SARASOTA, Fla. -- The father of a slain 11-year-old girl in Florida wants to know why the man who's now charged in her murder was out on the street, instead of being behind bars.

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The suspect, Joseph Smith, 37, has a lengthy arrest record -- with at least 13 arrests in Florida since 1993.

Carlie Brucia's father, Joe Brucia, says judges made some "questionable" decisions in letting him go free.

Smith was arrested Tuesday on other charges, and is now charged in the girl's death.

Carlie's body was found overnight outside a church, a few miles from the spot where her abduction Sunday was caught on a surveillance video.

Her father, who's divorced from her mother, says he only saw her twice a year for two weeks at a time. But now, he says, his daughter will be able to watch him all the time -- and he will try to make her proud.

Police, meanwhile, say they're still looking for some key pieces of evidence, including the girl's backpack.

Girl's Body Removed From Parking Lot

Brucia's body was removed earlier Friday from a church parking lot in Sarasota.

Crime scene technicians Friday morning pulled the body from under some thick underbrush.

Investigators aren't saying how they believe she died.

According to a law enforcement source, they found the body after negotiations with Smith.

Brucia was a Florida sixth-grader seen on a car wash surveillance camera's recording being led away by a man Sunday. The man in the video is seen talking to the girl, who doesn't appear to know him.

Friends of the girl's family have gathered outside the Central Church of Christ, which is near a hay field and some woods. The church is ringed by yellow crime scene tape, and police detectives could be seen examining the area.

The church's minister said a Bible study group met there on Wednesday night -- but nobody noticed a body because it was dark. The minister said, "we all feel helpless when things like this happen."

Carlie's stepfather and some friends came to the edge of the church property, kneeling in a prayer circle near the crime scene tape. Outside the girl's home, others joined hands and bowed their heads in prayer. The house is decorated with banners reading,"We love you, Carlie."

Smith is an unemployed mechanic with a criminal record, according to The Associated Press. According to police, Smith continued to refuse to answer questions about the 11-year-old girl. He has been held without bail since Tuesday on an alleged probation violation stemming from a cocaine possession conviction.

Sarasota County Sheriff Bill Balkwill said, "Joseph Smith is under arrest for the abduction and murder of Carlie."

South Florida authorities said Thursday that "strong evidence" links Smith to Brucia's kidnapping. Authorities believe Smith (pictured, below right) is the tattooed man in a mechanic's shirt on the tape. He was taken into custody on a tip from a woman who lives with him.

The sheriff choked back tears as he announced the girl's death Friday morning. Regarding Smith, another sheriff's official said, "We now stand ready to complete our obligation, and assure you that he will pay the ultimate price for what he did to her."

State records show that Smith has been arrested at least 13 times in Florida since 1993. He was arrested in 1997 on kidnapping and false imprisonment charges -- but was acquitted a year later. Other arrests range from misdemeanor battery to felony drug possession charges.

If a Florida probation officer had been successful, Smith could have been back behind bars more than a month ago.

According to an official at the Florida Department of Corrections, a probation officer had asked a judge to declare Smith in violation of his probation on Dec. 30. That's because Smith hadn't paid all his fines and court costs.

But the official says a judge refused to find Smith in violation -- which could have returned him to jail.

Family, Friends Kept Vigil

Family and friends had been keeping vigil outside Carlie's house, which was decorated with banners and posters reading, "We love you, Carlie."

Earlier, her parents had tearfully pleaded for her safe return. Brucia's father has thanked everyone for their efforts to find his daughter.

He spoke at a news conference after Florida police announced his daughter's body had been found.

The rest of the girl's family is in seclusion. A private investigator said there's nothing anyone can do to make the family feel better -- and that it's going to hurt for a "long, long time."

One of the girl's friends cried after hearing about her death, saying she remembered her classmate's smile. Friends said Carlie was a beautiful girl who loved actress Jennifer Lopez, going to the mall and greeting friends with hugs.

School Will Miss Carlie

The principal of Brucia's school called the slain child "a shining light" and said she won't be forgotten.

Macintosh Middle School principal Bob Hagemann said Brucia was a "precious child" who was an "advocate" for every student. He said her presence was felt throughout the school, adding "you could never miss Carlie."

He said now, she will be greatly missed.

The principal said counselors will be on hand at the school to help in what he calls a "healing journey." He said since Brucia's disappearance, students have remained optimistic and shown faith. And he said they've been honorable and courageous in comforting one another.

He said the students will write cards and make journals and banners in Brucia's memory.

Smith's Neighbors Were Surprised

Smith's neighbors, Ron and Linda Thompson, said they're shocked by Smith's arrest, but concede that the man seen on the videotape looks like him. They said he has children and is always "great" with them.

Linda Thompson said that Smith has never shown a dark side.

The sheriff's office received more than 400 leads from citizens.

Investigators were searching for a pink backpack Carlie was carrying when she disappeared and urged TV stations to continue showing images of Smith's car, a Buick Century station wagon.

"We are certain that the '92 Buick station wagon that we have is the vehicle used in the abduction," Balkwill said.

Meanwhile, investigators in Sarasota say NASA's attempt at enhancing images of Brucia's abduction has not been that helpful.

Sheriff's officials said the quality of the enhanced images is not much better than the originals.

Anyone with information on Carlie's disappearance can call (888) 382-6237, (800) 843-5678 or (941) 861-5800.