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By MITCH STACY, Associated Press Writer
SARASOTA, Fla. - The suspect linked to a missing 11-year-old girl whose abduction was captured by a surveillance camera is not cooperating with investigators, authorities said Thursday.
Joseph P. Smith, 37, is not answering any questions about the disappearance of Carlie Brucia, who has been missing since Sunday evening, Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill said.
"We want to know where Carlie is," Balkwill said.
Smith was taken into custody Tuesday on a probation violation charge unrelated to the disappearance. A telephone tip led authorities to link him to the car wash's surveillance video.
He has not been charged in the disappearance but remains jailed without bond in the probation violation.
"We have strong evidence that he is in fact the perpetrator," said Capt. Jeff Bell, the lead Sarasota County sheriff's investigator on the case.
Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993, according to state records. He was arrested in 1997 in Manatee County on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but was acquitted a year later. Records also show other arrests ranging from misdemeanor battery to felony drug possession.
Smith's car, a Buick Century station wagon, was being combed by investigators for clues. A home he had recently lived in was cordoned off with yellow police tape and several paper bags, presumably holding evidence, were carried out by investigators. A body was not found, officials said.
Carlie's stepfather, Steven Kansler, was among those who visited the cordoned-off home. He was visibly distraught as he left there late Wednesday night.
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This photograph, released by the Sarasota
County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) shows Joseph
P. Smith, 37, suspected of kidnapping an 11-
year-old girl, was under arrest by Sarasota
police
(AFP/SCSO)
