Video report
- For their own good
 Fifty years ago, they were screwed-up kids sent to the Florida School for Boys to be straightened out. But now they are screwed-up men, scarred by the whippings they endured. Read the story and see a video and portrait gallery.
- More video reports
|
News
Fill out this form to email this article to a friend
The Jessica Lunsford tragedy
A father's wrath
By PHOTOS AND TEXT BY STEPHEN J. CODDINGTON Of The Times
Published July 15, 2007
Anger. Vengeance. Justice. These abstractions tumbled through Mark Lunsford's mind.
Then a concrete reality would intrude: There in the courtroom was the small man who kidnapped and raped his 9-year-old daughter, Jessica, and left her to suffocate in a garbage bag, buried alive. This week a judge will weigh evidence on whether or not the killer, John Evander Couey, is mentally retarded or has the mental capacity to face the death penalty, as the jury recommended. Couey will be sentenced next month. Lunsford has examined his own conscience.
There was a time when he wanted to kill Couey himself. He knows that's wrong and has come to accept that the system of justice, while far from perfect, is all there is in a civilized world; that he should work within the system for change, a national crusade to punish sex offenders.
But for a man who drove a dump truck and now has his phone calls taken by movers and shakers, whose life has been buffeted by so many events, he still believes if there is to be justice, Couey must die. See photo essay.
[Last modified July 16, 2007, 12:40:48]
Share your thoughts on this story
Comments on this article
|
by Paul
|
08/27/07 02:14 AM
|
|
..but soon it will spill out into the innocent public and everyone will be under the control of the corporate elite bankers. Resist these types of legislation! DO not let these types of stories let your emotional side take control, use common sense!
|
|
by Paul
|
08/27/07 02:12 AM
|
|
I do not condone the use of of this "monitoring" system of convicted sex offenders after they get out of prison because it creates an ever growing base of individuals our government keeps tabs on, sure it's criminals convicted of a heinious crime..
|
|
by Heather
|
08/24/07 03:44 PM
|
|
In reference to Bill's comment:
You absolutely WOULD have your face displayed by the media in such a fashion, because that is the only way to make people aware and rouse law-makers to action. You have to make the crime 'human' to politicians.
|
|
by darryl
|
07/24/07 07:32 AM
|
|
Sure he is making money off this.not out of being heartless or being selfish.he couldnt do his crusade with out donations.presidential campains cant exist with out donations.If mark was to come out with a book.then there could be a debate.
|
|
by brittany
|
07/23/07 04:21 PM
|
|
i truley hope he gets the death penalty i wish through asfixitiation but i dont think we are that lucky and as far as him being retarded is a joke he must have ploted on the little girl to make her feel comfortable around him ther was no sign of forc
|
|
by brittany
|
07/23/07 02:38 PM
|
|
last night i had nightmares about this little girl i read the article a long time but for some reason it came to me and upset me alot and for the last person comment i read about her father making money off of his daugthers death is just heartless
|
|
by Bill
|
07/22/07 01:25 PM
|
|
Add me to the list of those who think Mr. Lunsrord is making a living off this crime. No one can presume to know how they would behave until they become victims, but I personally would not have my face before the media in such a fashion.
|
|
by L.
|
07/19/07 08:38 PM
|
|
I don't know if you're the same AJ as in the Sherri Loukis article, but if you are, give it a rest. Quit blasting the victims. If the system had done its job, Couey wouldn't have been there for Lunsford to worry about
|
|
by Jeri
|
07/18/07 11:39 AM
|
|
AJ...Please.Mark's parents were there with her.Nothing illegal about going out as long as you have a sitter.Get real.
|
|
by Jeri
|
07/18/07 11:36 AM
|
|
Couey should die and soon.He didn't color in a book this time around.That was a set-up for court.Put this scum out of his misery.
|
|
by Kevin
|
07/16/07 09:26 PM
|
|
brother belive me there will be justice..keep the faith...have i ever steered you wrong ...
|
|
by Amanda
|
07/16/07 01:05 PM
|
|
Mark, I don't know how you must feel, but I do justice will prevail. As you said in your video, Jessica is still saying Daddy don't get mad. HOld yours and GOD will hold his.
|
|
by merry
|
07/16/07 12:49 PM
|
|
this man is not retarded , he had enough sense to flee the crime scene, flee the state, and try to start a new life in another state, they found him drinking in a bar, these are all clear choices for the lowlife man he is.
|
|
by Steve
|
07/16/07 09:26 AM
|
|
Couey has no social redeeming factors. I don't want my tax dollars keeping this man alive for the rest of his life.
|
|
by Jim
|
07/16/07 09:04 AM
|
|
cont. with sin. Sin is a part of all of us.. even the most devout. I was taught that if you steal a piece of gum, it's a bad as killing someone to God. If that's true how many of us are on the same level? Put him in prison and leave him to God...
|
|
by Jim
|
07/16/07 08:58 AM
|
|
All those people screaming about justice for Jesse.. think of this...if you are truly Christian, what do you think Jesus would have done with this man? Christ understood what sin is, a stain on mankind soul. not because we hoose it, we are born cont.
|
|
by Wanda
|
07/16/07 08:56 AM
|
|
The Spirits that live in couey will go to someone else if he is killed. (satanic spirits) nothing can bring jessica back her father must forgive this terrible crime. and try to help other children like her from being victims of the world.
|
|
by Linda
|
07/16/07 07:55 AM
|
|
Mark, you just keep on keeping on,you can't please everyone.Justice for Jessie is how it should be..I pray for you and your family and I am truly sorry for your loss.Couey will have his day either in prison or hell.Hang in there Mark.
|
|
by James
|
07/16/07 07:20 AM
|
|
I don't know, I thought he was gnuine at first the more I watch him, the more Lunsford seems like he's doing all this for himself, not for other parents or other children, and now he's trying to use his daughter's death to get rich... too bad.
|
|
by christine
|
07/16/07 07:11 AM
|
|
This animal should die and never be able to take another breath. How dare he feed his face and be able to live after what he did to Jessie and Mark??no crayons where hes going, just pure hell
|
|
by AJ
|
07/16/07 06:55 AM
|
|
Maybe if Lunsford had stayed at home that night instead of shirking his parental responsibilities, this would not have happened.
|
|
by Rita
|
07/16/07 06:08 AM
|
|
Sending Couey to prison for life would be the courageous thing to do. His life would end quicker. Lunsford would prolong his life if he went to death row where he would be isolated.
Lunsford's hatred won't bring Jessica back.
|
|
by faithful
|
07/16/07 02:47 AM
|
|
Fear not Mark Lunsford, for regardless of the decisions reached by the justice system of a civilized world, the prison system is hardly a civilized society.
|
|
by G
|
07/16/07 01:58 AM
|
|
I am sorry all this has happened, but Mr Lunsford is making money off his poor daughter Jessica. Flying every where and living and reating the finishes. Money just pouring in the purse. May run for office. Couey should die, but living off Jessica?
|
|
by CT
|
07/16/07 01:25 AM
|
|
My comment is on the comment by "Fish". Maybe if something was done years ago to punish teens doing those things most of you did, as you put it, we wouldn't have such a big problem today. Something is being done, thank you Mark Lunsford.
|
|
by Maria
|
07/15/07 06:04 PM
|
|
I feel as a parent of 3 daughters Mr..Lunsford is doing whatever it takes to prevent this ever from happening to any child must be taken.I do not feel that this was Mr.Lunsford vendeta persay.He's doing what has to be done for jessica to help others.
|
|
by Arclight
|
07/15/07 04:37 PM
|
|
It is a shame that Couey will never be executed. He will die in prison of old age, or as I hope, he will die as a result of "Inmate Justice." The appeal system is too long. 2 appeals and thats it.
|
|
by FISH
|
07/15/07 12:08 PM
|
|
I feel for Lunsford. I also feel for the kids his vendeta has harmed. Teens caught doing what most of us did, and now marked for life as SO's. Lunsford fought to punish all SO's. He succeeded. Now his own boy is caught in his web of revenge in Ohio.
|
|
Subscribe to the Times
Click here for daily delivery
of the St. Petersburg Times.
|
News
Print
Email story
Comment
Letter to the editor
