Mechanic ordered held without bond in slaying

SARASOTA, Fla. -- The mechanic charged with kidnapping and killing an 11-year-old girl whose abduction was caught on a carwash surveillance camera was ordered held without bond on Saturday as the community formed a makeshift memorial outside the victim's home.

Joseph P. Smith, who has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993, waived his first court appearance in the slaying of Carlie Brucia a day after her body was pulled from thick underbrush in a church parking lot.

Carlie's slaying has prompted Florida's attorney general to investigate stiffening penalties for offenders who violate the terms of their release. Smith had been free despite violating his probation, and Carlie's family has called for an investigation of how his numerous past arrests were handled.

"You can't help but think that some of the statutes are too permissive," Attorney General Charlie Crist said. "I think it's important we review putting more teeth in our statutes. ... It's got to be ratcheted up very quickly."

Circuit Court Judge Harry Rapkin, who handled Smith's most recent probation hearings, said Friday he had received death threats. Carlie's family denounced the threats through a spokesman Saturday.

Smith "should have been put in jail and put away," said Bruce Meeks, a family friend. "Somewhere in the cracks, our justice system failed us. Whose fault it is, we don't know."

The ranch house where Carlie lived was covered Saturday in white sheeting to protect the family's privacy. Dozens of mourners drifted by throughout the day, leaving flowers, small stuffed animals and notes.

Leticia Galvan of Sarasota left a string of purple rosary beads that she had been planning to give to one of her children. "I looked at the rosary and they are her (Carlie's) favorite color -- purple," Galvan said.

Grief counselors gathered at McIntosh Middle School on Saturday to console Carlie's classmates. The slaying hit particularly hard because of the video capturing some of the last moments of the girl's life, said Robin Maranelli, head of student services for Sarasota County schools.

"It makes it very real ... we saw it happen," Maranelli said.

Investigators refused to say exactly how Carlie Brucia was killed or whether she had been raped. The arrest report said only that she died "as a result of homicidal violence."

According to an arrest document, Smith told an unspecified witness Thursday he had kidnapped and murdered the girl.

"We now stand ready to complete our obligation, and assure you that he will pay the ultimate price for what he did to her," said Sheriff's Capt. Jeff Bell said Friday.

Sheriff's officials and the medical examiner's office did not immediately return calls seeking comment on Saturday, and no police briefings were immediately planned.

Smith, 37, is believed to be the man seen on the surveillance video in a mechanic's shirt with a name patch, leading Carlie away by the arm Feb. 1 as she walked home from a slumber party. Investigators said the man on the tape had tattoos on both forearms. Smith has many tattoos on his arms.

The kidnapping set off a frantic search for the girl, and the tape was beamed across the nation as Carlie's family and authorities pleaded for her safe return.

Investigators said they were led to Smith after a tipster identified him as the man in the video. Authorities said he had a Buick station wagon that was seen in the surveillance footage shortly before the kidnapping.

Smith served 17 months in prison in 2001 and 2002 for heroin possession and prescription drug fraud. Eight days after he got out, he was arrested for cocaine possession and placed on probation for three years. He also received probation for aggravated battery in 1993 and heroin charges in 1999.

Neighbors said Smith and his wife had separated recently and he had moved out of the house.

Ed Dinyes, owner of the auto body shop where Smith worked, told The Miami Herald in Saturday's editions that Smith's mother told him she planned to visit her son in jail.

"She said she just wanted five minutes with him," said Dinyes, who said he's been friends with Smith for five years.

A public memorial service for Carlie was being planned Tuesday night outside Central Church of Christ.