Posted on 04/20/2005 5:35:32 PM PDT by SFmother
April 20, 2005 INVERNESS - A 9-year-old girl who was raped and killed in Citrus County earlier this year was bound, then buried alive in a partial kneeling position while she clutched a purple stuffed dolphin doll, state prosecutors said in documents released Wednesday. When Jessica Marie ``Jessie'' Lunsford's body was found March 19 in a grave 4 feet deep, she was wrapped in two plastic trash bags that were knotted at her head and feet, the Fifth Circuit State Attorney's Office said in 292 pages of evidence that at times revealed the gruesome nature of her death.
John Evander Couey, the 46- year-old convicted sex offender accused in her slaying, confirmed much of the information in the confession he allegedly gave investigators the day before the third-grader's remains were found.
Jessie was buried 150 yards from her house, behind a trailer that Couey shared with three other adults.
She was wearing shorts and a shirt, different from the nightgown she was reported to be wearing when she disappeared.
A coroner's report said she died of asphyxiation.
Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino would not discuss the confession or other details of the case.
The confession ``will not be released to the public until the trial,'' Magrino said.
Couey is charged with first- degree murder, sexual battery on a child under 12, kidnapping and burglary with battery.
Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty if he is convicted on the murder charge.
Couey has pleaded not guilty.
His court-appointed attorney, assistant public defender Dan Lewan, could not be reached for comment.
Investigators say Jessie's grave was partially concealed by a mound of leaves.
Earlier, they said Couey's account of things was jumbled because he was in a drug haze at the time of the crimes.
Evidence collected near the grave included two glass crack- cocaine pipes and three pornographic magazines, investigators' statements say.
They also searched unsuccessfully for a pair of leather gloves Couey allegedly said he wore during the abduction.
Jessie went to church the night of Feb. 23 and was discovered missing the next morning by her father.
The back door of their mobile home was found unlocked.
Prosecutors say sometime during that night Couey slipped into the Lunsford home and snatched the girl without signs of a struggle or sounds to wake her grandparents, who were sleeping in another part of the house.
At the time he was on misdemeanor probation and - as required by law - for failing to report that he had moved into the trailer near Jessie's bedroom, authorities say.
Investigators believe Couey kept her alive for a period of time before she died.
"Couey has pleaded not guilty."
After giving a confession. Rotsa ruck.
Couey is the sickest human on the face of the earth.
What #### coward!
OMG...Im sorry I read this...that poor,poor baby...
The report should be required reading for those opposed to the death penalty.
This is peering into the darkest of all darkness. Couey buried that precious girl alive. I cannot imagine the stark terror that went through that precious child's mind before she finally succumbed.
A quick death is too good for this monster.
I'm opposed to the death penalty but I might be convinced that the act of witholding water and food isn't really killing him, it's only allowing him to die.
If ever hanging should be reinstated this is the time. What a monster!
I had to find a moral "loophole" and this one works for me.
If I had a dog that injured or killed a child, I would be held completely responsible. I hate to insult the canine species this way, but it's somewhat similar. Maybe they'd keep better tabs on these people.
What a terrible story. And by all accounts the father went to church and prayed constantly for her safe return, only for her to suffer a death like this. Faith alone is not enough, we need strong laws too.
I just want to cry. This little girl was stolen out of her bed, raped and burried alive. It's horrible. It's just so horrible and upsetting.
Our system of laws- our penalty system does not do fairness. We have to ask ourselves what is justice?
jus·tice
1. The quality of being just; fairness.
He deserves at the very least to be be killed in the same slow and traumatic way little Jessica was. An eye for an eye.
""I'm opposed to the death penalty ""
Not anymore you aren't.
Don't push me I found a loophole.
A much greater punishment than could ever be assigned by our courts awaits him for this horrific act.
And for those who support pornography in any way, shape, or form.
just heartbreaking...and I did cry....if this was my baby I'd find a way to kill this POS, even if I spent the rest of my life in prison.....sorry, this upsets me so much.
I know. Me too. Breaks your heart doesn't it? My God what an animal he is. No, not an animal. Animals take care of their young.
He isn't sick. He isn't insane. He's just a downright sexual pervert that needs to be put away for the rest of his miserable life never to see the light of day again. Never to be near a human being again much less a child. I am sick and tired of these kinds of perverts running our streets and endangering children. Put them away forever and always one by one by one until the rest of them get the message if they ever will. If not...at least the ones we put away for life will never harm another child.!!!
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