Fla. Girl's Killer Gets Death Sentence

[Dixie_Peach 1]

SARASOTA, Fla. - The man who abducted, raped and killed an 11-year-old girl whose disappearance was captured on a grainy security video was sentenced to death for her murder.

Joseph P. Smith, 39, stood stoically Wednesday as state Circuit Judge Andrew Owens handed down the sentence. He also was sentenced to two life prison terms for kidnapping and capital sexual battery.

"The scales of life and death tilt unequivocally toward the side of death," Owens told Smith. "May God have mercy on your soul."

Carlie Brucia's kidnapping drew widespread attention after a security camera at a car wash captured the Feb. 1, 2004 abduction. It was released to the media and broadcast on television before her body was found four nights later on the grounds of a nearby church.

At a hearing last month, Smith tearfully apologized for his crimes, telling the girl's family that he took large amounts of heroin and cocaine in an effort to kill himself before he abducted Carlie, who would have turned 13 years old on Thursday.

"A lot of people want to ask me if I'm happy with the verdict," said Carlie's aunt, Laurie Brucia. "I have to say I don't think you're ever happy. Happy would be having Carlie beside me and giving her a hug and a kiss and watching her grow up."

Carlie's stepfather, Steven Kansler, closed his eyes at times during the hearing and buried his face in his hands as state Circuit Judge Andrew Owens read the details of the crimes.

"I thought I'd feel a lot different," Kansler said. "But it still hurts. It doesn't change anything. I just feel that Carlie has been heard. Her soul is gone now. Now it's just a matter of time to wait to watch Joe Smith die."

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.

The same jury that convicted Smith recommended by a vote of 10-2 that he be executed. Owens was required by law to give "great weight" to that recommendation.

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.

"The evidence was absolutely overwhelming that Joseph Smith committed this crime, and it was overwhelming that of all cases, it deserved the death penalty based on the heinous crimes he committed against Carlie Brucia," Riva said.

[aussiewench 9]

One word 'ANIMAL'

I hope that poor lil darlin girls family somehow finds peace

[munchkins 0]

Sometimes Lorelle, I think "Animal" is just too good for them. They deserve what they get in my book.

[irishgirl73 0]

There is NO adjective appropriate enough to describe that pig! And the abduction was caught on tape, I thought it was horrifying to watch that poor girl being led away. I hope his sentencing brings some sort of peace to her family.

Don't even get me started on the child pornography ring they busted yesterday-Oh my God they are all vile, worthless, disgusting creatures!!!!!!!!

Sometimes I hate the news

[almaty 19]

a sociopathic vicious chopf##k....

rest in peace to that little girl

and inner peace for that family one day...

Edited March 16, 2006 by almaty2004

[munchkins 0]

It is so terribly sad to read of these things, in our local paper there is a case of a man sexually abusing and killing his seven week old son, just how sick is that - I know what I would do with these people -but I daren't say it here.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Not the least bit of sympathy for the perp here, just sympathy for the FL taxpayer. The economic side of it is that this is another $3,200,000.00 that they'll have to foot. At approximately $25,000.00/year, the taxpayer could have this beast locked up for 128 years instead. Any of those years that he won't make (trust me, he won't get that old in prison ) would save the taxpayer said $25K / year. Probably right about $2,500,000.00 altogether.

Vengence comes with a rather high price tag.

Florida spent an estimated $57 million on the death penalty from 1973 to 1988 to achieve 18 executions - that is an average of $3.2 million per execution. (Miami Herald, July 10, 1988).

[MaryandMian 1]

Hope the family finds some peace out of this but so much of this in the news lately and have no sympathy for this person or any of these other sickos at all.

[rclouse 0]

Vengence comes with a rather high price tag.

Yup. Why is spending so much money preferable to letting the fscker rot in prison for the rest of his life? Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

The death penalty is about vengeance.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

The death penalty is about vengeance.

Yes, and it's expensive as hell.

May those that seek vengeance pay for it.

[Peggy 1]

He got what he deserved doing that to that little girl.

He should die or rot in jail.

I hate watching FOX news here. Everyday there is a child or young women missing or killed. What the hell is wrong with people.

Seems like everyones excuse for doing these crimes is that they were on drugs. Thats bullshit. There just wacked out, and are EVIL.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

The death penalty is about vengeance.

Yes, and it's expensive as hell.

May those that seek vengeance pay for it.

Most Americans support the death penalty. If that wasn't the case, the death penalty would not exist in this country.

Are you saying you don't want to pay for it?

Sure, as long as I can get a tax refund for money that goes to causes I don't support.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

The death penalty is about vengeance.

Yes, and it's expensive as hell.

May those that seek vengeance pay for it.

Most Americans support the death penalty. If that wasn't the case, the death penalty would not exist in this country.

Are you saying you don't want to pay for it?

Sure, as long as I can get a tax refund for money that goes to causes I don't support.

Is there a difference between supporting the roads, the airways, the justice system, etc. (common good) on one side and vengeance on the other? I'd like to think so.

[Sister Fracas 5]

Vengence comes with a rather high price tag.

Yup. Why is spending so much money preferable to letting the fscker rot in prison for the rest of his life? Does it really punish him more? Is it going to deter the next guy who's high on cocaine and heroin from doing something similar?

agreed