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But on Wednesday, Owens discounted those arguments. He said Carlie suffered “unspeakable terror and physical suffering” at Smith’s hands.
Carlie’s body was found four days after her disappearance on the grounds of a Sarasota church. News of the crime shook the community, and hundreds turned out for memorial services for the little girl.
During last month’s hearing, prosecutor Debra Johnes Riva dismissed arguments by defense attorney Adam Tebrugge that Smith was depressed and in the throes of a raging drug addiction for which he had previously sought help. Tebrugge also said Smith could lead a productive life in prison and be a positive influence on his three daughters if he was spared.
None of that, Riva said, “outweighs the horrible crimes that were committed against Carlie Brucia.”
During that hearing, Smith spoke publicly for the first time, saying, “I take responsibility of my crimes. I don’t understand how this could have happened. ... Every day I think about what I did and beg God for forgiveness.”
Absent from the courtroom was Carlie’s mother, Susan Schorpen, who is in jail in Pinellas County on drug and prostitution charges. She has said the pain of losing her daughter led her to institutionalize herself three times and take drugs to numb the pain.
Oh, man.
Hey God, a little help here, please.
Brian, listening to the judge, I was stunned to hear that this guy tried to rig it so his brother found the body so he would get the reward and use it to raise Smith's children!
Did his family help him in anyway?
I'm all for that. In fact, he should be assisted in asking personally, ASAP.