Joseph Smith who was convicted of raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. There is 
honestly no punishment, live in prison or the death penalty, that fits the crime that this man did. There is no punishment severe enough to make this man pay for the crime that he committed.
(CNN) — In a 10-2 vote, a Florida jury recommended Thursday that Joseph P. Smith should be put to death for the rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl.
Prosecutor Debra Riva argued that Smith should receive the death penalty for the killing of Carlie Brucia, who Smith kidnapped from a car wash parking lot on February 1, 2004, as the youngster was walking home from a friend’s house.
Smith, 39, was convicted November 17 of kidnapping, first-degree murder and sexual battery. It took the jury five hours to return the verdicts. Fox News: Jury Recommends Death Penalty for Killer of Carlie Brucia
SARASOTA, Fla. — After deliberating into the evening, jurors were ready to deliver their sentencing recommendation of the death penalty or life in prison without parole for a mechanic convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing 11-year-old Carlie Brucia.
“The advisory sentence on a majority vote of 10-2 recommends the court impose the death penalty upon the defendant. So say we all this 1st of December,” said the court clerk as she read the jury’s decision.
(AP): Jurors: Death for Fla. Girl’s Killer
Circuit Judge Andrew Owens ultimately will issue the sentence and could do so as early as next month. Under the law, he must give great weight to the jury’s decision before imposing a sentence of death or life in prison without parole.
Smith, 39, showed no reaction as the recommendation was read. Carlie’s mother, Susan Schorpen, let out deep sobs and hugged relatives. Patricia Davis, Smith’s mother, left the courtroom crying.
“I’m overwhelmed. Yes, it’s what I wanted,” Schorpen said. “He may be condemned, but he’s still breathing, and my daughter is not.”
(full story)
December 1st, 2005 at 10:20pm
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Carlie Brucia, child welfare, Found Deceased, Pictures, sex offender |
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Billy Joe Cook, the ex-boyfriend of Leslie Adams disputes details included in search warrant documents recently made public.
According to search warrant documents, on Oct. 20 Adams went to a Midtown club with a male friend. Cook, who was at the club, tried to start a fight with the man, identified only as David in the documents.
Contacted Tuesday, Cook acknowledged he was at the Midtown club that night but said he did not know Adams was there. And he denied trying to pick a fight with anyone.
“I don’t know David,” he said. “Never seen him before.”
Cook said he went to the club to see a show.
“It was a big concert,” he said. “There were a lot of artists there, so I just wanted to see the concert.”
According to the reports. Adams took out a temporary restraining order against Billy Joe Cook prior to her disappearance.
The search warrant report also said police found blood and a bullet casing in Adams’ apartment after she disappeared. Cook, who Adams had taken out a temporary protection order against in the days before she went missing, denied involvement in her disappearance.
(full story)
December 1st, 2005 at 02:16am
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Leslie Adams, Missing, Missing Adult |
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A search of the missing Leslie Adams’ apartment has turned up some evidence that may explain why no one has seen her since late October. Police found a bullet casing and blood in Leslie Adams’ apartment.
In their search of a missing Lilburn woman’s apartment, police reported finding a bullet casing and blood.
The grim details from search warrant documents might help explain why no one has seen or heard from Leslie Adams, 40, since late October. The search warrant for Adams’ Lilburn apartment spells out a cold reality. The warrant application says that police had probable cause to believe that Adams was killed in her apartment.
The warrant was filed Oct. 25, one day after Adams was reported missing by her sister Roberta Adams. Gwinnett County police crime scene technicians investigated the apartment that day.
This is certainly not a good sign.
The items found in the bedroom included a Winchester .45 shell casing, blood samples from the carpet and wood floor and a hair sample from the bed.
Police also found a comforter, flat sheet, fitted sheet and a pillowcase in the dryer and clothing, rags and towels in the washer. On the apartment door, police found a handwritten note.
Gwinnett County police spokesman Darren Moloney said that police are awaiting test results from the GBI on evidence. He had no other comment.
A reward of $25,000 has been offered for information leading to Adams’ return or the conviction of anyone involved in her disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to call Head at 770-513-5300.
(full story)
December 1st, 2005 at 01:57am
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Leslie Adams, Missing, Missing Adult |
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