We all see different things when we look at pictures, people and events. Dateline the television show has even done specials where people being shown the same video who all will see something different. The same goes for the video of Joseph Smith abducting Carlie, I have seen this video over and over again and even played it frame by frame. What I see is Carlie walking off with someone she recognized, the video clip is quite short so we only get a few seconds to draw our conclusions. I remember back at that time there were several guests on cable news shows speculating on why it was so easy for Joseph Smith to get Carlie to go off with him. IE He was an adult in position of authority and his uniform indicated that. Others I know did not see Carlie walking off and felt she was pulling away from Smith. Each and every time that I watched that video I have come to the same conclusion and that is that Carlie walked off with Smith without putting up a struggle.
Orlando Salinas for Fox news was covering the Carlie Brucia abduction at that time back in 2003. He reported that there were rumors that were out in the community that Susan Schorpen and Joseph Smith knew each other from a neighborhood bar. I remember at this time I looked to try and find out if these two did indeed know each other but was able to find nothing that corresponded with what Orlando Salinas reported so I have to give him the nod as he was in the community and I believe he is a stand-up reporter. If Smith did know Carlie’s Mom it would explain to me why Carlie went with him without putting up a struggle in the video.
The very first entry that I wrote in this blog was about Brianna Lopez and the horrible things that happened to her. Stephanie Lopez, 19 at that time, Brianna’s mother, is spending twenty-seven years behind bars. Her father Andy Waters, then 21 received 57 years in prison while her uncle received 51 years. This was and still is one of the most troubling cases of child abuse that I have seen. Then there was Evelyn Miller and her home life was in turmoil, there were calls to the Miller residence and DHS had filed reports also. It is hard on the Christie family not know whether or when or what charges will be filed in the case of their granddaughter. The list goes on and on and on, children being abused by the very family that is supposed to love and cherish them.
Susan Schorpen has to be added to this list of abusive parents because she was no better.
From NBC2 News they state on 1,11,2006 that the police were called to the former residence of Susan 69 times since 1992!!!!! That is over six visits per year. In my entire life I have not had one visit.
SARASOTA — A woman whose public pain was witnessed by millions across the country is no stranger to law enforcement.Sarasota deputies have made 69 trips to the home of Susan Schorpen since 1992, not including visits regarding the murder of the woman’s daughter, Carlie Brucia.
Schorpen is now accused of stealing thousands of dollars from her father, who lives in Deep Creek in Charlotte County. Deputies have not found her yet, but former neighbors say they aren’t sorry she’s gone.
They say her problems began long before her personal tragedy.
“She never seemed together or with it. She always seemed chaotic,” said neighbor Mark Mangano.
Mangano lived right next door to Schorpen, but he says he hasn’t seen her for months.
The Charlotte County investigation didn’t shock him.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all. Until she gets her act together and takes responsibility for the things that have happened in her life, she’s not going to change,” Mangano said.
Schorpen was arrested twice in Sarasota, including a domestic battery charge.
“We didn’t like having the police show up in the mornings. We came back from vacation and heard police were chasing someone through our yard. Nobody wants that,” Mangano said.
Charlotte investigators think Schorpen is somewhere in Sarasota, but they won’t be looking at her former address. The property is up for sale.
Neighbors hope it sells soon so they can put the sad story behind them for good.
Now some people think I may be being too harsh on Susan Schorpen, certainly not Joe Brucia, about the troubled life that she leads and lead before the murder of Carlie. I did note early on here that I did some reading yesterday, obviously I must have had time if I read the National Enquirer.
CARLIE BRUCIA SENSATION: FINAL INSULT
Her Ashes Are Left In A Crackhouse
By DAVID WRIGHT
Murdered schoolgirl Carlie Brucia didn’t deserve this. The National Enquirer has learned that her mother Susan Schorpen, an admitted drug user, left her slain 11-year-old daughter’s ashes in a seedy crack den six months ago. The ashes were in a small copper urn which was left inside the sordid house used by prostitutes and drug addicts.
“It’s the final, cruel hurt for poor Carlie,” said a friend.
When we broke the sad news to Carlie’s father, Joe Brucia, he said angrily: “It’s unconscionable — the most horrible thing I can think of. It sheds light on the real Susan Schorpen.”
Blond, blue-eyed Carlie gripped the nation’s attention in February 2004 when her kidnapping was caught on tape by a car wash security camera in Sarasota, Florida. Her body was found five days later near a country church. She’d been raped and strangled.
Joseph Smith, a 38-year-old mechanic, was found guilty of the brutal crime and on December 1 a Florida jury recommended the death sentence. In an exclusive interview with The National Enquirer, family friend Thelma Underwood, 45, revealed how she learned of the way Susan heartlessly left her dead daughter’s ashes. Thelma said she was dating Susan’s brother Kurt when they drove to the home of one of his friends. As he left, a man approached their truck’s window.
Thelma said: “A man came running out of the house with an urn. “He thrust it through the window. ‘Can you take this?’ he asked. ‘It’s Carlie. Susan left her remains here and I don’t know what to do.'”
According to Thelma, when Kurt saw the urn he broke down in tears. “He recognized the urn right away,” she said. “‘That’s my niece’s remains,’ he told me.
“I later learned that the house we’d been to was used for prostitution and that crack cocaine was available there.”
Be it what the National Enquirer is, there is no way that they would run that story without confirming it. I have allude to the fact that I do believe the reports that Susan and Joseph Smith knew each other, there are some reports that they may have known each other for a long time, dating back to when they both lived in upstate New York. It would not surprise me to find out that in some crack house somewhere there is a crack pipe that may have been shared by Susan and Smith.
It seems like I have written about this til I am blue in the face, but parents when they have children give up the right to live the wild party life of getting drunk, high on whatever, the below text was s written to parents yesterday and I could not agree more. Since I can not link to the entry itself because it is linked to a news source I will link to her blog.
Once again,not that it will do a damn bit of good, I want to address the single Mother’s of the world.Whatever your reason for being unattached,you made a decision to bring a helpless,innocent child into this zoo of a universe. That decision implies that you are ready,willing and able to perform the many,never ending duties of Motherhood.It means little sleep,crying babies with earaches,diapers every other minute( or so it seems at times ) hurried trips to the ER because the little one discovered how to stick a pea up their nose,or recently discovered how to climb.
When you decide to be a Mom,you need to LOSE the notion that you have the right to go out,find a boyfriend,a new hubby,or partner…because by God,you’re still young and deserve to have “someone” in your life.Well,you don’t have that right. Too often,everyday ,it seems,another boyfriend,stepdad,partner, ends up being charged with horrific child abuse or murder. You are responsible in that you brought this demon into their precious lives.You probably didn’t do it expecting it too happen,but you did it. That’s the bottom line. You need a break? Get a reputable sitter,go out for some fresh air..or a quick bite at a fast food joint. Go buy some extra diapers…or a book for the child. You need to “feel” loved? Look in the eyes of your child. Need a hug? Pick that baby up ! Want sex? You’re on your own..you can take care of that problem by yourself…ALONE. Need an extra income? Get your fanny back in school so you can get a decent job. If you can’t do these things,then please,please consider putting your child up for adoption. Open adoption ( where you can visit your child ) is quite common today. You owe your child a chance to be raised in a loving,gentle, safe and secure home.There are many other ways to get help than grabbing some guy,and inadvertently,costing you your child. Or that child’s life.Think about it. Then ,for once,do the right thing. I’m not saying it won’t hurt…but making sure your child is safe from harm will ease any pain you might feel.
Below is just one more story of another child lost,because “Mom” THOUGHT she needed a man. Oh…you single Dads’…same applies to you.
Stephanie Lopez was asleep (actually passed out drunk) while her own daughter was raped and murdered by her own husband and brother. she was 19 at that time, inexcusable. Susan Schorpen was high during much of Carlie’s life, inexcusable. Joseph Smith killed Carlie and is the only one responsible for doing so, still Carlie was failed long before that day when Smith abducted her.
Susan Schorpen is currently missing in absentia. after taking off with a large sum of money that her father gave her for treatment with some people placing blame on the father for Susan’s actions, I am quite sure Susan came to him with a sob story on how she is turning her life around, most drug addicts do and her father wanting to believe that his daughter was serious gave her the money. Her choices are wrong here, not the fathers trust.
I can’t help but wonder what life would have had in store for Carlie if she had been living with Joe Brucia.
Secrets From Within 
January 13, 2006 at 12:58 am
I think you expressed your feelings and concerns about the mother’s behavior very well. I don’t think it is too harsh, these are legitimate questions that we need to ask in any case of abuse or crime against children, what contributed to this happening? I know you have given me new doubts about Susan which I have held back on because of the tragedy she went through. We all hate to condemn someone who has lost a child but it seems that she has gone over the top of the cliff now and is determined to sink to the bottom. I did sympathise with her before but when I learned she sold her attendance of the trial to a film company, she lost my respect. Now she has degraded herself, the memory of Carlie and seems to have lost all self-respect, and rejects any help. It does make you question what has gone on before also. I wish some reporter would really look into it more on whether she really knew and associated with Smith before the abduction. It troubled a lot of people when seeing the video that Carlie did not seem to protest too much, other than a slight pulling back. Some thought he had a gun but I don’t remember that being verified. A golf course was nearby and she could have yelled for help if she was really scared. What if she did know him and he told her that her mother sent him to pick her up? I also wonder more and more what kind of home life Carlie really had, and wish her father had fought for custody, if he was aware of the problems. What you wrote along with the other blogger, the news everyday about children being abused and killed, plus statistics about abuse found on this site, should be a warning to parents to be very careful who they bring into their lives and in contact with their children, for the safety of the entire family. Just an example, the Andrews murders recently in Florida, apparently a result of an affair by the father; now both parents are dead and their child, only 2 years old, will never know or remember them. All of the cases on this site about abuse, neglect and crimes against children, and what contributes to them, I hope will make parents more aware of how their own behavior and associations might affect their children. Noone wants to be isolated or live in a vacuum and the abuser/criminal has the final responsibility. But did something the parent did, or someone the parent brought into their lives, place that child in danger? It’s something to think about seriously as we realize that the world is a very dangerous place today.
January 13, 2006 at 2:46 am
When I first started to write this, I almost included in Matal Sanchez, the reason he was left out is because the circumstances surrounding his death are much different. Christine Coffman is obviously mentally unstable and predicting his outcome is something that Matels parents could have never seen coming. However there is a big difference when the police have to be summoned to an address 69 times in ten years.
I too can empathize with her for losing a child, but not for the lifestyle she chose and continues to choose to live.
Like you said about the Andrews case, their deaths are because of his fooling around from what Fred D. Cooper has related about his reasons for killing the could.
It is so important to be careful who you let into your lives and the lives of your children. Ed Smart may have had a good heart by hiring those that were downtrodden to work around his home but he learned a lesson, Richard Ricci paid with his life and was not even involved in the disappearance of Elizabeth.
January 14, 2006 at 9:51 pm
Susan Schopen must have some serious problems and it seems like several people and her family has reached out to help her. There was a lot of support for her during the trial and she seemed to hold up fairly well from what I saw of her interviews.
The 69 times that police were called to her house prior to Carly’s abduction shows she clearly had troubles before hand. Carly had a diary in which she wrote of sexual abuse and her mothers drug abuse. This has been in the local news, I wish I could see the diary to see just what she wrote.
I am not in her cirle of friends so I am not sure what connection there is between Susan and Smith but the papers have mentioned this also.
January 15, 2006 at 12:51 am
What makes me sick is all the “rats” that come out of the woodwork whenever the t.v. cameras are present or the press is near. Some of you were very close friends of Sue at one time while some of you were associates. This is to “you guys(low life opportunistic fame hungry hypocrites).
Where were any of you when the press wasn’t around?
Where were you with your funds to get Sue into a program? What the hell does Susan need more clothes for anyway?
Where were you for these 2 years since the murder when Susan needed to be held down, help up, loved?
Where were you when her mom had to be driven to Jacksonville?
Where were you?
Ya’ll were around for the trial coverage you’re faces tell exactly who you are because I know all of you and I can attest you were not Susan’s friends.
To the last lowlife who “runs that organization in Tampa” I’m so glad Sue got you because you deserved it. That’ll show ya not to stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong. What comes around goes around.
January 15, 2006 at 4:44 am
What happened to Susan should happen to no parent and would be something horific to deal with, I hate to even speculate but there is no doubt that it would be all consuming and ruin whatever life was like before.
I am sure people have failed Susan but she has also failed herself. It would be easier for an outsider looking in to sympathize with her had she turned to drugs after the death of her daughter to cope with the pain. Susan’s troubles though are well documented years before the abduction and murder of Carlie.
69 police calls to anyones home signifies a big problem for me.
Help was available in many forms though, and is to people with problems, the biggest obstacle is admitting a problem and seeking help.
You can lead a horse to water but you can not make them drink.
True there are many things that bother me about this case, ie Was there a connection between Susan and Smith? I am not saying there was but have a strong feeling towards what was reported by Orlando Salinas being factual. This would explain her even further downward spiral.
January 23, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Only one major problem with the connection story folks – neither Smith nor Susan were from Upstate NY. She was from Long Island and he was from Brooklyn…the Upstate part of the story is just not true which leads me to believe they never knew each other.
January 23, 2006 at 7:27 pm
@Maria
That does not hold water down in Florida, whether they knew each other way back in New York does not matter. I live in Texas and I know people that live in other parts of the State. Those are just two different burroughs, I know I don’t always stay in my backyard.
Smith and Susan were both living in Florida and that is where I am talking about them knowing each other like Orlando Salinas reported from Fox news that they knew each other from a neighborhood bar.
Since I have never been in a neighborhood bar in Florida I will have to take the word of a trustworthy reporter that was on the scene at the time.
A simple Q & A with Susan would set all of this straight.
January 23, 2006 at 9:17 pm
But I think that story was actually started by Geraldo, be careful what you believe from Fox News. This is why it is so often called Faux News…
There has been no concrete evidence to prove they knew each other, if that was the case the defense and the DA would have been all over it…
In addition I live in Manhattan – NYC, that rumor was discredited up here – it is what it is a rumor.
January 24, 2006 at 6:13 am
From Court TV message board
Poster Jhanson
I live in sarasota, i know people who knew susan schorpen
I have read all the police reports associated with her and her address.
The bar Susan and Joe were known to frequent was a few blocks from carlies home, and right in between her home and the home she spent her last night alive in.
carlie was known to go to this bar to find her mother…
{this is a tiny bar}
when this incident happened i checked every name published that spoke for the Schorpen in the local court records..
EVERYONE …. EVERYONE associated with this family has arrest records for battery – dui – drugs – fraud – etc.
everyones arrest record mirrors that of joe smith.
bottom line if you leave a loaded gun on the counter and your child accidently shoots himself who is to blame?
if you expose your child to drugs and he ingests them and dies whos to blame?
susans actions and lifestyle put carlie in harms way.
January 24, 2006 at 6:14 am
From Court TV message boards
Poster Beach Patty
i totally agree with everything you have posted.
i live in bradenton & worked in sarasota at the time this all happened. it was pretty much common knowledge that susan & smith knew each other. the “story” was that susan & smith were at nicks bar & the superbowl was on. carlies stopped in on her walk home – knowing her mom would be there cause she always was, when carlie left to continue on home , smith got up & left & suppossedly this is when he abducted her. also the pink backpack was never found ? it was also common to hear, from a lot of unconnected people, that carlie was used to “run” drugs – used as a mule. the abduction was caused by a drug deal gone bad or a failure to pay or something along those lines.
living in the area & hearing so much from a wide variety of people, i just have to believe the base of the story, i’m sure that parts were emblished and exagerated as “gossip” goes, but there’s alot more to all this than was ever brought out at the trial.
i have wondered thru the trial when mention of any of this would be entered into testimony & it never was ?
i applaud you – j hansen – for your input & opinion, i have wanted to but (for personal reasons) have not, knowing i would be setting myself up for attack for voicing a negative opinion of susan, it’s alot different when you have this happen where you live & you live with the undercurrent everyday as opposed to forming an opinon from press & media & you are 1100 (or whatever) miles away.
hats off to you j hansen!
beachpatty
January 24, 2006 at 7:33 am
@Maria
I do agree that they probably did not know each other all the way back to New York and yes I have heard that about Faux news. I did see first hard Carlos doing this report and he came across very believable to me.
I have studied those first frames of the video and Carlie was facing down and when she looked up there was ne fear in her eyes whatsoever. To me it appeared as though she recognised him. To what extent I have no knowledge. Maybe just as a person that repaired brakes on the family car to someone that Susan knew from what I now know is named Nick’s bar.
January 24, 2006 at 11:23 am
Beach Patty –
I am really very much the skeptic about allot of this only because I question again – why none of this came out during the trial. Not to mention Carlie’s father, Joe Brucia, who was not fond of his ex wife in the least. You would think that this all would have come out from him, if not the lawyers, or someone that knew Susan and Smith.
Who actually saw Carlie in the bar that day? I do not disagree that Susan Schorpen put her daughter in danger – that goes without saying, but do we really have proof that this freak – Joe Smith – followed her because of a drug bill unpaid?
To everyone that knows this woman –
Why did Joe Brucia leave her when Carlie was only 3 months old? Or did she leave him?
Someone posted that Susan moved to Florida with her parents to start a new life, as she had a history of prostitution from the age of 14.
If this is true why did Joe Brucia even get involved with her, let alone allow her to leave NY State with Carlie as an infant?
I am sure back in 1992 or whenever she left NY, there must have been a custody hearing regarding who would get the baby, how was she granted custody in NY State over him? NY is first and foremost in Father’s Rights; if all of this were true about Susan’s past, she was obviously an unfit mother back then, hands down!
What judge would have allowed her to take a 3 month old infant to Florida? No offense, but Florida is not the best place for children, I lived there when my 28 year old daughter was in 8th grade. My ex husband is a true Native – Florida Aristocracy if you will, an 8th generation Floridian. (In other words his ancestors came down on the boats from New England to settle the state and many died from malaria.)
I lived in Florida from August of 1991 until August of 1992 and I was appalled by the crime. During that time tourists were being car jacked and slaugthered in their rental cars after exiting the airport. It was horrible, there were a few prominent cases were some tourists were murdered. I could hardly wait to return to Manhattan, (and I have lived here since the 1970’s when Manhattan was a dirty and dangerous place) but I am sorry, children are much safer here. If Carlie Brucia had lived on Long Island with her father this would never have happened.
Joe Brucia seems so conservative, as does his family. New York Newsday, the Long Island paper up here covered the story and his family and what they were going through. They just seemed to be so in the dark, it doesn’t seem possible. If this little girl was running drugs why did she not tell her father and her aunts – who she was extremely close with?
I just think there are too many questions that need answers…
My late ex father-in-law hated all of the transplants that ened up in his beloved Florida. He felt they ruined the state. He would say, “these yankees all end up here because they just can’t make it where they came from – they come here and self implode in the hot tropical climate, they ruin the state, we should just close it down and keep them out.”
Joe Smith and Susan Schorpen are prime examples of what he hated the most…
January 24, 2006 at 4:53 pm
@Maria
My views on this case have not wavered since my first watching the video.
At that time I did not know what I know now, the little I did see of Susan and what was reported of her I did not like. When parents speak in the news one can easily form a quick opinion.
Her pretense or lack of pretense was what started forming my opinion of her way back then.
During the trial I received emails about her from a friend and they asked what I thought of Susan, I relayed these exact thoughts that Susan was not a good mother to Carlie.
I did however wait while the trial was going on and was giving Susan the benefit of the doubt, to show me something, to prove me wrong, she did not.
Even when she was cleaned up for trial and in front of the camera she did not come across well to me.
We all know there is not a textbook on how to respond when you lose a child especially the way she did. I don’t expect all mothers to have the class and dignity that Sharon Rocha displayed.
Susan for me gets lumped into the same group with mothers of Nixzmary Brown, Stephanie Lopez and all other mothers who stood by and did nothing while their children were abused.
Her own drug stupor that Carlie was born into is what places her there. Susan wasn’t going to change before Joe abducted Carlie and has just slid deeper into her own sick world since.
January 25, 2006 at 10:32 am
Yeah, but what I would like to know – from any of the people who claim to know her personally -how she even got custody of Cralie from the get go.
How was she able to leave NY State with a 3 month old infant if she was a former prostitute, i.e. poster stated she was a prostitue since 14!
Why would Joe Brucia allow his baby to go with this woman? And again, why would he even get involved with her in the first place?
That trans-sexual who was helping her – I think her name is Judy Cornet – said Susan rob her as well. I mean this woman sounds radioactive across the board…
January 25, 2006 at 11:07 am
Well Maria you obviously know some things that I have not heard.
What ever Susan did when she was a child does not matter to me, although behavior from childhood can carry over to adulthood.
The only thing I am judging Susan on is since the birth of her Carlie and of course I hold her responsible if she was doing drugs during her pregnancy.
None of us have the perfect childhood. But people have to wake up and be responsible for their own problems, they can’t go through life blaming their parents, school, authorities or whoever their entire life.
If Susan was abused as a child and this is hypothetical, it is up to her to break the cycle of abuse.
Nobody has said this but it always comes up, someone like Gacy or Duncan will say they were abused at trial.
Please that is the weakest excuse in the book, raising the issue, I was abused so therefore I abuse others.
January 27, 2006 at 4:34 am
I would like to say I am a proud sponsor of Safety Zone in Tampa that helped Mrs. Shorpen. I am a witness to her life in Tampa.
Her life was good and she was happy. The organization made arrangements for Ms. Shorpen to get so much done, I was with them for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Did you know Mrs. Shorpen was a part of safety Zone and was involved in volunteer work, she helped at our Picnic, she went on the street with Ms. Judy and visited the kids of molestation. Sue did need clothes, we helped get them. She came with the clothes on her back. My mom gave her clothes. Ms. Judy bought her shoes. Sue was very happy and focused on getting treatment.
For someone to say such harsh words about it is a difinite evil person. You must have anger deep inside and maybe you are a drug addict and sickened person of some kind, so I will pray for you. Safety Zone has helped me and my family, without them we would have had a much more difficult life and because of safety Zone the molester is off the streets. They are paying for my brother’s medical and counseling, he was molested. Safety Zone is on call 24 hours a day and has been there for us. Mrs. Shorpen’s prblems are deep and until YOU face the simple fact that Sue has created her own demons you will forever blame others.
Did you know that there was a fund set up for Ms. Shorpen, did you know she had a job and was doing good. Did you know we were collecting money to buy her a car? This I am probably not suppose to share but I know from personal experience Safety Zone is great.There is alot of people that just don’t know it all. Some see the glass half full and others see the glass half empty.
Oh well…God bless those who just don’t know the facts!!
January 30, 2006 at 11:07 pm
Well, we obviously have questions and you really have not answered them. No one is condemning Susan – we just need to be enlightened – by the cold hard facts of the case and how it all came to fruition.
It’s wonderful that you guys have the Safe Zone, that’s all good, no one is debating that.
There are many questions about how Carlie’s unfortunate story unfolded from the beginning. Call me old-fashioned, but IMHO this little girl should never have met the untimely and violent end that she did. And who should we hold accountable?
January 31, 2006 at 12:40 pm
“Mrs. Shorpen’s prblems are deep and until YOU face the simple fact that Sue has created her own demons you will forever blame others.”
Huh? What does this mean? Ummm, I think you are confused…
February 2, 2006 at 7:59 am
Maria…the statement about the demons were made solely to a family member who is defending Sue…and it’s obvious they do not know the truth behind closed doors.
The family now has another tragedy…Sue’s older brother Kurt was found dead last night. He wreck his pick up into a tree. Today is Carlie’s 2 year anniversary.
As the story continues. Just goes to show you the life of drugs is one of 2 things death or prison.
February 2, 2006 at 1:15 pm
I hear ya, like they say in the program – jails, institutions or death. Good God, these people have so serious problems.
I guess Kurt just could not take much more. He was very visible during the early days of the abduction. I remember seeing him at the large memorial service and in newspaper photos with their late mother…
February 2, 2006 at 4:47 pm
I am under the impression that the posters here feel that Susan Schorpen contributed to the death of her daughter through her addiction and life style. The problem with this train of thought is that it leads one to believe that if we are good parents our children are safe. The cold hard reality is that sexual predators surround us they are teachers, misnisters, neighbors, scout leaders etc.. the fact is that the only time our children are safe is when they are within our sight. If we as society can blame Susan or connect her to Joseph Smiht somehow it makes the murder less random.
Yes Susan is obviously an addict but that is a separate issue.
My heart goes out the Schorpen family 3 deaths in 2 years and a father with Alzheimers is a heavy loss. I personally dont think Susan will ever overcome her addictions and that due to the murder of her daughter her entire life and that of her family will be spotlighted in the media
February 2, 2006 at 7:16 pm
@Sue
I understand your train of thought and yes bad things can happen to good people and this happens all the time.
I do feel that people put themselves in danger by their actions and can make themselves more of a danger to become victimized. Whether or not Carlie would have ever met that fateful death had Susan had a clean and respectful lifestyle is Monday quarterbacking.
My anger and not directed at Susan but rather all parents that would raise their children in an environment where drugs are used or tolerated within the household.
I can not speak for anyone else but making this horrible crime less random is the furthest thing from my mind. I have had my suspicions since Carlie was abducted and killed by Smith and those suspicions were that Joe and Susan knew each other. Susan has done very little to correct or change this if it is indeed a rumor. I waited through the trial and was giving Susan time to change my opinion of her and whether their was any truth to this connection between the two that has been raised by news media and a few posters here claim to have knowledge that they did associate and know each other. This would make the act of abducting Carlie not random and if we can learn by others mistakes and prevent other children from going through living in a household full of drugs and so on then rehashing what went wrong in Carlie’s life prior is well worth it.
February 10, 2006 at 8:37 am
I am a friend of Susan’s parents and they were good decent people. They tried very hard to make Carlie’s life good by providing a home for her and Susan and were good grandparents to Carlie whom they loved. After Carlie’s death, and with Susan’s life spinning out of control, imagine how sad it must have been for them to evict their daughter from her home and sell the house. These people have had more heartache than anyone should even bear. Russ
February 10, 2006 at 12:20 pm
Russ – what happened to Susan’s marriage to Carlie’s Dad? Are they from Long Iland or Upstate NY?
February 21, 2006 at 6:15 pm
I used to work with Sue before she had Carly. She had no signs of alcohol or drug abuse at that time nor was she into prostitution. She was a very sweet girl. I hope she can get her life back together and be a mother to her son.
February 21, 2006 at 7:34 pm
@Carol Thats makes sense, the prostitution probably did not come til after her involvement with drugs. I am not sure how or when her life took that downward spiral but with 69 police calls to her home prior to the abduction, something happened. Without know what year you worked with Susan it is hard to put into perspective.
February 21, 2006 at 11:30 pm
Not all of Susans family has a bad background. Susan has about 30 cousins her Mom was one of 8 children and each of the 8 had 3 or more kids. Believe me not everyone associated with this family does drugs… Susan was pretty normal when she had Carlie. I believe she partied but it was not out of control and she was never a prostitute in Long Island. Who made that one up? Susan came from a normal family. Her parents were both loving and really good people. Sue and her 2 brothers were also very close. I dont know what happened to her. She has made some very bad decisions. I am embarassed by her behavior. To say that her whole family has some sort of record is way out of line. Carlie obviously did grow up in some turbulant times. I too wish that Joe Brucia would of had custody. I will try to do some digging to find out exactly why he would let her take Carlie so far away. It just doesn’t seem like the logical thing to do. Joe seems to have it together.
February 22, 2006 at 3:22 am
Does anyone think that if Sue was on drugs when married to Joe that he would of let her take Carlie to Florida? I highly doubt that. I also doubt that he would let his 3 month old go to Florida with a prostitute. I am not certain but I dont think that Susan was doing crack for 10 years. I think she was doing other drugs like prescription pills and drinking but I dont think she started using Crack until right before Carlie died. I could be wrong. She may have hid it. I am not sure if that addiction is an everyday thing or what??? I am not saying that other drugs are any better. No drug is good but I do think that Crack is worse. To Steve: I just recently found this site and I have to say it is a very interesting and informative site. I will come here often. Keep up the good work. I dont want anyone to think that I am defending Susan just because she is family. I am not. I just dont like to see negative things like “she should fry with Joe Smith” or that “she is just as guilty for killing Carlie.” I dont agree with that but I do agree that she has a problem and it probably has been going on for years. I am sickened to think of what poor Carlie must have went through in her 11 years with Susan. I really had no idea. Susan sure did cover it up well. I just wish that someone would of called hrs sooner. Maybe Carlie would be here today. I really wish I knew what was going on. I honestly had no idea what so ever. I am sorry if some of you want to think that just because Susan and her crowd did drugs that her whole family did. We have a very large family and speaking for most of them or at least my Dads kids (my sisters and I) We are all drug free and we have never once been in trouble with the law. We are normal law abiding citizens. I would like to say the same for the rest of the family (about 20-30 cousins all together we have about 50-60 family members) but I guess we dont know what happens behind closed doors. Obviously. I am actually embarassed sometimes to say that she is family because people tend to associate the 2 together and start forming their own opinions. You cant judge someone by their family. There is a lot of normal people in our family. I dont know what happened to Susan. Honestly I wish I did know. She had a great childhood and she came from 2 pretty well off people.
February 22, 2006 at 9:01 am
I worked with Sue back in 1991 on Long Island and even though we worked in a bar, she never once appeared drunk. Like I had said, she was a quiet sweet girl who left as soon as her shift was over. My heart goes out to her and I hope she can resume her life without all of the demons haunting her. God Bless you Sue………..
February 26, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Thank you for your insight.
February 26, 2006 at 10:44 pm
This crime really upset me deeply, I never met this child but the impact was unbelievable.
Perhaps it was the video, I am not sure. All’s I know is the week it happened I was affected and bewildered as to why she went so easily and didn’t fight back.
March 1, 2006 at 2:53 am
I agree Maria. I just wish she screamed or something. I am starting to feel like she did indeed know him someway somehow. The truth will come out. It always does. I think about the what if’s all the time. Carlies life and death will haunt me for the rest of my life. It is always on my mind. My oldest daughter has also been affected. She wont even go to get the mail without someone watching her and the mailbox is right outside my house. I guess in a way that is good but I am worried that she is too afraid. No child should live with fear all the time. I guess you have to put fear in there little hearts these days in order for them to really get it.
March 1, 2006 at 10:46 am
Either he just caught her off guard, as she had her head sets on, etc. or she knew him and was just shocked to see him right then and there at that time.
March 10, 2006 at 3:04 am
#1482
She had a great childhood and she came from 2 pretty well off people.
Your a family member? I don’t know who you are or if you were around back in Sue’s youth days growing up in Bellmore, maybe you should look alittle deeper into the “family life” it wasn’t so great like you say! I was around for many years. My parents remember Susan and her parents very well we have spoken about her bringing up. Maybe you should do some research on them and then revise your statement. If I sound harsh, I am sorry! it’s just that you don’t have your facts correct. It is always different behind closed doors.
March 10, 2006 at 10:45 pm
Yes I am a family member and I was around the family I am sure a lot more then you. Especially in Sound beach LI and Brooklyn when she came to visit my Grandmother. Now Susan is about 8-9 years older then me so I may have just been to young at that time to realize anything different. I do know her life wasnt perfect but whose life is? Her Dad went away for half the year to Norway and in that time it was Eileen that had to do everything. She was a good Mom and you can not say different. You are right about 1 thing, Noone knows what goes on behind closed doors but I can tell you that her life wasnt that bad. Okay now that I have answered your question, How about answering mine… When was the last time you spoke with Sue? Did she admit that she knew Joe? You are the one that said that right? This is my third time asking… Do you know all of your friends family members? Just how long did you hang out with Sue? Dont talk to me like I just came into the picture. I have answered all of your questions now answer mine….
March 11, 2006 at 3:23 pm
Are they Scandanavian?
March 14, 2006 at 10:30 pm
No we are Norwegian. Hey old friend how come you still have not answered my questions?
It was you who wrote this right?
“BUT.. there is NO doubt that she knew her daughters killer. You ask how I know? Sue told me!! it came right from her and that is a fact!”
March 14, 2006 at 10:46 pm
Old friend- If I sound harsh, I am sorry! You cant just say things that are not true. If it is true and she did confide in you (which I cant see) then come back on here and answer me. Seems to me like you just wanted to have something to say. I have answered your questions and will be glad to answer more. Please answer mine. If it is “a fact” then a fact can be proven so lets hear it. I am not saying that she didn’t know him but I am also not coming on here acting as if I have some kind of info on Sue just because I wanted to make it known that I knew her. I just dont think your facts are straight. Just how long did you know her? Good for you. You knew Carlie Brucias Mom. Wow! I am so sorry! I bet you hear that a lot because I bet you tell everyone that. Would you like sympathy or something? I am sure you have told everyone you know that you knew Carlie or Carlies Mom just to get some kind of attention or sympathy for yourself. It seems like that is the type of person you are.
March 15, 2006 at 4:09 pm
See Family Member this is exactly what I was bringing to Stebve’s attention. These “trolls” come on here either sniping her family outright or they do it indirectly by writing something like “Oh, Carlie, I am praying for you, you are in a better place, blah blah blah always alluding to the family members being less then caring or concerned.
I am just sick of it, it’s cruel and it should not be allowed. They are hardly praying for anyone, they are just coming on here to stir things up, period. Or they have a vendetta or a gripe with Susan and they are coming here to vent.
Take it someplace else, we’re not interested in writing it.
March 15, 2006 at 4:10 pm
I menat to say reading it, I am just so angry over this I can’t even put it in words correctly…
March 15, 2006 at 4:31 pm
Maria, Thanks for bringing it to my attention, I will keep a closer eye out for it. I truly have not noticed that but if I do then I will ban these ip addresses.
If anyone knows me my thoughts have always been first and foremost for Carlie, I will not sway.
Realistically, I have over 60,000 people a month that visit here. I do not see that this is happening, people do leave comments like that for other entries on this blog. Read Brianna Lopez and the majority of comments are like that. To classify someone as a troll I do feel is wrong, since I am the one with IP addresses I feel I have that right to call someone a troll, but have never done so.
March 15, 2006 at 8:25 pm
Steve –
It’s very easy for people to come on to any Forum like this and blame everyone related to the victim for what has happened. I notice under Carlie’s entries that it seems to be a distinct pattern where it is usually indirect.
It’s easy to have an opinion about the tragedies that happen to others, and it’s even easier to come on line and lie about how you are. When the subject matter is of a 11 year old who was brutally raped and murdered with Family Members who are devastated, well it’s just plain heartless.
And besides, no matter who gets blamed, what does it really accomplish, will it bring her back?
March 15, 2006 at 8:49 pm
I agree with what you say but it is also impossible for me to tell what comments are legit and which ones are not. I try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and trust that people will comment honestly.
However if a comment is questionable and concerns anyone here I would hope that they would email myself and bring it to my attention. Sometimes it is best to just ignore negative comments.
This has never been a blame game with me and while people know here how I felt about the environment Carlie was raised in I assure I would feel the exact same way about myself if I did the same.
I hope the family somehow can find some peace, I do not know how or how long that may take as what happened in this case i would not wish on anyone.
If there are any coments that should be removed please bring them to my attention.
March 16, 2006 at 8:34 am
Thanks Steve!
March 16, 2006 at 9:45 pm
Thanks again Steve for giving her family members, who obviously cared deeply and suffered a tragic loss, a voice.
Your blog really brought everyone together and even though I had never met this poor child I was drawn to this case.
I am happy that I got the opportunity to hear some of her family member’s voices. I realize now that she did have people who loved her and just weren’t able to do enough or just weren’t kept abreast of the situation.
Without this blog I would have never realized any of this, so kudos to Steve.
March 17, 2006 at 10:03 am
Thanks for the kind words Maria,
Last night I was on the news and did dicuss many cases including Carlie’s, the interview lasted one hour and was edited down to less than three minutes but for a behind the scenes look here is the video from Team 4 news.
It is under their featured video’s A voice for the missing.
http://www.team4news.com/global/category.asp?c=5473
March 18, 2006 at 11:19 am
[…] There are differences in the Diego Santoy case that would not come to light as quickly in the United States as has by our friends in neighboring Mexico. One such case that I have written about here a lot is that of Carlie Brucia and the home environment she grew up in. I have been very critical of the environment and your truly has taken some heat on it. In America there is a sentiment about blaming the victim that is considered very tabu by anyone that does. Victims however can do a lot to place themselves in a dangerous situation, for the sake of keeping this entry on topic we will not discuss the many things that victims sometimes do that leads them to become victimized in the first place. […]
March 21, 2006 at 2:40 pm
Thanks Maria and Annie. Your kind words are greatly appreciated. Just knowing that there are people out there that really do care means a lot to me. It is so easy for people to judge someone and I dont see that at all from you two although I did disagree with Annie a couple of times but have got past that. I can only hope that Carlies story becomes something positive for all families to open their eyes and be the best parents that they can be. You only get one chance and the decisions that you make can really affect them. Even if you dont realize it or think it will affect them it does. Not only drugs but everything. I also hope it will teach other kids to run, to kick, to scream, to bite. To do what ever they have to if they are unsure. I just wish Carlie did that. I guess we will never know why she did not.
March 27, 2006 at 10:32 am
Yes Please do. Thanks!
May 19, 2006 at 8:32 am
I knew and was friends with Sue in high school and I was friends with her brother, Paul, as well. I can definitely attest to the fact that Sue was never a prostitute. She may have had a “wild streak” like most teens do, but how dare any of you make assumptions simply because of the things you read from unreliable sources. And to the Family Member with all the comments, you are right, she did come from a good family. Eileen ( or as Paul liked to call her “Goody”) was strict with Sue and Paul and I remember her father being on the quiet side. Goody would actually come looking for them if they didn’t come home on time.I don’t remember Kurt, because he wasn’t living at home when I knew Sue. The last time I saw Sue was the day before she left for Florida with Carlie. She was happy and looking forward to starting a new life. We lost touch after that, so in no way am I an authority on how she lived her life when she got to Florida. If she did indeed get involved with drugs, I am truly sorry for her and hope with all my heart she gets the help she needs. As far as Carlie’s murder goes,I think it is unfair to attack Sue and blame her for it. It was Joseph Smith who was responsible for taking Carlie’s life and he will pay dearly for it when he meets his maker. No mother, no matter how chaotic or disturbed her personal life was deserves to lose a child. We all make mistakes and wish we could take them back. Did it ever occurr to any of you that her current drug problems might stem from severe depression and guilt over losing her only daughter? No one knows what’s going on in Sue’s head.
August 10, 2006 at 5:19 am
Any update on Sue
September 7, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Hi all,
I haven’t been here in a longtime – wondered if there were any updates on Sue also….