heard today and to the family i will always keep
her in my heart and hope for the best for ever and i hope u will
do the same i will keep her in my prayers as long as i live.
forever and always love Alina
Carlie so young so beautiful.
Would brighten a room with
her smile. She loved hanging
out with her friends.
She dreamed being a pop
star every once and a while
to all she showed respect
warm hugs and kisses to all
those that she knew and love
in return is what she did.
Expect her personality adapted
to every one she met her
world colored in pink.
She wasn't alone god was with
her. He was her net.
She's in a new place where she
can start a new life.
Smiling and guiding the ones
she left be hide and protecting
them giving them piece of mind.
I didn't know her but I wouldn't
have minded the chance.
I just can't imagine the uncertainty
on her last and final dance.
R.I.P. Carlie.
Jane Brucie
