Man abused and killed a 7-year-old girl; mother took her revenge and smiled with her kids
A woman took revenge on the man who raped and killed her daughter by burning down his house.
Diana was glad that she was asked to help destroy the house where her daughter had been killed.
“Burn, baby, burn,” Diana said as she watched Jarred’s home engulf in flames. Diana’s daughter, Somer, died at the home after being lured inside while she was walking home from school. She was then s*xually assaulted and smothered before Harrell put her body in the trash.
The girl was found dead two days later, and Harrell ultimately pleaded guilty to the murder, receiving a sentence of life in prison for first-degree murder, kidnapping, s*xual battery and lewd and lascivious conduct.
Jared’s house later went into foreclosure, and the bank transferred ownership to the Somer Foundation, which donated it to the Fire Department for training purposes. The department allowed Diana to take part in lighting the fire, which would serve as a training exercise for firefighters.
“I get to burn their house down,” she told news outlets. “I’m the big bad wolf this time knocking down your door, not the other way around. It’s really nice to know that I’m not ever going to have to drive in this neighborhood again and see this piece of trash.”
Chief Ty said that lighting the house on fire was an emotional experience.
“It’s been a long time coming,” he said. “I think the community is ready to start healing, and I think being a part of this is going to help the community start (to) heal.”
Many readers applauded the fire department for allowing the mother to get some sense of closure by burning down the house where her daughter was so brutally murdered.
“I think it was a good thing. None of his family could save the house. The community will not have to see. Children won’t have to be afraid of the house they know a man killed a little girl in. I hope the mother makes it a material park for her daughter and other children. So parents have a place to visit and can just meet and have the time they need. My prayers are with you,” one reader commented on Facebook.
“I am so happy that this mother got to do this. It does not take away the pain that this mother and family have been through, but it will help take away some of her anger. My prayers are with this family. Sorry for the loss of a beautiful child,” another added.