A security camera outside a car wash caught the last moments anyone saw her free. NASA's own engineers helped clean up the footage trying to identify her attacker.
Carlie Brucia, 11, was abducted and murdered in Sarasota, Florida, on February 1, 2004. Her killer, Joseph P. Smith, was convicted and sentenced to death.
Caught on Camera
Carlie was walking home from a friend's house when she was abducted from behind a car wash near her home. A security camera captured the abduction: a man approached her, spoke to her briefly, then pulled her by the arm toward a car. Her mother and stepfather reported her missing within half an hour.
A National Manhunt
The surveillance footage was broadcast nationwide, and the case drew involvement from the FBI, with NASA engineers assisting by using image-processing technology to reduce jitter and sharpen the recording. Given Carlie's age, we won't detail the nature of what happened to her beyond confirming she was sexually assaulted and killed.
Identification and Arrest
Tips from viewers who recognized the man in the footage led police to Joseph P. Smith, a 37-year-old mechanic with a lengthy criminal history who was already in custody on an unrelated parole violation. Investigators matched his car to the vehicle seen in additional surveillance footage. Smith initially declined to speak with investigators, but on February 5, 2004, he told them where he had hidden Carlie's body, behind a nearby church.
Trial and Sentencing
Smith was charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, and capital sexual battery. His trial began in November 2005, and the jury convicted him and recommended a death sentence. He remains on Florida's death row.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was Joseph Smith convicted of Carlie Brucia's murder?
Yes. He was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and capital sexual battery in 2005 and sentenced to death.
How was Smith identified as the suspect?
Tips from members of the public who recognized him from the widely broadcast surveillance footage led investigators to him.
Is Joseph Smith still on death row?
As of the most recent public reporting, he remains on Florida's death row.