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Jessica Lunsford

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Jessica Lunsford disappeared from her bedroom on February 23, 2005.

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John Evander Couey has been found guilty of kidnapping Florida third grader Jessica Lunsford, raping her, and burying her alive. »More Information



Last updated March 7, 2007

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Couey Snatched Jessica From Her Bedroom, Raped Her, And Buried Her Alive

missing children,Jessica Lunsford | Deputies say John Couey has confessed to abducting and killing Jessica Lunsford Jessica Lunsford overview

John Evander Couey, 48, was charged in the slaying of Jessica Lunsford, who was snatched from her bedroom in 2005 about 150 yards from the trailer where Couey was living. Couey could face the death penalty after being found guilty of murder in the first degree in the death of 9-year-old Jessica.

Couey, 46, has a long list of past convictions on his rap sheet. He had been arrested on many occasions for drug violations and was a habitual user of crack cocaine. According to the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, past charges against Couey included "burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly intoxication, driving under the influence, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, fraud, insufficient funds, and larceny." In 1991 he had been arrested and charged with "fondling a child under the age of 16." As a convicted sex offender, Couey is required by law to notify local authorities if he intends to change his place of residence.

In the days following the disappearance of Jessica Lunsford, detectives from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office checked on all the known sex offenders in the area. They realized that Couey was living miles from the registered address, and resided in a trailer 150 yards from the Lunsford home.

Jail officers and investigators testified that Couey repeatedly described the crime to them in graphic detail, saying that he would "apologize to Jessica when he met her in heaven".

Prosecutor Says Physical Evidence Is Overwhelming

missing children,Jessica Lunsford | Police located John Couey and questioned him about Jessica s disappearance Jessica Lunsford overview

In the trail Wednesday, March 7, 2007, the court was presented with DNA from Jessica's blood and Couey's semen on a mattress in his bedroom. Jessica's fingerprints were in a closet where she was allegedly hidden. Jail officers and investigators testified that Couey repeatedly admitted details of the slaying after his arrest.

Jessica's body was found in a shallow hole, encased in two black trash bags behind Couey's trailer. Her wrists were bound with speaker wire, and she held a purple stuffed dolphin that he father had won for her at the county fair. Medical Examiner, Dr. Steven Cogswell, testified that Jessica's injuries consistent with sexual assault and concluded that she suffocated after being buried alive. Jessica managed to poke two fingers through the plastic bags before she died.

Couey is charged with first-degree murder, sexual battery on a child, kidnapping and burglary.

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Recovered

Mar 19, 2005
Couey Held Girl Alive For Three Days

John Evander Couey, the drifter arrested in the rape and murder of a 9-year-old Florida girl, admitted to investigators he buried her alive three days after he abducted her, according to newly released prosecution documents.

In his confession, Couey told investigators he kept Jessica in a closet in his room while the Citrus County Sheriff's Office set up a command center not far from his home. He told detectives Jessica was alive when investigators came to the door while questioning neighbors about her disappearance.

"For some reason, they came to our house but they didn't come in and search, but I wish they would have cause they would have found her, but they didn't," he said.

Couey told detectives he placed her inside a garbage bag and that she lay down in the hole without a fight. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as suffocation.

Couey admitted to consuming drugs and alcohol, saying he was foggy on the day he abducted Jessica. He also told detectives that he cooked her a hamburger and made her urinate in the closet to aviod being seen by his housemates. Couey told detectives that he allowed her to watch television through the slightly opened closet door and claimed she was aware of news reports about the search for her.

At the end of his statements to detectives, he said he wished he could go back and change things. "You know what I am?...I'm a convicted child molester. I didn't know what to do. You know, I got scared. I panicked. I feel guilty about it now, but it's too late, you know, and I do feel for her parents."

Florida House Passes Jessica Lunsford Act

Florida lawmakers have moved forward on a bill named for Jessica Lunsford that would impose tougher penalties on sex offenders. On Tuesday, April 19, 2005, the Florida House unanimously approved the Jessica Lusford Act. On a 118-0 vote, the Florida House passed legislation that would require longer prison sentences, lifetime probation and electronic monitoring for sex offenders convicted of crimes against children. The Jessica Lunsford Act would punish the molestation of children under 12 with a mandatory sentence of 25 years to life, "followed by probation or community control for the remainder of the person's natural life and subject to a system of active electronic monitoring." The bill would also make it a third-degree felony in Florida to harbor a sex offender. The passage of the Jessica Lunsford Act in the Florida House came just weeks after new information about Jessica's abduction and murder was released.

Jessica's Body Found
Police in Citrus County, Florida found the body of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford early on the morning of Saturday, March 19th. She had been buried in the back yard of the home of John Couey's sister, where the registered sex offender had been staying. That home is less than a hundred yards from the Lunsford home.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office says Couey has confessed to abducting and killing Jessica.

According to deputies, Couey's name first came up when authorities were investigating known sexual offenders in the area. Couey has been charged with capital murder, burglary, kidnapping, and sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

While Couey was set to go to trial in February 2006, a judge pushed back Couey's court date. Instead, the trial is set to start on July 10, 2006. Defense attorneys say it is a complicated case and will take them extra time to prepare.


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Sex:
Female
Race:
White
Age at Disappearance:
9
Date of Death:
Feb 24, 2005 - Mar 2005
Height:
4'11''
Weight:
70 lbs.
Hair (Color, Description, Facial Hair):
  • Brown
Eyes:
  • Brown
Last Seen:
  • Homosassa , FL
  • Jessica was last seen in the area of South Sonata Drive.
Other Possible Locations:
  • Florida

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Photos

Media Photo Deputies say John Couey has confessed to abducting and killing Jessica Lunsford missing children,Jessica Lunsford
Deputies say John Couey has confessed to abducting and killing Jessica Lunsford.
Media Photo Deputies in Citrus County say that Couey confessed to abducting and killing Jessica Lunsford missing children,Jessica Lunsford
Deputies in Citrus County say that Couey confessed to abducting and killing Jessica Lunsford.
Media Photo Police located John Couey and questioned him about Jessica s disappearance missing children,Jessica Lunsford
Police located John Couey and questioned him about Jessica's disappearance.
Media Photo John Couey has this tattoo on his right arm missing children,Jessica Lunsford
John Couey has this tattoo on his right arm

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Media Photo
John Couey has this tattoo on his right arm

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