I too would leave no stone unturned or no dime unspent to find the perp and make his last day on Earth beyond his worst nightmares of terror and torture.
Posted on 03/20/2005 7:36:50 PM PST by TexKat
HOMOSASSA, Fla. - A convicted sex offender entered Jessica Lunsford's house through an unlocked door, snatched the 9-year-old girl from her bed and later sexually assaulted her, authorities said Sunday.
Medical examiners confirmed the sexual assault by examining her body. But because suspect John Evander Couey was under the influence of drugs, detectives might never know how long she was held before she was slain, Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said.
The sheriff released new details of the attack on the same day Couey was returned to Florida in shackles. He was booked early Sunday on a probation violation and failure to register as a sex offender. He was being held without bail.
Couey, 46, confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica after taking a lie-detector test Friday in Georgia, officials said. The girl's body was found early Saturday, more than three weeks after she vanished from her bedroom.
Jessica's father, in an emotional statement, expressed a desire to mete out justice of his own.
"I won't get the wish, but I wish I could see him, just one time," said Mark Lunsford, his eyes hidden by dark sunglasses.
Lunsford said he and his relatives would soon begin planning Jessica's funeral.
Couey had not been charged in her death, although that was expected soon.
"If he's not charged today, he probably will be tomorrow," sheriff's spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan told The Associated Press. "It shouldn't take that long."
At Jessica's church on Sunday, the pastor asked for prayers for the Lunsfords.
"Lord, we don't always understand your ways," the Rev. William LaVerle Coats told 175 grieving people during services at Faith Baptist Church, where many people saw the girl for the last time on the night she disappeared. "We accept what has taken place here, and ask that you would give us some peace."
Coats asked churchgoers to forgive Couey. Jessica's father said he may have a hard time with that request. "He needs to stand up and be a man now and take his death penalty," Mark Lunsford said.
Earlier, Couey appeared before Circuit Judge Stephen Spivey at the Citrus County Detention Center. He was declared indigent and was told a public defender would be assigned to his case.
He answered that he was doing "all right," when the judge asked how he was. Couey answered all other questions with either "Yes, sir" or "No, sir" replies.
At the end of the hearing, Spivey wished the man luck. "Thank you," Couey said softly, before turning and shuffling away, his shackles clanging together.
Couey was returned to Florida in an unmarked sheriff's vehicle, wearing a bulletproof vest and under the cloak of darkness.
He was being held in isolation at the jail for his safety, Hemminger Evan said. As a precaution, the timing of his arrival from Georgia was kept secret, although the sheriff's office was not aware of any threats against Couey.
Down the street from the Lunsford home and the church, well-wishers piled dozens of stuffed animals, flowers and candles high on a makeshift memorial. "God's newest little angel," one sign read.
Jessica, a third grader, was last seen in February when she went to bed after attending church. She was discovered missing the next morning.
Her body was found near a mobile home where Couey had been staying at the time of the abduction about 150 yards from Jessica's house.
Couey's half-sister and two others who lived in the home were charged with obstructing police for failing to notify authorities when Couey allegedly told them he had committed a crime.
The only way to prevent potential freakazoids like this from ever nearing the brink of their personal slipppery slope is to make their immediate and indubitable demise more horror filled than they can imagine life would be without their little crimes.
I am all for a return to drawing and quartering the b@stards, in the public square.
I have 9 grand daughters, and if anyone ever did something like this to one of them, he'd better get down on his knees and pray the police find him first.
Yep. Social Workers can spew that crap, too.
There is a risk of hitting the LEO, which will calm most folks down before they get ol' Bessie out of the rifle rack.
She rests with God now..We may never know how long she lived and what she endured..My mind does not want to go there..I can only pray for her loved ones, now, and for justice.
If any person helped him cover up this crime..or participated in any way I hope they can prove it..
Justice for Jessica..
I too would leave no stone unturned or no dime unspent to find the perp and make his last day on Earth beyond his worst nightmares of terror and torture.
Yes, and I am just about feed up with the paid talking heads on Fox News. spouting shite just to make a buck and have their mugs on tv.
Incredibly insensitive of Coats.
There was no point so why bother?
So you are saying he doesn't deserve forgiveness?
The pastor was guilty of being horribly insensitive to the grieving family.
"Most people would be embarrassed to display their ignorance on a subject as you have done."
Thank you, Elmer. Well said. Have you seen this poster's comments on starving Terri Schaivo to death, too? Very entertaining, if you're into watching people make fools of themselves. ;)
ONly if you have a feeding tube!
Florida only has the death penalty if you're in a near vegetative state with an ex-husband who got his hands on the malpractice settlement who wants to marry his babies' mommy...
It's too bad the judge can't just order the bailiff to take him out back and shoot him. Hopefully at least the judge can put him in a jail with some dudes that will meet out justice quickly.
You don't have to track them if they're dead or in jail.
Either kill the bastards the first time, or lock em up for good, but letting these predators back out on the street is unthinkable.
I think the father is going to do this guy before this is over, and I say good for him. I'd do the same thing. Either before he goes into jail or on the day he comes out, a bullet through his brain is the best medicine for what ails this creep.
That's what I thought.
Did they make a mistake switching numbers ? 64 perhaps...
" What exactly does this person need "luck" for, anyway?"
Perhaps the judge is sending into the general population at the county jail...
Plenty of fire ant mounds in Florida that could be put to good use.
Thanks for posting my exact thoughts! This subhuman, creapazoid, POS, doesn't deserve any chance! I say give him to the girls father as requested.
The best justice would be to release this scumbag into the fathers custody for swift and permanent justice.
I would die trying to kill this evil SOB.
Each time I hear something like this cast iron bars on my daughters windows seems less extreme.
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