John Couey investigation timeline

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Jessica Lunsford's body was found three weeks after she was reported missing.

On the morning of Feb. 24, 2005 in Citrus County, the father of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford discovered her missing.

Investigators began tracking every registered sex offender in the area.

Within a week, investigators focused on 46-year old John Couey , a registered sex offender who lived within two miles of Lunsford's home. After talking with Couey's relatives, they discovered their prime suspect had left for Savannah, Ga.

Oddly enough, Couey wound up in contact with a TV crew doing an unrelated story. They caught him relaxed and confident, sipping a drink. Then, on March 17, investigators received a tip Couey was staying in a homeless shelter in Augusta.

That's where he was arrested and charged with violating his probation for failing to let officials know he was leaving Florida. The following day Couey admitted to investigators he abducted and killed Lunsford.

"I can't figure out why she didn't say nothing," Couey said when queried by investigators. "Why she didn't ... why didn't she beat on the walls. Why didn't she yell? I mean ... I ...

"And she knew I was the only one in the room with her. It don't make no sense. I won't ever know that. I won't ever know that now."

Investigators found Jessica's body on March 19, 150 yards away from her home. Prosecutors charged Couey with capital murder, burglary, kidnapping and sexual battery. On March 22, the judge denied Couey bond.

Since then, the case has had its share of twists, with the prosecution taking many hits. On June 30, 2006 Judge Richard Howard ruled prosecutors can't use Couey's confession in court because he asked for a lawyer several times during interrogation, but didn't get one until detectives got their confession.

Jury selection in Couey's trial began in Lake County July 10, 2006, but in another twist, on July 13, Howard stopped jury selection, saying an impartial jury couldn't be found in Lake County.

The trial was moved to Miami, where a jury was selected and the case was tried in March 2007. Couey was found guilty on all four counts: capital murder, burglary, kidnapping and sexual battery. In the sentencing phase the same jury recommended the death penalty by a 10-2 count.

On August 24, Citrus County circuit judge Richard Howard sentenced Couey to the death penalty.