Carlie Brucia
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Bruciacarlie.jpg
Carlie Jane Brucia (March 16, 1992 - February 1, 2004) was a girl from Florida who was abducted from a car wash near her home in Sarasota on February 1, 2004, while returning from a sleepover at a friend's house.
On February 6, police announced that Joseph P. Smith, a 37-year-old father of three and car mechanic with a long list of arrests for drug-related charges and one for kidnapping and false imprisonment, was in custody as the primary suspect. In the same announcement, the police confirmed that they were certain Smith's car, a beige 1992 Buick Century, was involved in the crime.
The story made national media attention because Brucia's abduction was caught on videotape from a car wash surveillance camera. The tape shows her being approached by a man who seemed to be in his late 20s or early 30s. They apparently had a short conversation, after which he grabbed her by the arm and took her away. The FBI and NASA joined in the efforts to find Brucia and the man seen with her on the videotape. NASA attempted to use its advanced video-processing technology to enhance the recording by reducing image jitter. The same technology was used for investigating the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster.
The television broadcasts of the videotape prompted at least two of Smith's acquaintances to call police and name him. By this time, Smith was already in custody on an unrelated parole violation charge, for which he was arrested on February 3. For three days Smith refused to speak with investigators regarding his involvement in the crime. He finally spoke to them on February 5. He apparently revealed where he had hid her body, behind a nearby church.
On February 20, Smith was indicted for first-degree murder and prosecutors revealed that they believe Smith had raped and then strangled Brucia with a ligature. Separate charges of kidnapping and capital sexual battery were filed by Sarasota County prosecutors.
See also
External links
- Carlie Brucia website (http://www.carliebrucia.com/), apparently set up to help find her after her abduction
- Miami Herald article on the case (http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/7891058.htm)
- ABCNews.com article on the Carlie Brucia crime (http://abcnews.go.com/sections/GMA/US/Missing_Girl_Tape_040206-1.html)
- National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (http://www.missingkids.com/)
- Criminal justice system failed Carlie Brucia (http://www.throwawaythekey.org/carlie.php)