Sex Offenders in Our Midst: Resources, More Info

April 16, 2010— -- How well do you know the neighbors who you've seen watching your children playing in the park or walking home with friends?

The abduction case of 7-year-old Somer Thompson in Orange Park, Fla., refocused attention on the threat of violent, sexual predators who prey on children.

Somer had been last seen walking home from school last October with her older sister, Abby, and twin brother Samuel. Her body was found two days later in a Georgia landfill.

Parents were shocked to learn that 162 registered predators and sex offenders worked and lived within a 5 mile radius of Somer's home -- and those were only the ones police knew about. The seemingly pristine neighborhood was infested with people you would never want near your children.

CLICK HERE to see a map of registered sex offenders in Somer's neighborhood

After a five-month investigation, police arrested Jarred Harrell, a 24-year-old who they believe encountered Somer as she walked by his house on her way home from school on Gano Avenue. Harrell pleaded not guilty to killing Somer.

There are 644,865 offenders listed in sex offender registries nationwide as of July 2008, according to data from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. The most common ages of children when sexual abuse occurs are between 8 and 12.