Fla. town, family say goodbyes to slain girl

[October 26, 2009]  ORANGE PARK, Fla. (AP) -- The family of slain 7-year-old Somer Thompson is preparing to lay the child to rest, a week after she vanished in north Florida on her way home from school.

A viewing was scheduled in the Jacksonville suburb of Orange Park on Monday night, followed by a Tuesday morning funeral. After the final services, mourners plan to launch thousands of purple balloons.

Somer will be laid to rest in a private burial and graveside service later Tuesday.

Authorities have investigated some 1,200 leads in the hunt for Somer's killer but have not named a suspect. Her body was found in a south Georgia landfill two days after she disappeared. Investigators have not said how she died.

[Associated Press]

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