Guilty plea in abduction, murder of Fla. 7-year-old

SLIDESHOW - Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 in Orange Park, Fla. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday. — AP Photo

Jared Harrell pleaded guilty Friday to the 2009 abduction and murder of 7-year-old Florida girl Somer Thompson. After pleading guilty, Harrell was sentenced to life in prison. Somer vanished while walking home from school, and her body was found two days later in a Georgia landfill about 55 miles north of her Orange Park, Fla. home. Police said she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.

Authorities say that Harrell's mother lived on the street where she walked. Harrell was arrested four months later in Mississippi on unrelated child pornography charges. Two months later, he was charged with murder and sexual battery in connection with Thompson's death.

Jared Harrell pleaded guilty Friday to the 2009 abduction and murder of 7-year-old Florida girl Somer Thompson. After pleading guilty, Harrell was sentenced to life in prison. Somer vanished while walking home from school, and her body was found two days later in a Georgia landfill about 55 miles north of her Orange Park, Fla. home. Police said she had been sexually assaulted and strangled. Somer is seen here with her twin brother Sam.

Authorities say that Harrell's mother lived on the street where she walked. Harrell was arrested four months later in Mississippi on unrelated child pornography charges. Two months later, he was charged with murder and sexual battery in connection with Thompson's death. Somer is seen here with her twin brother Sam.

A young girl signs a card at a memorial for Somer Thompson Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. Thompson's body was found Thursday under trash in a landfill after she vanished on her walk home from school Monday. An autopsy to establish the cause of death was performed Thursday, but authorities would not disclose their findings.

A memorial for Somer Thompson is seen outside her home, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Diena Thompson, center, attends a candle-light vigil for her daughter Somer Thompson, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. Somer was murdered earlier in the week. At right is Perry Currier, Diena Thompson's boyfriend.

Diena Thompson, Somer's mother, appeared red-eyed on all three national network television morning shows on Oct. 23, 2009, and said she wants the killer to know he or she will be caught. Thompson, center, attends a candle-light vigil for her daughter, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla.

We're coming for you. We'll get you, and hopefully justice will be served," Diena Thompson said to ABC's "Good Morning America" on October 23, 2009. Thompson, center, mother of Somer Thompson, shows her emotion at a candle-light vigil for her daughter, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. Somer Thompson's body was found on Oct. 21 in a Georgia landfill.

Diena Thompson, center, her daughter, Abby Thompson, lower left, and son, Sam Thompson, below center, attend with friends a candle-light vigil for other daughter Somer, who was murdered earlier in the week, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, in Orange Park, Fla. Sam Thompson is Somer's twin brother.

Family members of Somer Renee Thompson hang a sign in the front yard of her home in Orange Park, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Karen Murray, left, and Valerie Brown show their Mothers Against Predators t-shirts as they visit the Somer Thompson memorial, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 in Orange Park, Fla. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Diena Thompson, mother of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, appeared on all three national network television morning asking for help in Orange Park, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Somer Thompson's body was found Thursday under trash in a landfill after she vanished on her walk home from school Monday.

Diena Thompson, mother of 7 year old Somer Thompson, speaks during a morning television news conference asking for help in Orange Park, Fla., Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2009. Somer Thompson's body was found Wednesday evening under trash in a landfill after she vanished on her walk home from school Monday.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigators look for clues in the Somer Thompson murder investigation, in a dumpster near a vacant house, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 in Orange Park, Fla. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Sabra Ray and daughter Victoria pay their respects at a shrine made in memory of Somer Thompson across the street from where Somer lived in Orange Park, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. Authorities believe a body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, the sheriff in charge of the case said Thursday.

Neighbors of Somer Thompson continued to add to the shrine dedicated to her, under an oak tree, across the street from her home in Orange Park, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Neighbors continue to pay their respects to Somer Thompson by leaving stuffed animals, books, and signing large cards across the street from her home in Orange Park, Fla., Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Chandler Burnsed, left, collects donations from a passing motorist for the Somer Thompson family fund, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009 in Orange Park, Fla. A body found under trash in a landfill is that of 7-year-old Somer Thompson, a north Florida girl who vanished on her walk home from school, authorities said Thursday.

Jared Harrell pleaded guilty Friday to the 2009 abduction and murder of 7-year-old Florida girl Somer Thompson. After pleading guilty, Harrell was sentenced to life in prison. Somer vanished while walking home from school, and her body was found two days later in a Georgia landfill about 55 miles north of her Orange Park, Fla. home. Police said she had been sexually assaulted and strangled.