Posted on 03/01/2005 6:28:07 AM PST by MisterRepublican
HOMOSASSA, Fla. — The full-scale search for a missing 9-year-old girl ended its final day as law enforcement officers turned to child abduction experts for help.
Investigators and hundreds of volunteer searchers have uncovered little evidence during five days of scouring the rural area where Jessica Lunsford disappeared, and the full-scale search was suspended Monday afternoon.
"To continue this, we would be spinning our wheels," said Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy.
Instead, law enforcement officers were turning to 20 experts from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to help crack the case. They planned to focus on a three-quarter mile radius area around Jessica's home.
Jessica's father described the change as a second phase of the investigation. After making a plea for her safe return while choking back tears, he expressed confidence that his daughter would come home.
"Just drop her off. I'll come get her," Mark Lunsford answered when asked what he would say to whoever had Jessica. "I know whoever has got Jessie, they have to have a heart."
He also expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support. "It's been overwhelming, the people that have shown up," he said. "It makes me feel real good to know everyone's trying to help me out."
Lunsford said he remains convinced that his daughter did not leave home voluntarily even though authorities have uncovered no evidence she was abducted. He said it's unlikely Jessica was lured away.
"She just didn't go with strangers," Lunsford said. He said authorities also are looking for a stuffed purple dolphin missing from his daughter's room.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
It's always been like that and it'll never change.Judging people by the way they look or dress is wrong.It's wrong to make fun of them.It's what's in a persons heart that counts-that matters.
Unfortunately, the signs would not have helped Jessie. That piece of perverted trash was staying at his relative's house, and hadn't changed his address with the offender registry.
I read somewhere that 3 or 4 others had been arrested too, for obstruction of justice. They must be POS's too.
Also, on the CTV board, I read that Couey was staying 150 yards from Jessie's house. Also read that her body was found buried near the septic tank. And that the reason the dogs didn't find it was that the smell of sewage is similar to that of a dead body, enough anyway to confuse the dogs.
I've been at the hospital for 4 days because my little boy had surgery. I read in the newspaper that Couey had confessed and came home to find out the rest of the story.
I hope the sheriff holds a press conference tomorrow -- surely the autopsy results will be in by then.
Also, I agree with everyone that these scumbags should be permanently incarcerated to keep society safe from them ... especially anyone charged with a sex crime against a child.
So many people think that, why don't our lawmakers do something about it?????
I think male sexual predators should be turned into women...but without the boob job. Cut off the offending parts and the testosterone that goes with 'em.
Then, send them to a male prison.
Then, hang them in public.
Then, put their heads on pikes in the neighborhood where the crime was committed.
Then, let the neighborhood rotweillers and pit bull terriers feast on his remains.
But, I could be overreacting...
I heard that Jessica had a habit of going outside at night to sit on the porch. I think Couey saw her do that before and made plans to snatch her.He watched and when he saw Mark leave that night Couey saw his chance and did his dirtywork.I don't think Couey was ever inside of Lunsfords home.
Today the sheriff of Citrus County said that little Jessie was sexual assaulted. The filthy scuzbag was high on drugs. Stronger monitoring systems must be put into place. This is becoming an emergency situation. Support all petitions to strengthen the laws.
That poor little girl her last moments on earth had to be so awful.
It is amazing to us that Martha Stewart has to wear a bracelet but the scum of the earth can walk freely around and commit these crimes...
We need to change this...
Well I am wrong about Couey not going inside the house.He went in and put his hand over Jessicas mouth,told her to be quiet and forced her outside the house.The coroner said Jessica had been sexually assualted and may have been held for two day's before she was killed.I read the article on CNN tonight.That little girl went through hell before she died. I feel so sorry for the Lunsfords. Now they must prepare Jessicas funeral.I pray for them for somekind of peace.God help them.
How did he get inside the house?
I just read that girl may have been held captive up to two days. What a nightmare for this innocent girl. There are no words to describe my disgust and anger
Horrifying. So many questions ...
Latest news:
http://www.tampabays10.com/news/news.aspx?storyid=12637
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/bloggers/1242797/posts?q=1&&page=51
Have any of you seen this ? Off topic ,but interesting messages at classmates.com about Terri Schiavo .
They are saying she died from asphyxiation according to the police report...
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7256308/
This is a must read...when you read this you will fall out of your chair...what is wrong with our country when we have all this knowledge and data and we do nothing about it!!!
I guess the cost of the lives and psyches of our children and women (mainly) is less than the cost of keeping these predators incarcerated.
I wonder if the civil rights for sexual predators crowd ever thinks of the currency with which those rights are paid for.
You won't hear any blather about rehabilitation or horrible childhoods and other excuses from this corner.
Massachusetts just put the registered level 2 & 3 offenders online. Trouble is, I think most of them aren't registered yet.
Before this recent development, I had to go down to the police station, fill out a form, and come back another day to receive the info on sex offenders in my neighborhood.
I did a search for sexual predators in my zipcode area. I came up empty. Whew! I thought.
Did a search for sexual offenders in my zipcode area. Came up with three, all within a mile of my house.
Pulled up the details. Each and everyone was convicted of child molestation.
There are legal differences between a sexual predator and sexual offender. Wonder how many parents make the same mistake I did in assuming anyone committing a sexual crime against a child was a sexual predator?
They said he went through the unlocked door...
I think I read where Couey took Jessica to "his" place, not his half sisters. I did read somewhere his place was a couple miles away from the half sisters.I don't know how he got Jessica back and forth. I presume he used the half sisters car or truck, unless he walked! If he did he would have had to carry Jessica back to his halfsisters trailer to bury her. If I hear for sure I'll let you know-you do the same for me. Thanks
From January -April 2004 Couey worked at Homosassa Elementary School for four months,the school Jessica went to. He also had direct contact with students and teachers during the project. It's unknown whether Couey had contact with Jessica. He also worked at Crystal River Middle School doing remodeling in the cafeteria.
Citrus County probation officials didn't know Couey was a registered sex offender.Couey failed to register last November and he moved.Check out the "St. Petersburg Times"
online.Very Interesting.
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