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Family makes plea for girl's return
Girl's mother is found in Ohio. FBI is interviewing her.
By JUSTIN GEORGE
Published February 25, 2005
 Jessica Lunsford was last seen wearing a nightgown and shorts. |
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HOMOSASSA - The father and grandparents of a missing 9-year-old girl made their first public plea for her return this morning.
At a morning press conference, Mark Lunsford, pleaded for any information about his missing daughter, Jessica Marie Lunsford.
The 4-foot-11, 70-pound girl, who also goes by Jessie, went missing from her mobile home on Sonata Avenue in Homosassa sometime between 10 p.m. Wednesday and 6 a.m. Thursday. She was last seen wearing a pink nightgown with white shorts. The front door of the mobile home where Jessica lived with her father and grandparents, Archie and Ruth Lunsford, was found unlocked.
Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said Friday that the girl's mother, Angela Lunsford, had been located in Ohio and was being interviewed by the FBI, but he provided no other details and said there were no suspects - or even firm evidence that a kidnapping had occurred.
Angela Lunsford was located in Warren County, Ohio, said Lt. Jerry Mays of the sheriff's department there. Michael Brooks, spokesman for the FBI's Cincinnati field office, confirmed the FBI involvement in the case but declined comment on any specifics.
Jessica has not had contact with her mother in some time, said Mark Lunsford, who is separated from Angela Lunsford. Neither Jessica's parents nor her paternal grandparents, Archie and Ruth Lunsford, are considered suspects, a sheriff's spokeswoman said.
Searchers worked through the night and receiving help today from a special Florida Department of Law Enforcement Child Abduction Response Team.
Jessica's church will hold a candlelight vigil at
9 p.m. today to pray for her return. The service is open to the
public. Faith Baptist Church is located at 6918 S Spartan
Avenue in Homosassa.
[Last modified February 25, 2005, 14:19:21]
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