Post by Emerald City on Mar 21, 2005 17:32:41 GMT -5
INVERNESS, Fla. - A convicted sex offender was formally charged Monday with capital murder and other crimes in the abduction and death of a 9-year-old Florida girl.
John Evander Couey, 46, was also charged with burglary, kidnapping and sexual battery on a child under the age of 12, officials said. His arraignment is set for Tuesday, officials said.
Authorities said he confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica Marie Lunsford after taking a lie-detector test in Georgia. The girl's body was found Saturday, more than three weeks after she vanished from her Florida bedroom.
Couey was brought back to Florida and booked Sunday on a probation violation and failure to register his change of address as required as a sex offender. He has been held without bond.
Sheriff's officials and the girl's father, Mark Lunsford, have said they will urge prosecutors seek the death penalty.
"I don't believe you have two chances when you get involved with a young child," Sheriff Jeff Dawsy told ABC's "Good Morning America" early Monday.
Jessica, a third grader, was last seen the night of Feb. 23 when she went to bed after attending church. 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.
The 5-foot-4, 120-pound Couey entered the Lunsford house through an unlocked door and later sexually assaulted her, Dawsy said. Authorities believe Couey was under the influence of drugs.
Medical examiners determined that Jessica died from asphyxiation, the arrest report said.
"The defendant stated that he knew the victim was dead and that everyone would know that he did it after the body was found," the arrest report said.
Down the street from the Lunsford home, well-wishers have piled dozens of stuffed animals, flowers and candles high on a makeshift memorial. "God's newest little angel," one sign read.
John Evander Couey, 46, was also charged with burglary, kidnapping and sexual battery on a child under the age of 12, officials said. His arraignment is set for Tuesday, officials said.
Authorities said he confessed to kidnapping and killing Jessica Marie Lunsford after taking a lie-detector test in Georgia. The girl's body was found Saturday, more than three weeks after she vanished from her Florida bedroom.
Couey was brought back to Florida and booked Sunday on a probation violation and failure to register his change of address as required as a sex offender. He has been held without bond.
Sheriff's officials and the girl's father, Mark Lunsford, have said they will urge prosecutors seek the death penalty.
"I don't believe you have two chances when you get involved with a young child," Sheriff Jeff Dawsy told ABC's "Good Morning America" early Monday.
Jessica, a third grader, was last seen the night of Feb. 23 when she went to bed after attending church. 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.
The 5-foot-4, 120-pound Couey entered the Lunsford house through an unlocked door and later sexually assaulted her, Dawsy said. Authorities believe Couey was under the influence of drugs.
Medical examiners determined that Jessica died from asphyxiation, the arrest report said.
"The defendant stated that he knew the victim was dead and that everyone would know that he did it after the body was found," the arrest report said.
Down the street from the Lunsford home, well-wishers have piled dozens of stuffed animals, flowers and candles high on a makeshift memorial. "God's newest little angel," one sign read.