Police: Couey confesses to kidnapping, killing girl
Friday, March 18, 2005 Posted: 7:04 PM EST (0004 GMT)
Image
Authorities: John Evander Couey admits killing Jessica Lunsford
Image:
What's this?
MyCashNow - $100 - $1,000 Overnight
Payday Loan Cash goes in your account overnight. Very low fees. Fast decisions....
www.mycashnow.com
Refinance Rates Hit Record Lows
Get $150,000 loan for $625 per month. Refinance while rates are low.
www.lowermybills.com
Accredited Online Degree
Earn an accredited AA, BS, MS, MBA or Doctoral degree 100% online.
www.univofphoenixonline.com
Compare Mortgage Offers
Up to four free mortgage, refinance or home equity offers - one easy form.
www.nextag.com
more videoVIDEO
Police name a convicted sex offender a "person of interest."
premium contentPLAY VIDEO
John Couey is taken into custody on unrelated charges.
premium contentPLAY VIDEO
RELATED
? Search focuses on smaller area
? Father pleads for daughter
? Citrus County Sheriff's Officeexternal link
'PERSON OF INTEREST'
John "Johnny" Evander Couey
# White male
# Born September 19, 1958
# 5 feet 4 inches, 125 pounds
# Blue eyes, gray hair
# Goatee
# Tattoos on right arm
Criminal history:
# Outstanding warrant for violation of probation charge stemming from a 2004 arrest for possession of marijuana under 20 grams and possession of drug paraphernalia.
# Arrested multiple times on various charges, including burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, disorderly intoxication, driving under the influence, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, fraud, insufficient funds and larceny.
# Arrested in 1991 on charges of a sex offense, fondling a child under the age of 16.
# Registered sexual offender in Citrus County.
# Has absconded more than once.
# Driver's license suspended for 99 years.
Source: Citrus County Sheriff's Office
YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS
Florida
Jessica Lunsford
or Create your own
Manage alerts | What is this?
HOMOSASSA SPRINGS, Florida (CNN) -- Convicted sex offender John Evander Couey has confessed to abducting and killing 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, authorities in Homosassa Springs, Florida said Friday.
Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said that Couey had taken a polygraph test today, then at the end told officials, "'You don't need to tell me the results. I already know what they are.'"
Dawsy added, "John Couey admitted to abducting Jessica and subsequently taking her life."
The announcement came after authorities sealed off the Homosassa Springs home where Couey was staying when Lunsford disappeared three weeks ago.
The two homes are across the street from each other.
Helicopters are flying overhead. Yellow crime scene tape is stretched around the property. Police are searching the grounds and nearby wooded area.
Except for an unlocked front door, the Lunsford home was undisturbed, with no signs of a struggle. She lived with her father -- Mark Lunsford -- and her grandparents.
Lunsford said he had never seen Couey before or heard his name. He had earlier told reporters he was not convinced that Couey was involved.
Couey was arrested on parole violation charges at a homeless shelter in Augusta, Georgia on Thursday and questioned in the disappearance, law enforcement sources said.
Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength described Couey as "cooperative."
"He was taken without incident. He did not try to hide who he was," the sheriff said. "He told us who he was. And we had no problem whatsoever with him."
Investigators from Citrus County, Florida -- the lead team on the investigation -- and the FBI are questioning Couey.
The 46-year-old is registered in Citrus County as a sex offender but wasn't living at the address he had given authorities, sheriff's department spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan said.
Authorities had already searched Couey's residence and removed several items from it, Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said.
Jessica is 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighs 70 pounds, has light brown hair and was last reported wearing a pink nightgown.
Dawsy said that Couey's name came up when authorities were investigating sexual offenders in the area.
Warrant issued after address change
Under Florida law, a convicted sex offender must register his change of address, and a warrant was issued, according to the sheriff.
Dawsy said detectives have been concerned about Couey because of his criminal history spanning more than three decades and 24 arrests, including burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, larceny and drug charges.
Couey pleaded guilty to 1991 felony charges of sex offense against a child, fondling a child under 16, and lewd and lascivious conduct in Kissimmee, Florida. He was convicted of indecent exposure in 1987, according to records from the sheriff's office.
During a 1978 burglary for which he was convicted, Couey was accused of grabbing a girl in her bedroom, placing his hand over her mouth and kissing her, Dawsy said.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/03/18/mis...irl/index.html