Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Police looking for "Person of Interest" in Jessica Lunsford Case (Florida)
FOX news | March 15, 2005

Posted on 03/15/2005 12:32:10 PM PST by CitizenM

Just announced: Citrus Co., Florida. Police are looking for a "person of interest," - a man, in another state - in regard to the case of missing Jessica Lunsford.

Police said that a polygraph from the Grandmother showed two responses that raised "red flags," when they reviewed the polygraph.

Police are following up on other tips received, also, regarding this "person of interest."


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: abducted; citruscountyfl; jessica; jessicalunsford; kidnapping; missing
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last
OMG I hope this horrible story comes to an end soon. And that dear little Jessica is alive and unharmed.
1 posted on 03/15/2005 12:32:14 PM PST by CitizenM
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: CitizenM
tbo.com

HOMOSASSA, Fla. (AP) -- Investigators have identified a "person of interest" located outside Florida they want to interview in the case of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, authorities said Tuesday.

Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said in a statement that although "no one has been crossed off the list of possible suspects," detectives had developed information about a man living in an unidentified state.

"Detectives want to question him concerning Jessica's disappearance," said Dawsy, who provided no other details.

The statement also said that "red flags" were raised in an FBI polygraph test given March 4 to the girl's grandmother, Ruth Lunsford, regarding two of her responses. But investigators were unable to determine what, if anything, she might know about Jessica's disappearance, the sheriff said.

2 posted on 03/15/2005 12:36:00 PM PST by NautiNurse (Osama bin Laden has more tapes than Steely Dan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CitizenM

So did the Gma sell Jessica to someone or leave door open so someone could take her? Girl too much work? I read the dad moved back with them a year ago -did the daughter move there with him a year ago also or had she always been there. Maybe Gma getting tired of caring for her?


3 posted on 03/15/2005 12:36:00 PM PST by LYSandra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CitizenM

God,even the cops are PC-----I can't stand this "person of interest" stuff----it's a suspect,period.

When did the word "suspect" become suspect?


4 posted on 03/15/2005 12:38:24 PM PST by Mears ("Call me irresponsible".)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LYSandra

Maybe it's a family member--


5 posted on 03/15/2005 12:40:58 PM PST by the Real fifi
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: All
I posted this at the same time another FReeper posted a story on the same subject. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1363396/posts?page=12

Person of Interest in Jessica Lunsford Disappearance Sought

Note to Admin: Please pull my thread if you feel necessary so there is only one on the FR.

6 posted on 03/15/2005 12:51:56 PM PST by CitizenM (An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded. Pope John Paul II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: CitizenM

There was some talk of the grandpa having problems of a sexual nature. Perhaps Grandma put Jessica in a "safe place" to protect her. I hope so!


7 posted on 03/15/2005 12:53:02 PM PST by ozarkgirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: All
Just on Fox, statement on this: "Whether or not he has anything to do with the case remains to be seen," per Gail Tierney, public information officer, Citrus Co. sheriff's/police Office, regarding the "person of interest."

My thoughts regarding the Grandmother's polygraph: You know, it may be that the Grandmother had some suspicions and did not want to voice them for fear of some harm coming to Jessica. Maybe she feels/was told Jessica will not be harmed if she does not/did not say anything? Her tension over that might be what was picked up on the polygraph.

I can't imagine how horrible things must be in that household if the father is suspicious of his own mother. This is another wait-and-see situation. We are just getting bits and pieces I am sure.

8 posted on 03/15/2005 1:06:31 PM PST by CitizenM (An excuse is worse and more terrible than a lie, for an excuse is a lie guarded. Pope John Paul II)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: CitizenM

I hate to say this in this context but lie detector tests are 100% unadulterated BS. If they are relying on that type of information it does not bode well for the child.


9 posted on 03/15/2005 1:39:48 PM PST by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: microgood
during the sheriff's press conference, he mentioned that this person was somewhat associated with the Lunsfords by "social, church, school" in those words roughly....

he said that after going back and re-interviewing people some things got straightened out, and he specifically said that this person of interest has not been talked with as of yet......

hmmmm......I recall they went back to the familly and re-interviewed them.....wonder what came up ?

the sheriff did seem to indicate that several leads pointed towards this person of interest...

they would not release him name for 48 hrs....then, its open season....

I have the impression that they know basically where this "person" is, and are just biding their time....

maybe, maybe, its a family aunt or a female church member who the cops think took the child out of fear for the child's safety....maybe that's why they aren't pouncing on this person....I hope so.....

10 posted on 03/15/2005 4:15:48 PM PST by cherry
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: microgood
I hate to say this in this context but lie detector tests are 100% unadulterated BS.

Patently false

They are serious investigative tools.

11 posted on 03/15/2005 4:17:19 PM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981
Patently false They are serious investigative tools.

Then so is flipping a coin. That is about how accurate they are. Now as a method of intimidating people, it may be a tool, but not for determining the truthfulness of a statement.

I know I would never take one under any circumstances. For the person taking one, there is no upside, only downsides.
12 posted on 03/15/2005 4:23:26 PM PST by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

Right you are. They (lie detectors) are serious investigative tools indeed.

My take on this is that Granny either knew or suspected that Grandpa (or maybe the father of the kid) were getting too friendly with a young, just prepubescent girl, getting close to being a teen, and about to blossum sexually. The reason there were no signs of break-in was because Granny opened the door. Some relative (or friend) of Granny spirited the kid out and away to safety.

Perhaps one of the members from her church is in cahoots w/Granny. Now that person has skipped out w/the kid to another state, and the cops are threatening this guy (I'll bet he's from the church) with making public his name (which would embarrass him in the community if it got out). So, they are attempting to force him to return w/the kid or say where he is, or they will tell everyone his name. Not much of a threat as everyone will find out anyway.

So, Granny, being on the horns of a dilemma, and wanting to protect the kid whom she loves, and knowing what her husband's (or possibly the son's) propensities are, gets her to safety. But she has to do it on the QT so that her husband and son don't know that she suspects them of thinking or doing something bad to the kid sexually. That's why both men passed their lie detector tests, because neither of them knew of Granny's plot to get the kid out.

Another possible angle is that the kid herself said something to her pastor, or a church member, and that person consulted w/Granny and then the plot to get the kid out of the house was hatched. We'll see, but my antennae are up, and I'll bet I'm close here. The good news about this, if true, is that the kid isn't dead. I suspect we will know the answer to this riddle very soon.


13 posted on 03/15/2005 4:37:14 PM PST by flaglady47 (O)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: flaglady47
The good news about this, if true, is that the kid isn't dead.

That would be the only good news if it were true.

14 posted on 03/15/2005 4:42:09 PM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: microgood
Then so is flipping a coin. That is about how accurate they are.

No

They are much more accurate than flipping a coin, which is deeply troubling to someone who does not want to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

15 posted on 03/15/2005 4:52:43 PM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981
The truth about lie detector tests
16 posted on 03/15/2005 5:11:42 PM PST by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: microgood

The truth about lie detector tests is they are effective if the subject is in a controlled environment to neutralize any counter polygraph attempts. That is what really troubles people who have something to hide and are forced to take one or abandon their cover.


17 posted on 03/15/2005 5:14:28 PM PST by af_vet_1981
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: Mears

IIRC, they use 'person of interest' because a 'suspect' has certain legal rights.


18 posted on 03/15/2005 5:18:31 PM PST by pbear8 (Latin Mass - gotta love it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Mears
If the cops really wanted to be PC, they'd call him an interesting person
19 posted on 03/15/2005 7:53:32 PM PST by jimboster
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: af_vet_1981

Here in the Pacific Northwest where I live, we had a guy named Gary Ridgway who was cleared of the Green River killings by a lie detector test in 1984.

However, police later went back and decided the test didn't go far enough to be reliable. So, two years later in 1986, they administered a second lie detector test to Ridgway. That one also cleared him.

Then in 2003, guess what happened... Ridgway confessed to 48 MURDERS! Additional evidence backed that up. It was him all along. THE LIE DETECTOR TESTS WERE DEAD WRONG and were actually counterproductive in that serial-killer investigation.

Lie detectors sure are serious tools. In this case, it was a serious tool that Ridgway used to fake out law enforcement into believing he was innocent.

If a criminal doesn't have any conscience or has managed to rationalize criminal behavior in his own mind, I have no doubt he can pass a lie detector test easily.

Source for the Ridgway info:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/48961_profile01.shtml


20 posted on 03/15/2005 11:20:36 PM PST by billclintonwillrotinhell
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-29 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson