A mother whose daughter was raped and murdered five years ago was given the opportunity to burn down the house of her daughter's killer.
Diena Thompson set killer Jared Harrell's house in Orange Park, Florida aflame and watched as the bad memories of her daughter's loss was engulfed by the fire.
"I get to burn their house down," Thompson told News4Jax. "I am the big bad wolf this time, knocking down your door."
Thompson's seven-year-old daughter Somer was walking home from school in October 2009 when she was taken by Harrell, 29. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said she was raped then strangled to death before she was dumped in a Georgia landfill days later.
In February 2012, Harrell pleaded guilty to the murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery of Somer, among other charges. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.
The house that Thompson burned down actually belonged to Harrell's mother during the time of the murder, but it later went into foreclosure and the bank transferred ownership to the Somer Thompson Foundation, a charity set up by Thompson in memory of her daughter.
"She's our sunshine, and she's going to save children; she's going to save lives," Thompson said. "She deserves nothing but glory for being the sacrificial lamb, and if she saves another child, then we've done something amazing."
The foundation then donated the house to the Orange Park Fire Department so that it could be used as part of their training exercises. They planned to use the house for two days to train in search and rescue techniques.
Once they are done, Thompson is planning to clear up the wreckage and build something that the community might enjoy - possibly a playground.
"Thank God for the people who have to look at this, and thank God when they see what a beautiful thing will come to fruition on this property after we're done with this," she said.
