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Updated: Friday, 13 Nov 2009, 12:16 AM EST
Published : Friday, 13 Nov 2009, 12:16 AM EST
ORANGE CITY, Fla. (WAWS FOX 30) - Diena Thompson's lawyer said the family does not think Somer knew the person who kidnapped and killed her. Investigators said the 7-year-old Somer disappeared on her way home from school in Orange Park, Fla. The search came to a tearful conclusion when her body was discovered in a Georgia landfill days later.
Diena's been doing a lot of interviews on national morning shows, including Dr. Phil and America's Most Wanted . Now she's getting criticized by some people for it.
"Now I have other people opening my mail for me because I didn't do this and I didn't have any idea that something like this could happen to me," said Diena.
She's getting hate mail and calls. It's all tough for Diena Thompson to take. They started after her daughter's story hit the national spotlight. She just wants to find her daughter's killer.
"I wonder what kind of person would attack me when I'm already down. I'm tapping out and people are still attacking me. I understand there are other bad people in the world, but I'm not one of them," said Diena.
There haven't been many letters, but they're enough for Diena to break down. People are calling her a bad mom for letting her kids walk home from school.
"Even if it's one or a 100, it cuts me to my soul. It's from someone here in Florida, and I should be prosecuted for abuse and neglect for letting my kids walk to school," said Diena.
But she didn't have a choice. The district tells all parents if they live less than two miles away from the school, they have to walk.
So far, police don't have any leads, but Diena says Somer's killer will be caught. "They have every intention of catching this monster and bringing him to justice, that's all we want," said Diena.
There's also a new website set up where people can get the latest on the investigation, and fundraising efforts. It's called, www.remememberingsomer.com .