Police find Jessica Lunsford's body
'She's home now,' girl's dad says; sex offender held in slaying
The body of missing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was found early Saturday, a day after officials said a registered sex offender confessed to kidnapping and killing the girl.
March 19: A registered sex offender reportedly confessed to the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Lunsford, and told police where to find her body. Crews worked through the night in temperatures that dipped into the low 40s. Bright search lights were erected around the perimeter, and several candles left from a late-night vigil burned nearby. John Evander Couey, 46, confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica after taking a lie-detector test Friday in Georgia, Dawsy said. She disappeared from her bedroom more than three weeks ago. .
Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said Jessica’s body was found during an overnight search in a densely wooded area, only about 150 yards away from the home the girl shared with her father and grandparents. The body was found in the area around the trailer home of Couey’s half-sister
“Everyone heard me say, time after time, that she would be home,” Lunsford said, his eyes hidden behind dark black sunglasses. “She’s home now.”
John Evander Couey, 46, confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica after taking a lie-detector test Friday in Georgia, Dawsy said. She disappeared from her bedroom more than three weeks ago. .
“We’re en route to bring him back home,” said Dawsy, who added that he wants Couey to face the death penalty.
“This guy is not a quality person, by any means. ... He’s truly a piece of trash,” the sheriff said.
Mark Lunsford has said the family did not know Couey, who was arrested Thursday.
“He may have interacted with Jessica,” Dawsy said. “But there is no relationship between Couey and this family.”
'He will pay'
At a news conference late Friday from Ohio, the girl’s mother, Angela Bryant, repeatedly made the same vow: Couey, she said, “will pay.”
“This man’s hurt too many people,” she said through tears. “He’s hurt too many children. And one of them is my daughter. He took her life from her and she didn’t deserve it. He will pay. He will pay. For hurting them children out there and my daughter, he will pay.”
Oh this poor family
Watching the Mom and Dad talk was just heart breaking......I hope they fry him this time.