TRANSCRIPT: Diena Thompson on Catching Daughter's Killer
Beseler would not comment further on Harrell's connection with the girl.
Click here to read ABC News' full report on Harrell's arrest.
Thompson vanished on Oct. 19 while walking to her Jacksonville, Fla., home from school with her two siblings. Investigators searched for two days and sorted through more than 225 tons of garbage at a landfill some 50 miles away across the state line in Georgia, where they found her body.
Days before Harrell was arrested, Deana Thompson sat down with "20/20" anchor and chief law and justice correspondent Chris Cuomo for an emotional interview.
Part of that interview aired Feb. 12 on "Good Morning America" and "Nightline." The transcripts are below:
CHRIS CUOMO: The idea of catching the bad guy, the monster who is still out there. What happens when that happens?
DIENA THOMPSON: I feel like it'll give me some more closure because I still blame myself, you know? What if I did this? Or what if this could have been done and instead of looking in the mirror and blaming myself, I'm going to have a picture of someone else to blame. So I just, I want to see this person's face. I, I can't wait to meet him face to face.
CHRIS CUOMO: What would you say?
DIENA THOMPSON: Why? Give me your best excuse, your best reason as to why you had to do this.
CHRIS CUOMO: ...Do you care what happens to whoever did this?
DIENA THOMPSON: I want them to die. I want them to get the death penalty…I've got to be the voice for Somer.
CHRIS CUOMO : When…when the investigation ends, and it ends, hopefully, in the arrest of the right person, do you then want to know everything you don't know right now?
DIENA THOMPSON: Yes.
