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| Body of 11-YO Carlie Brucia found |
| 2004-02-06 |
| A sad but not surprising ending. Edited for brevity. Officials in Sarasota, Fla., said they have found the body of Carlie Brucia and have charged a suspect in the case with murder. Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill refused to say where Carlie was found, saying it is an active crime seen. But CNN reported that the slain childâs body was found behind a church off of Interstate 75 in Sarasota. An unemployed mechanic with a criminal record has now been charged with kidnapping and murder. Joseph P. Smith, 37, continued to refuse to answer questions about the 11-year-old girl. He has been held without bail since Tuesday on an alleged probation violation stemming from a cocaine possession conviction. Smith has been convicted previously on felony drug charges. South Florida authorities said Thursday that "strong evidence" links Smith to Bruciaâs kidnapping. Authorities believe Smith is the tattooed man in a mechanicâs shirt on the tape. He was taken into custody on a tip from a woman who lives with him. State records show that Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993. He was arrested in 1997 on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges -- but was acquitted a year later. Other arrests range from misdemeanor battery to felony drug possession charges. Investigators were searching for a pink backpack Carlie was carrying when she disappeared and urged TV stations to continue showing images of Smithâs car, a Buick Century station wagon. "We are certain that the â92 Buick station wagon that we have is the vehicle used in the abduction," Balkwill said. Meanwhile, investigators in Sarasota say NASAâs attempt at enhancing images of Bruciaâs abduction has not been that helpful. Sheriffâs officials said the quality of the enhanced images is not much better than the originals. Florida have the death penalty? |
| Posted by:Dar |
| #27 Jarhead: Just Talahassee and maybe Gainesville. We don't want the juice running too consistently, now do we? |
| Posted by: BH 2004-2-6 11:53:30 PM |
| #26 "It's still legal so bring old sparky out of retirement." -hell yeah! Tell Talahassee, Gainesville, and J-ville to turn down their grids -- we're getting all the juice up for this one. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-2-6 11:07:16 PM |
| #25 RE Sparky or injection I found this from Death Row Fact Sheet: In January 2000, the Florida Legislature passed legislation that allows lethal injection as an alternative method of execution in Florida. Florida administers executions by lethal injection or electric chair at the execution chamber located at Florida State Prison. It's still legal so bring old sparky out of retirement. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-2-6 10:34:37 PM |
| #24 Stop that Cingold! You're an officer of the court! Oooops! Oh well, good thing I never wanted to be a judge, anyway. Can you just imagine what would happen during vetting if somebody tried to appoint me and this stuff (not to mention what I say in the office) ever came up? Since I donât want to ever be a judge, let me just add to my comments: Damn the judges (âthe person, not the office -- which I respectââ¢) who, in the name of âfair trial,â so blind the juries by excluding so much evidence that no prosecutor could ever get a conviction. Damn the judges who overlook how felons have violated probation, and donât revoke probation. Damn the judges who donât throw the book at these guys when they are convicted -- all the while knowing full well that studies show tremendous rates of repeat (and worse) offenses. If this guy was arrested 13 times, he probably has at least three times the number of bad acts for which he never got caught. Now some poor family has to try to go on in life without ever seeing this precious girl grow up. No awkward first dates, no prom, no dad giving away his daughter to a nervous groom . . . All because the powers that be decided to rehabilitate this scum, but found that not any amount of money or second chances would do the trick. AAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH ! ! ! ! ! |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-2-6 6:51:22 PM |
| #23 Lil Dhimmi -- you haven't heard? The left says those shredders never existed. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2004-2-6 3:25:23 PM |
| #22 Did we ever get Saddam's people shredders? I think they could come in handy. |
| Posted by: Lil Dhimmi 2004-2-6 3:02:01 PM |
| #21 Stop that Cingold! You're an officer of the court! |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-6 2:52:38 PM |
| #20 They retired Ol'Sparky, I think they use the needle now. Then, I pray to God they miss the blood vessel, but dump enough poison into the muscle tissue to make the fiend's death at least as protracted, painful and scary as the poor child he killed. My heart goes out to her parents and family. At what point do the !#8&^!#%* bleeding heart liberals wake up and realize that true compassion is swift and unrelenting justice. Examples made of criminals deter crime -- what better rehabilitation could a society want? |
| Posted by: cingold 2004-2-6 2:49:17 PM |
| #19 I am more than sick with people who play the big "generous" and "humanistic" liberal with other people's lives. Damn straight, JFM. And don't forget being so "generous" and "Charitable" with other people's money. |
| Posted by: Ptah 2004-2-6 2:41:04 PM |
| #18 Always liked ole sparky,but they use the needle now cause judge said elecution was cruel and unsual punishment. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2004-2-6 2:38:56 PM |
| #17 My problem is not about understanding or what this guy deserves. My problem is if this guy will begin anew. That means the law failed to protect the innocent. Meaning that in case a criminal is released and kills another child a dozen or so between the liberals who advocated his liberation should pay for his crime. Ie loooooooooooonhg jail or even old sparky. I am more than sick with people who play the big "generous" and "humanistic" liberal with other people's lives. |
| Posted by: JFM 2004-2-6 2:34:33 PM |
| #16 Was listening to KVI Radio while driving home last night and they were talking to some women who 'helps' people who molest kids. She kept saying that we should understand their addiction and be compassionate and treat them instead of incarcerate them. The show host kept asking her if they should be locked up after they had molested a child. She said that we shouldn't lock them up but be more understanding and treat their addiction (the show was about addrediline addiction or something - I did not hear the entire show). The only treatment they deserve is ole sparky (with a flaky capacitor..). |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-2-6 2:08:58 PM |
| #15 Yeah the capacitors old old sparky were gettin kinda flaky..... 10, 100, 20, 1, 90, amps.... kinda fun to watch to I hear. Perfect. Put this turd with legs on a slow roast and let him suffer for days. This is one case where torture should be mandatory. Days and days of it. |
| Posted by: 4thInfVet 2004-2-6 12:46:48 PM |
| #14 I personally see nothing wrong with using Old Sparky again at say 1 to 10 amps for say oh 1/2 our or so. Jump it up to 100 once in while... Use resusciatation..etc....But hey that's my opinion only. |
| Posted by: dataman1 2004-2-6 12:14:14 PM |
| #13 Yeah the capacitors old old sparky were gettin kinda flaky..... 10, 100, 20, 1, 90, amps.... kinda fun to watch to I hear. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2004-2-6 11:46:08 AM |
| #12 I am usually against mob justice, but in this case we should make an exception. This waste of a human being doesn't deserve to breath another minute. After I saw the story I reviewed yelling and screaming with my kids. And then prayed they would never have to use it. Parents: Remind you kids that if a stranger tries to take them away to scream like they have never screamed before. The louder the better, perps don't like loud victims. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge (VRWC CA Chapter) 2004-2-6 11:36:17 AM |
#11 State records show that Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993. He was arrested in 1997 on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges -- but was acquitted a year later.FNC is reporting that a judge had the chance to put him away on probation violations on December 30th, but declined. This is why laws like Three Strikes get passed. |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-2-6 11:25:30 AM |
| #10 They retired Ol'Sparky, I think they use the needle now. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-2-6 11:08:18 AM |
| #9 Did Florida ever fix Ol' Sparky or is he still lighting people on fire? I hope it's the later. |
| Posted by: BH 2004-2-6 10:55:19 AM |
| #8 reported that the slain childâs body was found behind a church off of Interstate 75 in Sarasota Bless her innocent soul, this guy has done nothing but cause deep pain for everyone including himself, he'll get his, no doubt about that. |
| Posted by: CobraCommander 2004-2-6 9:55:43 AM |
| #7 ...It gets worse, folks. FNC is reporting that a judge had the chance to put him away on probation violations on December 30th, but declined. Governor Bush needs to put that jackass under a microscope too - he's already got investigators going over the Sarasota County Sherriff's Office, because it appears that she was missing for an entire day before they ever really got serious about things. Mike |
| Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2004-2-6 9:19:32 AM |
| #6 State records show that Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993. He was arrested in 1997 on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges -- but was acquitted a year later The judge, prosecutor, and jury from that case should be charged as accessories in this girl's death. I hope Ol' Sparky is warmed up, just enough to cook this mutt slowly. |
| Posted by: 4thInfVet 2004-2-6 9:11:17 AM |
| #5 I can't help but feel that this is because he was caught on tape. Most likely she was dead before the tape was released, they'll have a estimated time of death later. This asshole picked the wrong state, he'll be on death row before he knows what happened. Florida doesn't screw around with these guys, just ask Ted Bundy. He's sitting next to Hitler in hell. |
| Posted by: Steve 2004-2-6 8:41:27 AM |
| #4 Damn. I can't help but feel that this is because he was caught on tape. Maybe he would have done it anyway, but maybe he wouldn't have. Either way, damn. |
| Posted by: Charles 2004-2-6 8:19:17 AM |
| #3 If you have trouble linking to the TV story, try this Associated Press story, February 6, 2004, 7:37 AM EST. |
| Posted by: GK 2004-2-6 7:43:53 AM |
| #2 This makes me sick. As I am sure it makes all of you sick (especially those of us w/kids). My heart & prayers go out to her folks. I wonder how long it takes before Mike Farrell & Janeane the pig Garrafalo ask for clemency on this guy's behalf? JH say: Buckle up Smith, it's the law in Florida. |
| Posted by: Jarhead 2004-2-6 7:42:45 AM |
| #1 Yes. Florida has the death penalty. |
| Posted by: Dragon Fly 2004-2-6 7:34:30 AM |