Emotions already at fever pitch in Purcell

And in this case, those details are gruesome. Underwood, a 26-year-old former stock boy for a local supermarket was arrested Friday after arousing suspicion at a checkpoint set up near the apartment complex where both he and his alleged victim lived.

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Authorities have said that once confronted, Underwood allegedly led them to the little girl's body, which has stashed in a Rubbermaid tub sealed with duct tape, saying "go ahead and arrest me. She's in there. I chopped her up."

Prosecutors have said that he lured the child into his apartment, beat her with a wooden cutting board and then suffocated her with his hands and with duct tape. Authorities have also said that he sexually abused Jamie after she was dead, and that he had planned to consume her flesh. He had, authorities said, bought meat tenderizer and metal skewers for that purpose.

Though authorities insist that he hadn't succeeded in dismembering the girl, there were deep saw marks on the child's neck, evidence that he made an initial attempt to decapitate her.

While the expected gag order would prevent prosecutors from adding further details about the case, it would do nothing to prevent bloggers from exchanging information. Even before news of Underwood's arrest was formally released, the Internet was already abuzz with details of Underwood's own writings in various websites, among them admissions that he was beset by dark and troubling fantasies. In another instance Underwood wondered aloud what a cannibal would wear to dinner.

Prosecutors have said they plan to seek the death penalty in the case.

But there are, apparently some in Purcell and perhaps elsewhere, who seem to wish they didn't have to wait for the judicial system. At Monday's brief court hearing, in what may be an example of the kind of emotional furor that the defense is trying to ease, a 48-year-old man was arrested after he stood outside the courtroom and reportedly yelled, "Let's string him up! String him up! Baby killer! Hang him!"

The man was arrested on charges of obstructing an officer and obstructing peace.

After the man's arrest, Police Chief David Tompkins said he had anticipated such an outburst. "It's expected," he told the Associated Press. "Frustrations are high and some people just can't control it."

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