New information in Couey case

Tuesday, July 11, 2006

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Click here for a larger image of Couey.

Authorities have released new documents in the case against John Couey, the man accused of raping and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in Homosassa in February.

In interviews with investigators in Georgia in March, Couey said he had been charged in the past with exposing himself to a child, and that he thinks he did it because he himself is a rape victim.

He told them he was raped by teachers and a male relative and that "stupid me never reported it." Couey also told investigators he saw the same relative rape his older sister.

The documents released Tuesday also include a confession to investigators of a sex crime more than 10 years ago. That confession took place in Kissimmee, and Couey said he coaxed a small child into playing with him, then exposed himself to her.

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"I did not take her clothes off," Couey said in the confession. "Nothing like that. I did not molest her."

But Couey did say that he forced the child to touch him sexually.

Couey remained calm throughout the confession, saying he didn't want to go to prison, but did want to get help.

In a taped confession from March of this year, Couey expressed remorse about what happened to Lunsford.

"I swear to God, if I could go back and change it, that little girl would still be right where she is," Couey said. "I mean, I'm talking about home."