Posted on 04/16/2005 1:40:16 PM PDT by Houmatt
RUSKIN, Fla. - An unidentified body was found Saturday near the home of a 13-year-old girl who disappeared around the time a registered sex offender unexpectedly visited her house, authorities said.
Hillsborough County Sheriff David Gee said he could not say whether the body was female, but said it was partially submerged in an abandoned fish pond about a half mile from Sarah Michelle Lunde's home. It was found by a search dog.
"I cannot tell you any more about it than that right now," Gee said.
Gee said he let Sarah's mother, Kelly May Lunde, know of the discovery.
The sheriff has said David Onstott, a registered sex offender the mother once dated, has drawn investigators' attention, but has not called him a suspect.
"We continue to investigate that lead. I will leave it at that," Gee said.
Sarah, who has a history of running away, was last seen on April 9, shortly after she returned home from a church trip. She was reported missing Monday, when her mother learned the teen wasn't at a friend's house.
About 200 volunteers joined detectives in the search Saturday, some hugging and crying as helicopters whirred overhead. Volunteers looking for the girl were sunburned from days spent combing through brush and swamp. One of Sarah's friends, Pamela Neely, 19, said she was still hopeful that the girl would be found alive.
"We're keeping our faith," she said. "Something good is going to happen. We believe it."
On Friday, detectives told the searchers to point out any bottles of Budweiser or Bud Light. Sarah's brother said Onstott took a half-empty beer bottle taken from the home by Onstott during an unexpected predawn appearance hours after the girl was last seen.
Onstott, 36, was being held without bond on separate charges. He was arrested Tuesday after he allegedly threatened another man with a screwdriver at a bar. He had spent 5 1/2 years in prison after being convicted in 1995 of sexual battery with physical force.
On Saturday, Gee said many beer bottles had been found and were being checked to determine if any DNA evidence is on them.
"What that may mean to this case later on, I don't know," he said.
The fathers of two previously slain girls have been involved in the search for Sarah: Mark Lunsford, whose 9-year-old daughter, Jessica, was found dead last month after disappearing from her Citrus County home, and Roy Brown, whose 7-year-old daughter, Amanda, was killed by a convicted child molester in 1997.
Roy Brown said he was worried for Sarah's mother.
"I just wanted the mom to know I'm here. Because things change, once the media and the searchers go, once it's all over, she still needs people," he said.

Keep these sick animals here and NEVER let em back into society to kill more kids
it appears to be open season in Florida.
But SURELY this is the killer's first offense? Let's sooo hope his civil rights haven't been violated....
ping
Jesus wept.
As the father of a little girl about the age of the children who suddenly are turning up missing, I am totally filled with rage at the sickos who do this. I wish that they could leave me alone in a locked with room one of these cowards, two minutes is all that I'll need and the world will never have to worry about that person again. Ever.
when a software creator feels as you do, as we all do, something has to be done.
I am so sick of this. These guys are incorrigible, untreatable and unrepentent. They do this over and over, everyone knows it and yet they keep letting them out. The Michael Jackson trial is sickening. Go to court tv message board and you will meet people defending him. Now at least he doesn't kill people. But he is prime example.
Only addition I can find is make the hanging public.
<<a registered sex offender the
mother once dated, has drawn investigators' attention
Excellent advice and warnings granny.
What is really the difference between a Homosexual and a Pedophile,? After all its just about ones sexual preference.
Sick Baskurds.
That's why I say, just give them to us parents for a few minutes and look the other way. The few that survive will be missing a few essential body parts and never be able to hurt innocent kids again.
I look at my child and think of one of these "things" approaching her and ....
I guess I'd better not say any more.
Man, I HATE these sickos.
Everyone should pull up their State's Sex Offender Registry Website to see who is living near you. They should be updated daily.
Here is also one I had posted earlier.
Just click the link at the bottom and type
ONLY your ZIP code.
http://www.criminalcheck.com/
Some FReepers did find a reason for concern when using said links:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1377385/posts
Sarah...... in the arms of angels now
Problem is, what can you do about it. They have rights. This is indeed a sick country when these animals have rights.
It's her. Sarah Lunde.
she had her green cast on her wrist
Sheriff Gee says he is ready to put handcuffs on Oscott!
What you do is at least become aware of who is living near you. Read the FR link in my above post..see what some FReepers found living right next door to them.
Being Aware is the first step..did not her mother date a sex offender at one time? I am not suggesting one harrass the felon; but some awareness and use of common sense can make one's own person and loved ones much safer, so this does not happen within one's own family. However, I agree, no one is totally safe, as these sickos do move around. We Must take precautions and think smart, not wait for the courts, police to protect us; for they enter the picture only after the hideous crime has been committed.
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