Murder of Jessica Lunsford

nine-year-old American girl murdered in 2005

Jessica Marie Lunsford (October 6, 1995 – February 27, 2005) was an American nine-year-old girl who was abducted from her home in Homosassa, Florida on February 24, 2005, then raped and murdered by 46-year-old John Couey, a known sex offender.[1]

The media covered the investigation and trial of her killer extensively. On August 24, 2007, a judge in Inverness, Florida sentenced Couey, a convicted sex offender, to death for kidnapping, raping and murdering her. On September 30, 2009, before the sentences could be carried out, Couey died of natural causes.[2]

Lunsford's murder influenced the legislation in Florida known as "Jessica's Law". It is designed to protect potential victims and reduce a sexual offender's ability to re-offend. It has influenced legislation in forty-two other states.

References change

  1. Aguayo, Terry (2007-03-08). "Sex Offender Guilty of Rape and Murder of Florida Girl". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-06-09.
  2. "Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison, Florida officials say". CNN.com. September 30, 2009. Retrieved December 27, 2016.