A 55-year-old man, who raped and killed 11-year-old years ago, died at a Florida jail on Monday morning, said the State Attorney’s Office.
The Florida Department of Corrections confirmed his demise, but the cause of death is yet to be confirmed, reported Bradenton Herald.
On Feb. 1, 2004, Joseph Smith had kidnapped the girl while she was walking home from a friend’s place in Sarasota. After abducting her, he raped and killed her. Four days after the incident, the child’s body was found behind the Central Church of Christ. She was naked from the waist down. She only had a sock on her foot. After medical examination, it was found that she was sexually assaulted while she was alive. She died of strangulation, revealed a brief filed in the Supreme Court by Attorney General Pam Bondi’s office. I
In November 2005, Smith was convicted of kidnapping, raping and murdering the girl. In March 2006, he was sentenced to death. He was kept at Union Correctional Institution in Raiford. In March this year, the attorney general’s office said that Smith should get a new sentencing.
Meanwhile, the victim's father, Joseph Brucia, told FOX 13 that he was "elated" when he heard of Smith's death. He said that he felt wonderful, and that it was long overdue. He spoke strongly and pointed out that the "corrupt criminal justice system" could not take care of it, so the natural order of things stepped in.
Brucia had earlier shared that he felt let down by the system as Smith was on parole before he killed his daughter. Smith was reportedly supposed to go back to prison for five years if he violated. According to Brucia, Smith did violate. Smith was allegedly passed out with a bag of cocaine in a parking lot. He was only given drug offender probation.
The victim's father was also upset about the case being dragged from 2005 to 2021. He said that he had a lot of "venom and disdain" for the system.
A memorial garden on Proctor Road was set up for the victim. The father said that he and his family talk about her and have photos of her all around the house. He also shared that the late child is in their hearts and minds all the time.
