Created: 10/27/2009 7:15:10 PM 
ORANGE PARK, FL -- Somer Thompson's father Sam was at the Tuesday funeral and burial. He traveled almost 500 miles from North Carolina to help bury his daughter.
While his pain is fresh, Thompson tells First Coast News Reporter Monica Landeros that God has given him strength to forgive whoever is responsible for his daughter's death.
"To my daughter Somer in heaven: Sweetheart, I love you and I will see you soon," Sam Thompson tearfully said as he looked up towards the sky.
Thompson said the pain is almost too much to bear, but an outpouring of community support has helped him cope.
"If it hadn't been for everybody around me, holding on to me, I believe my heart would have just stopped," said Thompson.
MOURNERS LINE STREETS TO PAY RESPECTS
Thompson is an Iraq war veteran and is wheelchair bound from an incident in Iraq in 2003. He said nothing could have stopped him from traveling to Orange Park.
"It's like a nightmare really. You sit there and you see the casket and you know your daughter's body is laying in there, and you'll never get a chance to hug her again! It's terrible!" Thompson said as he gasped for air between sobs.
Sam Thompson's wife Diena has been a focal point at many of the vigils near the family home in Orange Park. Sam said he is estranged from Diena, and added the last time he spoke to Somer was two months ago.
However, the last time he saw Somer with two years ago during a trip to the beach.
"Little Somer, she headed straight for the water," said Thompson, adding that his daughter was "a daredevil and a leader."
Thompson has a lot of questions about how his daughter died and why she ended up in a Georgia landfill last week.
"(Somer was) disregarded like a piece of trash! What kind of beast does that to a child?" Thompson asked aloud.
Despite his pain and anger, Thompson said he forgives his daughter's killer because God asks him "to forgive those who trespass against us." However, he said there will be justice for Somer.
"I have to tell you," Thompson said as he spoke directly to Somer's killer, "Your days are numbered. They are going to get you, and you are going to pay for what you've done to my daughter. God bless you, but you don't deserve to live."
Thompson also thanks the community of Orange Park for all the support. He said thousands of people gave him hugs at Monday's visitation. He also said many people back in the Greensboro, North Carolina area have helped him and even donated a van so he could travel to the First Coast.
Thompson is already talking about coming back to Jacksonville for his daughter's murder trial, however at this point, no arrests have been made.
Somer vanished on her walk home from school last Monday, October 19. Detectives scoured a Georgia landfill Wednesday and a child's remains were found. At a Thursday morning news conference, investigators revealed that the remains found were that of the missing 7-year-old.
If you have any information that could help investigators, call 911, or call 1-877-227-6911 or 1-866-845-TIPS. You also can email cart@claysheriff.com.
TO HELP AND RELATED EVENTS:
- There is an account at Vystar Credit Union for donations. The account number is 0702794000.
- A free one-hour seminar for children to promote safety while trick-or-treating will be offered at 6 p.m. Oct 27, 28 and 29 at Champion Martial Arts & Fitness, 11570 San Jose Blvd. #7.
- A motorcycle-ride fundraiser at 11 a.m. Nov. 8, starting at Love to Ride, 3275-3 Hwy. 17 N., Green Cove Springs. The cost is $10 per person.
- A candlelight vigil for Somer will be at 7 p.m. Thursday in front of the Charlton County Courthouse, 100 Third St., Folkston.
Sam Thompson also has a benefit fund. He says the fund will help pay for visits to Jacksonville from his home in North Carolina.
Sammy Thompson Benefit Fund
The Community One Bank
1128 S. Main Street
Graham, North Carolina 27253
REWARD
The Justice Coalition has set up an account for donations to a reward fund for anyone providing information that leads to the arrest and conviction of whoever is responsible for the murder of Somer. If you want to donate, go to Ameris Bank at 888 Lane Ave., or at 4835 Town Center Parkway, both in Jacksonville, and give account number 3123504437. Donors can also call the Justice Coalition at 904-783-6312. The reward stands right now at $35,000.
CrimeStoppers is offering a $5,000 reward for an arrest also; to donate to that fund, call 866-845-TIPS.
To read the incident report in the Somer Thompson case, CLICK HERE.
To participate in a discussion about Somer on Moms Like Me, CLICK HERE.
FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE, CLICK HERE.
