Citrus girl missing

	Jessica Lunsford

Authorities are still searching this afternoon for a 9-year-old Homosassa girl who went missing overnight.

Jessica Marie Lunsford was last seen wearing a pink silk nightgown and white silk shorts when she went to sleep at 10 p.m. Wednesday at her home at 7266 S Sonata Ave., off Cardinal Street, according to Citrus County sheriff's officials.

Authorities held a news conference early this afternoon, with another scheduled for 5 p.m. Sheriff's detectives and deputies, along with agents from the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement, were searching 2 square miles around the girl's home. The Sheriff's Office also was using its helicopter and search dog teams.

Jessica is described as a white female, 4 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 70 pounds, with light brown shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. She lives with her father and grandparents and is a third-grader at Homosassa Elementary.

There appears to be no evidence of forced entry into the residence, according to a sheriff's office spokeswoman.

Dispatchers issued a CodeRED, or reverse 911, to homes nearby to notify residents about the missing girl. The girl was entered as missing into the state and national databases. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement issued a missing child alert, similar to an Amber Alert.

Anyone who may have seen the girl or has information about her is asked to call (352) 726-1121 immediately. [Last modified February 24, 2005, 14:13:16]

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