Sheriff believes people may know who killed 7 year old

Police in Florida urged the public Wednesday to be suspicious of changes in behavior and appearance among the people they know — because one of them could be 7-year-old Somer Thompson's killer.

Somer's body was found buried under a mound of garbage in a Georgia landfill on Oct. 21, two days after she disappeared as she was walking home from school in Orange Park, Fla. The little girl was buried on Tuesday.

"Yesterday was about Somer Thompson," Clay County, Fla., Sheriff Rick Beseler told reporters during a brief press conference on Wednesday. "Today is about her killer."

Beseler, who gave a prepared statement and took no questions, said he needed help finding Somer's murderer from "certain people" who live nearby.

"We have reason to believe there are individuals in the community who have information pertinent to this case who have not come forward ... people who may know or associate with the offender," the sheriff said.

SLIDESHOW: Somer Thompson Murder

He asked the public to be on the lookout for friends, relatives and acquaintances who have shown changes in their patterns or behavior since Somer was killed.

People who have suddenly left the area, missed work, suffered unexplained injuries or changed their appearance — by shaving or growing head or facial hair, for example — should arouse suspicion, Beseler said.

He also encouraged people in the community to identify anyone who has abruptly hidden or sold a car, acted increasingly nervous or irritable, shown unusual interest in the case or altered his or her alcohol consumption or sleep patterns.. . . 

She was last seen walking along the sidewalk in front of a vacant house. Authorities have been searching for anyone who saw the girl after that.