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Mark Lunsford

Christine Smith will never forget the moment she watched her 21-year-old son being led out of a Florida courtroom in handcuffs.

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Riding with a club no parent wants to joinupdated: Thu Nov 04 2010 13:39:00

Some real action heroes rolled into Hollywood a week ago under the sparkling California sun. They'd pedaled across the country from Rochester, New York, but their journeys in life had brought them much farther -- from the darkest corners of fear and pain to the bright light of survival and good works.

Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison, Florida officials sayupdated: Wed Sep 30 2009 19:43:00

A Florida death-row inmate convicted of abducting and murdering 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford in 2005 has died, prison officials said Wednesday.

'It's not about money'updated: Wed Feb 27 2008 11:22:00

The father of Jessica Lunsford, the girl who was raped and murdered by a neighbor in 2005, announces he is suing the sheriff who handled the case.

Father of slain girl to file suit over failed searchupdated: Wed Feb 27 2008 11:22:00

Mark Lunsford, whose daughter Jessica was abducted, raped and killed by a neighbor in 2005, is planning to sue the Citrus County, Florida, sheriff for failing to search the neighbor's home, Lunsford's attorneys said.

Child killer sentenced to deathupdated: Fri Aug 24 2007 06:19:00

John Evander Couey was sentenced Friday to death for abducting, raping and killing a 9-year-old Florida girl by burying her alive in 2005.

Couey sentencing reactionupdated: Fri Aug 24 2007 06:19:00

Couey sentencing reaction

Dad to child killer: 'My daughter has heard me cry'updated: Wed Jul 18 2007 03:10:00

Looking directly at the man who murdered his 9-year-old daughter, Mark Lunsford told John Evander Couey, "I hope you hear her cry as you try to sleep at night."

A father's testimonyupdated: Wed Jul 18 2007 03:10:00

A father's testimony

Couey jury wants death for Florida girl's killerupdated: Wed Mar 14 2007 17:28:00

Jurors on Wednesday recommended the death penalty for John Evander Couey, who was found guilty last week of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and murdering 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford.

Congress gets Lunsford legislationupdated: Thu Apr 21 2005 16:45:00

Members of Congress on Thursday were introduced to legislation that would require states to keep closer tabs on convicted sex offenders not behind bars.

Judge: Florida girl's killing 'beyond words'updated: Tue Mar 22 2005 07:18:00

John Evander Couey made his first appearance in court Tuesday on charges of murdering 9-year-old Jessica Marie Lunsford, with the judge telling the 46-year-old his alleged crimes are "beyond words."

Murder charge brought against man accused in slaying of girlupdated: Mon Mar 21 2005 08:55:00

The 9-year-old Florida girl whose body was found last Saturday buried in a neighbor's yard was asphyxiated, a medical examiner's report said Monday.

Sheriff: Evidence points to sex abuseupdated: Sun Mar 20 2005 09:17:00

Jessica Marie Lunsford, the 9-year-old Florida girl whose body was found Saturday near her parents' home, was kidnapped from her bedroom, and there is evidence from a medical examiner that she was sexually assaulted, the Citrus County sheriff said Sunday night.

No significant revelations from man in missing girl case updated: Fri Mar 18 2005 10:09:00

A convicted sex offender in custody in Georgia has not told investigators anything significant to help the investigation into the disappearance of a missing 9-year-old Florida girl, law enforcement sources said Friday.

Authorities: 'Major development' in missing Florida girl caseupdated: Thu Mar 17 2005 10:41:00

Authorities have sealed off the Homosassa Springs, Florida, home where convicted sex offender John Evander Couey was staying when 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford disappeared three weeks ago.

'Person of interest' sought in Florida missing girl caseupdated: Tue Mar 15 2005 14:41:00

Police in Citrus County, Florida, are looking for a man they are calling a "person of interest" in the case of a missing 9-year-old Homosassa girl, the sheriff's department said Tuesday.

Volunteers search in rain for Florida girlupdated: Sun Feb 27 2005 14:59:00

More than 400 volunteers turned out Sunday in pouring rain to help law enforcement officers search for 9-year-old Jessica Marie Lunsford, who was last reported seen Wednesday evening.

$25,000 reward for information on missing girlupdated: Sat Feb 26 2005 09:37:00

The father of a missing 9-year-old Florida girl made a tearful plea for public help in locating her Saturday, as authorities announced a $25,000 reward for information about her whereabouts.

Search for Florida girl to continue Saturdayupdated: Fri Feb 25 2005 07:44:00

More than 100 people combing a western Florida county for a missing 9-year-old girl will continue the search Saturday morning, Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said.

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