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SEARCH INTENSIFIES FOR MISSING CITRUS COUNTY (Fla.) GIRL (Jessica Lunsford, age 9) New Info
Bay News 9 ^ | Feb. 25, 2005 | Bay News 9

Posted on 02/25/2005 8:26:18 AM PST by varina davis

Search intensifies for missing Citrus County girl

Friday, February 25, 2005

Over 100 federal, state and local law officers are taking part, as the search for Jessica Lunsford continues.

The 9-year-old was last seen about 10 p.m. Wednesday. That's when authorities said her grandparents put her to bed in their Homosassa home.

They said her father Mark, who also lives there, returned home early Thursday to find her missing.

Today, authorities are beefing up the search for Lunsford.

"We've activated the CART Team which is the Child Abduction Response Team from the Tampa area," Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsey said. "We expect 20 to 25 additional investigators to hit the ground."

Search crews scoured the area around Lunsford's home Thursday using bloodhounds and helicopters.

Dawsey said the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children is also getting involved.

He said even though family members are not suspected in Lunsford's disappearance, investigators interviewed them Thursday.

The search continued Thursday for Lunsford. "We're going through some basic investigation with them and we'll bring them back," Dawsey said. "Guess the real reason is we're looking at all avenues right now. It does not mean they're suspects by any means, but it was a very unique way the girl went missing and I'm not going to leave any stone unturned."

Lunsford is described as four-feet-ten-inches tall, weighing about 70 pounds with light brown shoulder length hair and brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown and white silk shorts.

Meanwhile, Lunsford's father Mark and her granparents Ruth and Archie Lunsford held a news conference this morning pleading for her return.

"I ask you to please help me find my daughter and bring her home," Mark Lunsford said.

He also said his daughter has been with him since she was one-year-old and the last whereabout of her [Jessica] mother was in Ohio.

If you see Lunsford or know anything about her disappearance, call the sheriff's office at 352-726-1121 or call 911.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: florida; intensifies; jessica; jessicalunsford; lunsford; search
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To: spectre

Those who know Jessica say she never does anything without her grandmother's permission.

Her first thought would be of her grandparents there in the house with her, to run and awaken them, too. Whoever it was would need a story to cover that, like, they already know and are outside, or they already went to the hospital and left me here to take you.

Something to cover it, and then, it had to be somebody she knew for her to open the door or go with them, period, and someone who convinced her about the grandparents' whereabouts.

Yes, the police must be following up big time and even shadowing some people. As you, sadly, I fear her fate is cast. Hope we are wrong.


41 posted on 02/26/2005 7:46:43 AM PST by txrangerette
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To: txrangerette; spectre
I am with you on your assessment of the hows and I am worried that you are right with the fate of her not being found or...
I don't want to finish that thought.

I pray for Jessica and her family.
42 posted on 02/26/2005 7:57:21 AM PST by Mrs.Nooseman
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Comment #43 Removed by Moderator

Comment #44 Removed by Moderator

To: l00rk3r
"How does someone just walk into your house and grab one of your children? I don't get it."

It does sound like someone took advantage of an opportunity. Hindsight no doubt has the father wishing he'd made some different decisions -- he has 'been there' otherwise through the years for Jessica, it seems.

But no need to pile on him, he's suffering consequences beyond what I can imagine. Careful as I am and as seriously as I take my responsibilities to my family, I do sometimes leave a chink, an opening.

45 posted on 02/26/2005 9:47:29 AM PST by cyn
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To: Pegita; trussell; Faith; Kitty Mittens; PrepareToLeave

Prayer ping for Jessica -- if you have responded on a different thread, pls ping me -- thanks.


46 posted on 02/26/2005 9:49:58 AM PST by cyn
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To: cyn
Heavenly Father, we return to thank You that Jessica is not out of Your sight ... may it be, Merciful Father, that law enforcement would be so able and diligent that she soon would be found. Our hearts are darkened with the thought that her absence this long does not bode well, yet we continue to place our trust in You. Be her shield and protector ... give her the will and the wisdom to remain alert and confident that she will make her way back to her family. Cover this child with the comfort of prayer ... dry her tears and calm her fears with the whispered words that You are with her always. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ...
47 posted on 02/26/2005 11:55:21 AM PST by Pegita ('Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word ...)
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To: l00rk3r

Look at that poor girls eyes...they are not the eyes of a happy girl! She looks resigned, afraid, they are almost "dead" looking eyes!


48 posted on 02/26/2005 2:37:34 PM PST by trussell (I Never Frown, even when I am sad, because I never know who is falling in love with my Smile!!!)
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To: l00rk3r
1) Unlocked door: Old people are creatures of habit. Forgetful sometimes but when it comes to locking the door they don't forget, so, the grandparents probably did lock the door but the door was unlocked by Jessica from the inside sometime later in the night.
2) Why did she open the door? She knew or was very familiar with the person on the other side of it. Possibly, someone she sees everyday. That person, he or she, may have known 'dad' [acronym for 'drunk and disgusting' in his case] was gone for the night like he does almost every night [his own words to the police].
3) Why would she leave the trailer? The person who abducted her [I'm assuming abduction here even though the police haven't officially stated this] may have told her something that made her abandon her senses [her grandmother said she wouldn't wander off without permission] and leave the trailer. For a level headed kid this was uncharacteristic of her.
4) Statistics show that most child abuse victims know their abuser. The police are probably questioning male friends and acquaintances of the grandfather and father.
5) The woman who was on TV with the police officer being interviewed by Katie Curac seemed too emotional to be there. Obviously, she was a close family friend [lived in the trailer park]. What was her relationship to the child? Does she have a husband or son who knows Jessica? This tragedy has all of the makings of 'the kid next door did it' ending.
49 posted on 02/26/2005 4:38:39 PM PST by ToldUso (Trailer park + Florida + dysfunctional dad + little girl = front page news)
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To: cyn
It does sound like someone took advantage of an opportunity. Hindsight no doubt has the father wishing he'd made some different decisions

If there's one thing I've learned, it's pretty hard to childproof the world. You can try, but while you're at it, you'd better also work to "world-proof your child". You can be sloppy, and provide more opportunities for mischief - or you can be tight, and provide few. However, in either case, eventually your kid is going to be faced with a tough situation, and hopefully you've taught them how to react to it.
50 posted on 02/26/2005 8:30:27 PM PST by beezdotcom (I'm usually either right or wrong...)
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To: ToldUso

While reading thru all of the newscasts on the net I came across their street name, grandmother's name and with that I was able to look up their address. Then I was able to cross reference their address with know sexual offenders from Citrus county, Fl.
There is a known sex offender that lives on the street behind their trailer. From the map it appears to be less than 100 feet from their front door. The age of the offender is approximately the same age as the grandparents.
Man, does this freak me out.
In my earlier post I stated that most child abuse victims know their predator intimately, a neighbor, relative, etc. This guy is probably friends with grandpa.


51 posted on 02/26/2005 8:44:06 PM PST by ToldUso (Trailer park + Florida + dysfunctional dad + little girl = front page news)
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To: txrangerette
if it was an abductor, he probably snuck in, placed a chloform rag over her mouth, and just picked her up....

she might have been clutching her stuffed animal while she slept, and that is why it is missing....

52 posted on 02/26/2005 10:46:56 PM PST by cherry
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To: cherry

"he probably snuck in"

You say he chloroformed her and made off with her as she slept.

Ok, to all that, I say a door had to be unlocked, and he had to know where to go in the home to get her, and there was a dog (of unknown watchdog capability). Lots of "had tos" for it to work in his favor.

They say the dad claims to have found the front door unlocked when he got home at 6. If true, either the door was inadvertently not locked that night, and the perp seemed to know it, choosing that night to get in, or Jessica was awake and knew the person wanted access and granted it to him, probably because she knew him.

The police say there was absolutely no sign of forced entry.


53 posted on 02/27/2005 4:36:12 AM PST by txrangerette
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To: l00rk3r

"nutjob" - Well, they're Mormon. Mormons tend to believe that the unfortunate and the poor deserve a chance.


54 posted on 02/27/2005 5:18:39 AM PST by I_dmc
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To: Rocketwolf68

I have two children-girls- and I have made VERY sure that they understand that very bad people exist in this world. I have also provided them with the proper training on what to do in case something ever happens to them.

I think the most startling thing about this case, though, is that this little girl was taken from her UNLOCKED home in the middle of the night. WHY in the world would you leave your house unlocked when you have something as precious as a child sleeping, in what she feels, is the most protected place in the world ? Call me obsessive, but I check all of my doors probably three times before I can sleep well at night. Even then, I am always in fear of something horrible happening, so I sleep very lightly.

I am not placing blame, but you have to wonder!


55 posted on 02/27/2005 7:46:25 AM PST by livinlife2thefullest
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To: Pegita

Amen!


56 posted on 02/27/2005 7:52:14 AM PST by livinlife2thefullest
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To: Pegita
I have read every post on this forum...

This has to be the most Moving">moving thing I have ever witnessed. I want to personally thank you for showing us all that there are truly good people still left in this world whom know no prejudice and place no judgment on people in a time of needed prayer !


Thank You !!
57 posted on 02/27/2005 7:55:57 AM PST by livinlife2thefullest
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To: txrangerette
there was a dog (of unknown watchdog capability) -- a cousin described it as a "weiner dog".

Elsewhere on tv accts that it had a habit of burrowing into a pile of blankets, and that's where it was found when the grandmother made the 9-1-1 call.

58 posted on 02/27/2005 8:01:19 AM PST by cyn
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To: txrangerette
a crime of opportunity;

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." -- in bad things as well as in good, it would seem.

59 posted on 02/27/2005 8:03:45 AM PST by cyn
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To: livinlife2thefullest
"Be her shield and protector ... give her the will and the wisdom to remain alert and confident that she will make her way back to her family. Cover this child with the comfort of prayer ... dry her tears and calm her fears with the whispered words that You are with her always. In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen ..." -- Amen.

Joining you both in prayer. It is raining over most of FL including that area, BANDS of rain. . . . God, please be with Jessica, and work in the heart of anyone with power to do harm to her.

60 posted on 02/27/2005 8:06:42 AM PST by cyn
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