Carlie Brucia - the missing Sarasota girl....breaking update

[Mickey's sunshine]

I live about 40 mins north of this area.....they have the suspect in custody (for unrelated charges). Unfortunately NO sign of Carlie.


Please keep this little girl in your thoughts. The Sarasota PD said they will have a news conference tomorrow morning at 9:00 - probably will not be updated until then or if they find her.

~~~~~~edited to add info from a local website~~~~~~~~~

Officials have suspect in custody in case of missing Sarasota girl


Sarasota County authorities say they have a suspect in connection with the apparent abduction of 11-year-old Carlie Brucia. Deputies say they have taken 37-year-old Joseph P. Smith into custody on unrelated charges.

Investigators made the announcement during a news conference Wednesday evening. They added search for the missing sixth grader will continue. Sheriff Bill Balkwill credited phone tips from the community for helping crack the case.

Meantime, investigators have taken Carlie's computer from her home and are analyzing the hard drive to see if she may have chatted online with her apparent abductor.

Surveillance video taken Sunday evening at Evie's Car Wash in Sarasota shows a man approaching Carlie, talking to her for a few seconds, then grabbing her arm and leading her away. Investigators say it appears the sixth-grader didn't know the man.

NASA is using its cutting-edge computers to enhance the video, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has already been able to reveal a tattoo on each of the suspect's forearms.

"NASA engineers and a federal lab in Washington are working to enhance the video and the system should be running at the end of today," said FBI agent Carl Whitehead.

The sheriff's office also set up a command post on the premises of Evie's Car Wash. A white tent is on site for those who want to volunteer to help. Volunteers who fill out the form will be entered in the database for volunteer support.
Surveillance video of the apparent abduction.

An Amber Alert was issued Monday. There's a $50,000 reward being offered by an anonymous company and the FBI to anyone with information leading to Carlie's whereabouts.

Friends and family fear for Carlie's life.

"Carlie, I love you, if you can call me, I'll have this phone on me at all times," said Carlie's mother, Susan Schorpen.

Sarasota sheriff's officers already have hundreds of tips. Fliers are being distributed throughout Sarasota County.

If you have any information in the case, call 1-888-38-AMBER.

 

[NHAnn]

 

[elmosmom]

I can not think of anything more horrible then a missing child. My heart aches for this family and I pray she and all missing children come home very very soon.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

I have not stopped thinking about this family. I pray that they find her safe

 

[Flyfly_Eclipse]

Sarasota...VERY close to where I live. About a 20 - 30 minute drive north from here. I've been to Bee Ridge Road many times...it's so scary to see something like this so close to home. I hope the girl is all right!! I remember when the Amber alert came onto our TV...I'm glad they have a guy in custody...just I fear for the girl and whatever has happened to her.

 

[Serena]

I hope they find her soon.

 

[swea_pea1]

This is so sad...I just saw the parents on the news.

Please, there are so many sickos out there...don't let your children chat with strangers on the internet!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

 

[Pat]

I hope and pray that they find her safe soon.

 

[Robinrs]

God knows I pray that child will be returned to her parent healthy and alive soon...

My son is 11 and we talked about abduction because of this story. It's so important that any child knows to NEVER let a stranger lead them away and how to avoid it. He was so that I went all the way through it with him but it takes repeating when you see that HORRIBLE footage.... ... those poor parents.

God bless,

Robinrs

 

[Kimberle]

I saw this on the news this AM.

I've been keeping that child in my thought & prayers since her capture.