• Killer of Fla. 9-year-old dies of natural causes
    30 replies, posted
[quote]TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — John Evander Couey, a convicted sex offender awaiting execution for kidnapping, raping and burying 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford alive, died of natural causes Wednesday. Couey, 51, had been ill for some time and died at a Jacksonville hospital where he had been since Aug. 12, said Department of Corrections spokeswoman Gretl Plessinger. "It was not a surprise," she said, but declined to provide specifics because prison officials had not yet received a report from the hospital. Jessica's grandmother, Ruth Lunsford, 77, said in a telephone interview that she could not feel bad about Couey's death. "He murdered my granddaughter. He didn't show any mercy to my granddaughter," she said. "God took control of it. He took him out of this world. ... I'm not crying, honey. If my legs and feet would hold up, I'd go out and shout all over Citrus County." Citrus County Sheriff Jeffrey Dawsey, who oversaw the investigation, said his first reaction to Couey's death was one of disappointment. "I really wanted the state of Florida to put John Couey to death," Dawsey said. "I wanted to be there to look into his eyes when they administered the serum. "I guess this is nature taking its course," he said. "And I'm satisfied with that." The 2005 crime prompted many states to pass laws named for Jessica that impose restrictions on sex offenders, including registration requirements. Florida's version bans them and others convicted of serious crimes from school grounds. Couey took Jessica from her bedroom to his nearby trailer in February 2005, triggering a massive search. The third-grader's body was found about three weeks later in a grave in Couey's yard, only about 150 yards from her home. Her body was found under a foot of dirt wrapped in two garbage bags. She had poked holes through the bags with her fingers, although her hands were bound with wire. She was still clutching her favorite stuffed animal, a purple dolphin. Couey died just over a month before the Florida Supreme Court was scheduled to hear his automatic appeal. He had an IQ of 78, slightly above the level generally considered mentally disabled, but the judge rejected an argument by his lawyer that he could not be legally executed. Couey's 2007 trial was moved to Miami because of publicity about the case, and he spent much of it drawing in coloring books. He looked straight ahead as Circuit Judge Ric Howard told him he should be executed. Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, teared up then as he listened to the judge read a detailed history of the case. Outside court, he had a message for Couey: "Skip all these appeals. Take your punishment. Stand up and be a man." Couey confessed to the crime, but his confession was thrown out because he did not have a lawyer present. Jail guards and investigators testified he repeatedly admitted details of the slaying but said he hadn't meant to kill the girl. Prosecutors also introduced overwhelming physical evidence, including fingerprints and DNA. Couey previously had been convicted of exposing himself to a 5-year-old girl in 1991. His criminal record also included 24 burglary arrests and carrying a concealed weapon. The Lunsford family's rural central Florida community expressed feelings of relief over Couey's death. On Wednesday afternoon, children rode their bicycles outside and only a lot of dry grass marked the place where Couey had lived. "I don't know if there's ever such a thing as closure," said Dave Richardson, 78, who lives across the street from where Couey's mobile home once stood. "But that'll help, knowing that he's gone." ___ Associated Press writers Curt Anderson in Miami and Christine Armario in Homosassa contributed to this report. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.[/quote] Sauce:[url]http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20090930/US.Florida.Girl.Slain/[/url] This is him: [media]http://por-img.cimcontent.net/api/assets/bin-200909/4ee3-Girl-Slain.jpg[/media]
Got what was coming to him. Too bad it wasn't by execution or what not.
He's a sad looking fucker. Dead now though so I guess it doesn't really matter.
But... the title said it was the 9 year old who died of natural causes =/
Misleading thread title. Was expecting a killer 9 year old girl.
[quote]I wanted to be there to look into his eyes when they administered the serum.[/quote] That's some hardcore shit.
Wait I thought a 9 year old serial killer died of natural causes
killer [b]of[/b] Fla. 9-year-old dies of natural causes although I'm not sure what a Fla. is
Should've just said "Killer of 9-year-old girl dies of natural causes"
[QUOTE=Juniez;17591430]killer [b]of[/b] Fla. 9-year-old dies of natural causes although I'm not sure what a Fla. is[/QUOTE] Florida
I don't know 'bout the rest of the world, but us here in Florida abbreviate it Fl.
misleading title. I came in here expecting to read about a crazy 9 year old killer that died.
I agree with venn177 that is from same state as me
[QUOTE=Nori;17591510]Florida[/QUOTE] It was a nine-year old who killed Florida
also what the hell is Fla?
[QUOTE=StupidUsername67;17591648]also what the hell is Fla?[/QUOTE] florida
[QUOTE=venn177;17591588]I don't know 'bout the rest of the world, but us here in Florida abbreviate it Fl.[/QUOTE] yes, us floridians do indeed abbreviate it as FL. What city you from boyo? Altamonte Springs here.
He should have died a worse death for that.
This guy was fucking insane.
[QUOTE=Billiam;17591773]This guy was fucking insane.[/QUOTE] No. Aside from the whole burying a nine year old girl alive after molesting her, I'm sure he was quite normal.
He was such a fuckup that nature wanted to take a shot at him first
This is an outrage; lets bring him back and kill him again! Good he's dead, though. Ultimately it doesn't matter what killed him.
Natural causes you say? Only in [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFQG4094qrs[/media]
Natural courses are better than execution, so he should be happy :downs: But he's dead, so all he can feel are the insects eating away at him.
I thought the girl was raped and buried and they determined her death as "natural causes" from the title and a bit of the first sentence. That confused me for a second or two.
By reading this, the thread title makes my head hurt
That guy is a dick.
"I guess this is nature taking it's course." Ye, I'm sure.
[QUOTE=JerryK;17591489]Should've just said "Killer of 9-year-old girl dies of natural causes"[/QUOTE] A old 9 year old dies of natural causes?, is she benjamin button?. Jokes aside. Sick fuck.
[QUOTE=Nori;17591678]yes, us floridians do indeed abbreviate it as FL. What city you from boyo? Altamonte Springs here.[/QUOTE] St. Petersburg.
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