Sex Offender Worked on Renovation at Gano House

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A man that worked on the renovation of the house at 1080 Gano Ave., where 7-year-old murder victim Somer Thompson was last seen alive, is a registered sex offender.

 

Vinson Design and Build is the construction company that was working on the Orange Park home, which has been vacant since a fire several months, according to Clay County public records. 

 

James Vinson owns the company. Vinson's brother, George Vinson, who works for the company, is a registered sexual offender, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sexual offender website. The FDLE have spent days scouring the house for clues.

 

The Gano house is the last place witnesses saw Somer Thompson, who vanished Monday on her way home from school. Police found the first-grader's body Wednesday in a Georgia landfill; the manner and cause of death have not been released. 

 

According to the Clay County Sheriff's Office, as of this afternoon, there were no suspects in the case.

 

The Vinsons' sister Alissa Barrs, who lives at the same address in Mandarin as George Vinson, said her brothers have been questioned by police. She said on Friday afternoon that George Vinson, 33, worked at the Gano home about two months ago, but then found other work.

 

James Vinson and his business partner were interrogated for hours by detectives on Thursday, she said, and George Vinson was being questioned Friday.

 

Police searched their Mandarin home Thursday and seized a truck and trailer from their property, she said.

 

First Coast News made two attempts to reach James Vinson. During one phone call, he said, "I don't want to talk about it" and hung up. The second phone call resulted in another hang up.

 

A memorial has been arranged for Somer. CLICK HERE for more information on the plans.

 

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CLICK HERE for complete coverage on the Somer Thompson case.

 

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