Florida Man Who Kidnapped, Raped, and Killed 11-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Prison

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A Florida man convicted of kidnapping, raping, and killing an 11-year-old girl has died in prison ... Joseph Smith, who was convicted in 2005 of killing young Carlie Brucia a year earlier, had been awaiting the death penalty at Union Correctional Institution. His death at age 55 puts an end to ongoing legal wrangling that could have potentially resulted in his death sentence being overturned or vacated.

“Our office was notified by the Attorney General’s Office this morning that Joseph Smith … died in the custody of the Florida Department of Corrections today,” said Ed Brodsky, the state attorney for Florida’s 12th judicial district, in a statement on Monday. “Smith was convicted of kidnapping, sexually assaulting, and murdering 11 year old Carlie Brucia in 2004.”

“While nothing can bring back Carlie, we are grateful that her family, her friends, and the entire Sarasota community will finally have closure and will not have to endure any further court proceedings to bring Smith to justice,” the statement added.

Officials have not provided a cause of death or any additional details as to how Smith died. The AG’s office directed questions to the Department of Corrections, which declined to provide any comment beyond confirming Smith’s death on July 26.

https://lawandcrime.com/crime/florida-man-who-kidnapped-raped-and-killed-11-year-old-girl-found-dead-in-prison/