484:
Jacksonville, where it was stated that the pending litigation was "not for the money... but for change." Lunsford stated that changes were needed in procedures and policies. It is alleged that Couey had
Jessica Lunsford alive in the trailer while Citrus County officials visited the trailer, that police dogs indicated Jessica was being held in the direction of the trailer and were ignored, that Citrus County officials actively pursued Mark Lunsford's father as their prime suspect while evidence pointed elsewhere, and that had Citrus County officials followed up on an outstanding warrant issued by Georgia, that Citrus County officials could have entered Couey's residence and possibly saved the child.
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44:
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Lunsford in his bedroom, keeping her in his bed that evening, and raping her again in the morning. Couey put her in his closet and ordered her to remain there as he reported for work at "Billy's Truck Lot", which she did. Three days after he abducted her, Couey tricked
Jessica into getting into two
241:
On March 14, Couey's half-sister
Dorothy Dixon gave permission to police to search her trailer at West Snowbird Court in Homosassa. Couey had lived at the West Snowbird Court residence with Dixon; her boyfriend, Matt Dittrich; her daughter and son–in-law, Madie and Gene Secord; and her two-year-old
296:
In his confession, Couey said that he had previously seen
Lunsford playing in her yard and thought she was "about six years old". On the night of the abduction, Couey had intended to just burglarize the Lunsfords' home, but saw Jessica and "acted on impulse and he took her". He entered Lunsford's
318:
in a hole approximately 2.5 feet (0.76 m) deep and 2 feet (0.61 m) circular, covered with leaves. Lunsford's body was removed from the ground and transported to the coroner's office, where it was recorded to have undergone "moderate" to "severe" decomposition. According to the publicly
237:
Sheriff's Office, for questioning about
Jessica Lunsford's disappearance due to his residence on West Snowbird Court in Homosassa, only 65 yards from the Lunsford's home, and his criminal record. Couey stated he did not have anything to do with the nine-year-old's disappearance and had moved to
483:
Following complaints and suggestions from Citrus County residents that the pending litigation was being pursued out of greed and that had he been a better father his child may still be alive, Mark
Lunsford and Jacksonville-based attorneys Eric Block and Mark Gelman held a news conference in
297:
house at about three o'clock in the morning through an unlocked door, awakened
Lunsford, told her "Don't yell or nothing", and told her to follow him out of the house. At the time, he occupied a trailer along with two women, about 100 yards (91 m) away. Couey admitted to
459:
was named after her. It requires tighter restrictions on sex offenders (such as wearing electronic tracking devices) and increased prison sentences for some convicted sex offenders. "Jessica's Law" refers to similar reform acts initiated by other states.
480:. After receiving notice of the pending suit, Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy stated that he believed the case to be "baseless... There is only one person in the world that should be held responsible for Jessica Lunsford's death and that's John Couey."
361:. Over Couey's objection, the trial court ruled that all evidence collected after the confession, including the recovery of Lunsford's body, would be admitted, as would incriminating statements allegedly made by Couey to investigators and a jail guard.
270:
397:
or the death penalty, the only two possible sentences available under
Florida law. A week later, after about one hour and 15 minutes of deliberation, a jury recommended Couey be put to death. The case was appealed to the
342:. Additionally, Dixon and the other residents of the trailer claimed to have never seen Lunsford at the home or noticed anything strange from Couey's room, which had not been used since he was last there.
338:
After the discovery of
Lunsford's body at the residence, Dixon stated that a week earlier she had given Couey money for a bus ticket, and that he had telephoned her to say he had moved to
350:
405:
On August 11, 2007, a jury overseeing the
Lunsford case voted 10-2 that Couey be eligible for the death sentence. Defense for Couey argued that he had suffered from a lifetime of
875:
1057:
417:
ruling prohibiting the execution of mentally handicapped people. However, the most credible intelligence test rated Couey's IQ at 78, above the standard accepted level of
354:
1032:
1087:
974:
163:, designed to protect potential victims and reduce a sexual offender's ability to re-offend, which has since influenced similar legislation in 42 other states.
210:
possession, but was released after questioning because it was only a local warrant. Couey was a 46-year-old long-time resident of Homosassa with an extensive
1062:
345:
On June 30, 2006, a judge ruled that Couey's confession was inadmissible in court because when it was recorded police had not granted Couey's requests for a
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1022:
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222:. Due to the laws at the time, Couey received only short sentences and was not monitored after release, despite his record of being an experienced
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Mark Lunsford becoming an activist for children's rights after the murder of his daughter Jessica is the subject of the 2011 documentary film,
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Georgia to find a job, only knowing about it from the television news. He was released from police custody after being interviewed.
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473:
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On March 19, police found nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford's body at the residence on West Snowbird Court in Homosassa, buried in a
1027:
202:. After approximately three weeks of intense searching for her around the area of her home, John Evander Couey was arrested in
257:
On March 17, Couey was arrested and charged with the murder of Jessica Lunsford, and transported to the Citrus County jail in
1052:
468:
On February 19, 2008, almost three years to the day after her kidnapping and murder, Jessica's father was represented by
451:
Following her death, her father, Mark Lunsford, pursued new legislation to provide more stringent tracking of released
378:
after officials were unable to seat an impartial jury in Citrus County where the trial was first scheduled to be held.
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331:. The coroner ruled that death would have happened even in best circumstances within 2–3 minutes from lack of
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On March 7, 2007, Couey was found guilty of all charges in relation to Lunsford's death, including
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from her home in the early morning of February 24, 2005, by John Couey, a 46-year-old convicted
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Nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford disappeared in the night on February 24, 2005, from her home in
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428:. However, on September 30, 2009, before the sentences could be carried out, Couey died of
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Jessica Lunsford's murder influenced the introduction of legislation in Florida known as
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On August 24, 2007, Couey was sentenced to death, in addition to three consecutive
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219:
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who lived nearby. Couey held her captive over the weekend, during which she was
100:
989:
43:
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491:
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223:
171:
136:(October 6, 1995 – February 27, 2005) was an American nine-year-old girl from
385:, kidnapping, burglary with assault or battery upon any person, and capital
964:
832:"Mark Lunsford to reveal new details of his lawsuit in Jacksonville today"
250:
in his room, and forensic analysis discovered both Couey's and Lunsford's
17:
876:"Mark Lunsford's allegations announced and Sheriff Jeff Dawsy's response"
770:
328:
243:
215:
725:
521:
The abduction of Jessica Lunsford was covered in 2013 on the TV series
389:. The jury deliberated for four hours, tasked with recommending either
320:
269:
258:
156:. The media extensively covered the investigation and trial of Couey.
394:
346:
332:
290:
247:
748:"Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison, Florida officials say"
349:, thereby rendering the confession invalid and unreliable under the
302:
garbage bags by saying he was going to "take her home". He instead
375:
268:
149:
413:, which would enable him to avoid a death sentence under a 2002
323:
reports, Lunsford had poked two fingers through the bags before
298:
286:
277:
On March 18, 2005, Couey made an audio-recorded and videotaped
251:
707:
Nesmith, Susannah A. "Wanted: Fair Jury...", pages 1A, 19A,
410:
768:
Ramirez, Jessica. "The Abductions That Changed America",
786:"Local attorney plans suit on behalf of Lunsford family"
306:
as he decided he could do nothing else with the girl.
970:
Court TV coverage of Jessica Lunsford case (Archived)
903:"Lunsford's pain vivid in documentary 'Jessie's Dad'"
242:
grandson, Joshua. During the search a blood-stained
226:and his repeated sexual offenses against children.
190:in 2009, before his sentence could be carried out.
114:
106:
95:
76:
50:
34:
140:, who was murdered in February 2005. Lunsford was
617:Partial transcript of Video Confession of Couey
472:lawyers in a pre-trial brief filed against the
8:
980:CASE NO. SC07-1636 Appellee's Answer Brief
965:Court TV coverage of Jessica Lunsford case
42:
31:
1058:February 2005 crimes in the United States
627:
625:
807:"Lunsford Plans to Sue Sheriff's Office"
722:"Judge: John Evander Couey Not Retarded"
633:Jessica Lunsford: Death of a 9 year old"
536:
1033:2000s kidnappings in the United States
942:from the original on December 12, 2021
826:
824:
652:"Drifter says he held girl three days"
27:Murder and rape of young American girl
478:Florida Department of Law Enforcement
464:Wrongful death and negligence lawsuit
7:
1088:Sexual assaults in the United States
784:Szakonyi, Mark (February 21, 2008).
1063:Incidents of violence against girls
878:. February 26, 2008. Archived from
545:"Judge throws out Couey confession"
229:On March 12, Couey was arrested in
975:Article in CourtTV's Crime Library
246:and pillows were found in Couey's
182:of Lunsford, and sentenced him to
170:, Florida convicted Couey for the
25:
1023:2005 murders in the United States
724:. Crime.about.com. Archived from
527:in the episode "Lurking Menace".
934:idfullepisodes (April 2, 2013).
901:Garry, Stephanie (May 3, 2008).
494:
214:, listing dozens of arrests for
206:, for an outstanding warrant of
1068:Missing person cases in Florida
166:On August 24, 2007, a judge in
774:, January 29, 2007, pp. 54–55.
474:Citrus County Sheriff's Office
327:to death, and the fingers had
1:
985:Couey Trial State's arguments
750:. CNN.com. September 30, 2009
693:"Judge: Couey confession out"
310:Discovery of Lunsford's body
152:and later murdered by being
1048:Deaths by person in Florida
672:www.floridasupremecourt.org
597:www.floridasupremecourt.org
569:www.floridasupremecourt.org
393:without the possibility of
1104:
1083:Rapes in the United States
1038:2000s missing person cases
665:"ANSWER BRIEF OF APPELLEE"
590:"ANSWER BRIEF OF APPELLEE"
562:"ANSWER BRIEF OF APPELLEE"
507:
444:
359:United States Constitution
264:
218:and was a convicted child
186:. However, Couey died of
41:
856:. CNN. February 26, 2008
654:, CNN.com, June 24, 2005
233:, at the request of the
69:Gastonia, North Carolina
1028:2000s crimes in Florida
854:"'Not about the money'"
419:intellectual disability
409:and had a below normal
374:The trial was moved to
990:Jessica Marie Lunsford
642:, CourtTV CrimeLibrary
638:March 6, 2007, at the
274:
134:Jessica Marie Lunsford
124:Angela Bryant (mother)
121:Mark Lunsford (father)
55:Jessica Marie Lunsford
1053:Deaths by live burial
549:The Ocala Star Banner
524:FBI: Criminal Pursuit
470:Jacksonville, Florida
400:Florida Supreme Court
272:
950:– via YouTube.
711:, February 11, 2007.
696:St. Petersburg Times
457:Jessica Lunsford Act
441:Jessica Lunsford Act
370:Criminal proceedings
309:
999:Mark Allan Lunsford
882:on December 7, 2008
834:. February 25, 2008
809:. February 21, 2008
383:first degree murder
180:first degree murder
96:Cause of death
275:
265:Couey's confession
200:Homosassa, Florida
138:Homosassa, Florida
88:Homosassa, Florida
1078:Rape in the 2000s
1073:Premature burials
915:on August 5, 2012
340:Savannah, Georgia
254:on the mattress.
204:Savannah, Georgia
131:
130:
80:February 27, 2005
16:(Redirected from
1095:
1043:Crime in Florida
952:
951:
949:
947:
936:"Lurking Menace"
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925:
924:
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911:. Archived from
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728:on June 11, 2011
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355:Sixth Amendments
304:buried her alive
231:Augusta, Georgia
83:
64:
62:
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36:Jessica Lunsford
32:
21:
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1098:
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1018:2005 in Florida
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1007:
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908:Tampa Bay Times
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698:, June 30, 2006
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640:Wayback Machine
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421:, which is 70.
407:emotional abuse
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212:criminal record
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107:Body discovered
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65:October 6, 1995
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959:External links
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551:, July 1, 2006
543:Perez, Mabel.
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508:Main article:
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502:Florida portal
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387:sexual battery
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453:sex offenders
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447:Jessica's Law
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415:Supreme Court
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194:Investigation
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161:Jessica's Law
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84:(aged 9)
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1003:Find a Grave
994:Find a Grave
944:. Retrieved
929:
917:. Retrieved
913:the original
906:
896:
886:February 27,
884:. Retrieved
880:the original
870:
860:February 27,
858:. Retrieved
848:
838:February 27,
836:. Retrieved
813:February 27,
811:. Retrieved
801:
791:February 27,
789:. Retrieved
779:
769:
764:
752:. Retrieved
742:
730:. Retrieved
726:the original
716:
708:
703:
695:
687:
675:. Retrieved
671:
659:
647:
612:
600:. Retrieved
596:
584:
572:. Retrieved
568:
556:
548:
539:
522:
520:
516:Jessie's Dad
515:
513:
510:Jessie's Dad
482:
467:
450:
423:
404:
380:
373:
344:
337:
329:skeletonized
313:
295:
276:
256:
240:
228:
220:sex offender
197:
165:
158:
154:buried alive
146:sex offender
133:
132:
82:(2005-02-27)
29:
732:October 12,
691:Ross, Jim.
488:Other media
325:suffocating
316:plastic bag
101:live burial
1012:Categories
531:References
365:Conviction
293:Lunsford.
281:to having
279:confession
273:John Couey
224:trespasser
172:kidnapping
99:Murder by
61:1995-10-06
18:John Couey
919:April 17,
619:, CNN.com
436:Aftermath
319:released
283:kidnapped
168:Inverness
940:Archived
771:Newsweek
677:April 1,
636:Archived
602:April 1,
574:April 1,
476:and the
291:murdered
244:mattress
216:burglary
208:cannabis
142:abducted
946:July 4,
357:of the
321:autopsy
259:Florida
115:Parents
754:May 9,
455:. The
395:parole
347:lawyer
333:oxygen
299:raping
248:closet
178:, and
90:, U.S.
71:, U.S.
668:(PDF)
593:(PDF)
565:(PDF)
376:Miami
351:Fifth
287:raped
184:death
150:raped
948:2017
921:2012
888:2008
862:2008
840:2008
815:2008
793:2008
756:2011
734:2010
679:2015
604:2015
576:2015
353:and
289:and
77:Died
51:Born
1001:at
992:at
252:DNA
1014::
938:.
905:.
823:^
670:.
624:^
595:.
567:.
547:,
518:.
432:.
411:IQ
402:.
335:.
285:,
261:.
174:,
923:.
890:.
864:.
842:.
817:.
795:.
758:.
736:.
681:.
606:.
578:.
63:)
59:(
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
