How insane are we getting. The police did everything within their power and the limits of the law to find that missing little girl. For her father to file a lawsuit against the agency that put together a successful case for prosecution is nothing but an attempt to make a fast buck. What a shame.

I had at one time, respect for Jessica's father, but since he got in bed with the attorneys.

GREED.

You have to be kidding, the police did there up most to find this little girl.  Maybe if the father was home that night instead of leaving his parent duties to his older mother and father he would have heard the kidnapping.

I think Mark Lunsford was the one that was negligent. Where was he when his daughter was taken. He was shacked up with his girlfriend.  Maybe if he had been home he would have heard Jessica being taken from their home.

I think now that it is over Mark is not in the paper any more and is doing this to be back in the papers again. Where was he when this happened? He was not even home he was with a girl friend. Maybe if he was home where he should have been, who knows...........but it is not the fault of the sheiffs dept.

The true Mark is finally showing his colors.  I wish one reporter would ask Mark, how he pays his bills?  What is his job?  Where are the financial records on his foundation.  I would not give a dime to him and more than just me feel this way.  

That's ridiculous.  Mark Lunsford should take a good hard look in the mirror and realize there's one person who was not there to save his daughter when that sicko took her away and killed her.  Her father.   The Sheriff went out of his way to make the case visible in the media where so many similar cases get lost.  The sheriff's office investigated the case successfully---  found Jessica's body, and arrested the person responsible for her death.  Mark Lunsford's failures as a father, and the sexual predator's failures as a human being are responsible for her death.  Not law enforcement.  This is an attempt to grab money... I knew when I saw that man that this was his true lowlife character.  He's proved that now, and will end up making a fool of himself in court instead of directing his efforts towards protecting other children as he has and should be doing.  

After all the public did for this man I think it is disgusting that he sees nothing but dollar signs. Is he also going to sue himself for not being home the night she was taken? If anyone was negligent it would be the reflection in his mirror!

If Lunsford was a better father, such as keeping decent hours and working for a living, maybe he would have been home when his daughter was taken from her home.  It is unfortunate that this happened, however, instead of trying to get rich, he should do all he can to continue bringing the forces together for better laws.  It's a shame that he is now trying to get rich by besmirching the very ones that helped him.

Mark Lunsford is way off base.  Where were Mark and his father when Jessica disappeared?  Who was watching the child? Or who really cared about the child.  And why didn't Jessica attempt to escape - or had she been previously molested or abused, so the kidnaping by Couy was just another day in her young life.

May be he should sue his parents for going to bed and not locking the door!!!!!!!!!Where was Jessica's Father at that time of night.??????

The reason I think there was negligence is because they should have searched the trailer where they eventually found her (the first time they went there) and they should have paid special attention due to a parolee living there and should have known he was there.  And why was he living there close to children. This has always bothered me as to why they did not do this.

I sure feel different about Mark Lunsford now. It seems like now the reporters aren't following him around keeping him in the limelight he has to do something about that. People are going to loose all respect for him. I hate to say what some of the other remarks have said above but "where was he the night Jessica dissapeared?"  That sheriff and his department put their "all" into that case and treated the Lunsfords like family. Is money going to bring her back? No but it might make his life a little easier. I've never heard what kind of a job does Mark have?

Cashing in on there kids deaths mark and john walsh thats ashame

What a sad day this is... To see Mark Lunsford now trying to cash in on his daughters murder. In the days after the kidnapping, Mark was praising law enforcement and their efforts, now that he wants money how his tune changes. This lawsuit will NOT bring back his precious Jessica. If Mark is so set on placing blame then he must first and foremost blame himself for not being there the night his daughter was kidnapped. Was his night out shacking up with his girlfriend worth the life of his daughter?? I hope the court throws this lawsuit out.

I can't believe this man, who worked so close with the sheriff's men and local searchers would now put a knife in their backs.  How can he expect others to be able to find his daughter when he himself walked by where she was being held. Look in the mirror pal, no amount of money will bring Jessica back or ease your guilt.  God Bless little Jessica and God help Mark, as it seems almighty greed has taken over his life.

This is just a ploy to get money.  While I may feel for his loss; he has none nothng, but capitalize on his daughter's death.  Where was he when she was taken????  He certainly wasn't where a responsible father should have been.  What are his funds drying up because of a lack of interviews and traveling all over promoting himself.  This man needs to get a job and stop capitalizing in his poor daughter's death.  Law enforcement did nothing wrong.  Mark Lunsford should be ashamed of himself.

The police are not allowed to search a home without a search warrant...this is why they were not able to search the mobile home. Not to mention that the lady living there did not tell authorities that Couey was staying there. This is not negligence on the police's behalf at all.They followed procedures within the limits of the law. They searched night and day to find this little girl and now you have a father who wants to get back in the limelight and score some money off his daughters murder. TRAGIC!! Mark Lundsford should be ashamed!!!

This man will never answer present at a MENSA meeting.  He is the epitome of an irate, outraged parent when something bad, in this case very bad, happens to the child blames everyone else but himself.  Where was Mr Parent of the Year the night his daughter was abducted?  He choose the neighborhood - did he never read the local police beat in the Citrus Chronical and see the amount of crime in his chosen area? Was he not aware of who his neighbors were?  If he was unaware of the activities in the general area, shame to him for being derilict in his duty as a parent. It is an awful thing to loose a child to such an animal as Couey, however, Mr Lunsford seems to have done very well with the talk circuit, publicity as a child advocate and drawing sympathy and concern for himself and his plight.  

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME WITH HIS DAUGHTER.  THE POLICE DID ALL IN THEIR POWER TO TRY AND FIND HIS DAUGHTER ALIVE.  HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PARENT FIRST; NOT LOOKING TO SHACK UP WITH  HIS GIRLFRIEND.  HIS PARENTS ARE ELDERLY AND HARDLY ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES; ESPECIALLY IF THEY ARE ON MEDICATION.

Since day one it has been my opinion that had Mark Lunsford been home that night like he should have been instead of shacking up and if her grandparents would have been responsible and made sure the doors and windows were locked, Jessica would be alive today. It is  So guess where I put the blame.

Mark has not been in the lime light lately. His coffers are drying up. He needs to get a job (that is if he knows how to work) and stop living off the public. I wonder if the IRS is keeping tract of his income and how he is able to pay his bills.

People who know Mark , knows what Mark was doing that night and many other nights. He should have been home with his daughter. You think he would be grateful that he wasn't charged for leaving his daughter with a known child molester. Mark needs to realize that this is about Jesse, not him. I feel Mark is using Jesse's death for his own reconition. Why did he not fight for this law before Jesse died, There was plenty other kids out there that this was done to before Jesse. It was because he didn't have the peoples money.  MARK, you need to take a long hard look in the mirror and see what we see. LET JESSE R.I.P

I FEEL SORRY FOR SHERIFF DAWSY. IN MY OPINION HE DID EVERYTHING HE COULD AND STILL IS. HIS HEART WENT OUT FOR THE FAMILY AND I'M SURE THERE ISN'T A DAY GOES BY THAT HE DON'T THINK ABOUT THIS LITTLE GIRL BUT HE IS STILL THRIVING TO PUT SEX OFFENDERS WHERE THEY BELONG. WHAT ABOUT THE RIDE THIS WEEKEND FOR JESSICA THIS IS A MAN THAT TRULY CARES.

I guess Lunsford's been out of the news longer than he likes.

From day one I & many others blamed this misfit of a father, He was in a bar getting drunk while this angel was being raped & murdered by this pond scum, they should both rot in hades.

This is to Susan.  Couey was not registered at that address.  They had no idea he was staying there.  This is America, you dont get to just go in an search, you have to have probable cause and a warrant.  Sorry this has been bothering you but you could have found this information anywhere.  The police asks the crackheads and remember they did not tell.  They are law enforcement not Ms. Cleo.

iT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY. He allowed some attorney to twist his thinking. I'm sure if you checked out this attorney you would find out "He is an ambulance chaser". In this case he is taking advantage of a pure man that has gone through hell and back. Mark, please let your daughter rest in peace.

Tom Collins

We feel that a slick lawyer has convinced him to sue for alot of money. Otherwise why would he give praise to all the people who helped him find the sick person who did this awful crime against poor Jessica 3 years ago & now sue? It has to be money. Will money ease your guil about not being home with your blessed Jessica, where you should have been? I hope they laugh him out of Citrus County & the area!!!! We don't need him here. We love our Sheriff & his department....

I feel that you all are laying the blame on Mark Lunsford, You should be ashamed
of yourselves. This man has lost a child that he will never get back,and He will always live with the guilt that he was not there.  I do blame the sheriff dept.
Why wasnt the house searched? when there is an amber alert posted that means all
surrounding areas should be searched!! knocking on a door and asking those scums if they saw the girl, what a joke!!!  Dont give me that crap that they needed a warrant to search, anytime a child is missing that automatically gives the right for them to do whatever needs to be done.   How is it this jerk moved the porch, dug a hole and burried this girl alive when all the police, people and reporters were right there on the street? where were all the eyes then??????? He didnt do this to her until things got heated up!!!why was the other people living in the house trying to get rid of bloody mattresses and clothes if they didnt know the girl was there? why were they not charged also??  NEGLIGENCE OF THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF DEPT!!   I live in a double wide mobile home, let me tell  you they are hard to have privacy in!!  there is absolutely no way what so ever these people lived in this house and didnt know he had that girl in the house!! I dont beleive that anymore than i beleive there is a little green man on the moon!!And why did the sister purchase a bus ticket in her name to help him get out of town?  come on they were all guilty and the sheriff dept. dropped the ball!!!!!   WAKE UP PEOPLE, SEE IT FOR WHAT IT TRUELY IS!!!!!!

you love your sheriff so well, did you know he was from the carolinas? did you know he spent time in jail and is not allowed to be sheriff there, so he came to florida and WE HIRED HIM!!!   whos the stupid one now????   My understanding  is
he likes to slap his wife of then around???   do the research!!!!    your probably the same ones who think its cool to put obama in for president, a man who wont even honor our national anthem in public. refuses to place his hand on his heart, and refuses to say the words!! but i guess thats alright, lets put him in to run our country so we can cry more about how they keep taking everything away from us, so we are not really the land of the FREE!!!

Mark Lunsford certainly was not a model parent and probably could have made better choices regarding his daughter's care, however, she didn't deserve to die.  From the onset of the missing person investigation, members of the CCSO made grave mistakes.  The most serious mistake was not evaluating and processing the Lunsford residence as if a crime had occurred and not necessarily committed by a family member.  Instead of conducting a diligent search for Jessica, the CCSO assumed a family member was involved in her disappearance.  When this was ruled out, CCSO sought and received search support from the community.  The area was trampled and any evidence would have been contaminated.  Many assisted with the efforts and early on I realized  that they were only looking for a body.  The CCSO did not ask for identification or ask for the name of people searching nor take any general photographs of searchers.  The perpetrator could have been there but the investigators would never have known.  CCSO was negligent at the scene.  The Sheriff obviously has a large ego and should invest more time to effectively training his staff and deputies.  Before the body was found, Couey was identified as a person of interest, located in Georgia and subsequently interviewed.  Another failure, they trampled his constitutional rights.  Great training!  Not!

this is to brooke:   probable cause is when a child is missing and lives on that street.
it is up to the sheriff dept to know where the child predators and molesters are living.  they could do a check on every person on that street and when it comes back there is a relative of a sexual pred. living on the street that is enough probable cause.     It does not stop the sheriff dept to say they got a phone call that you had drugs or weapons in your vehicle, they pull you over and search because that gave them probable cause from an anonimous tip!!!  get over it!!  The sheriff dept does what they want when they want and how they want!!  

This is to Teresa Morgan.. Read the Constitution one of the admendments states that law enforcement can not illegally search  a citizens property without a warrant or probable cause. The sherriffs department had to follow the law. I am shocked to hear you defend Mark Lunsford. He is a father who is looking for monetary gain from his childs death. Answer me this..If the sheriffs department was negligent why did it ake 3 years for Mr. Lunsford to file suit? Why is it that the days following the kidnapping and murder did Mr. Lunsford continue to praise the efforts of law enforcement? If you research missing child cases you will find that Citrus County did very well in their investigation and finding the culprit. Remember Elizabeth Smart? 9 months with NOTHING. I am sure Sheriff Dawsy lives with this tragedy every day and now Mr. Lunsford adds to this misery by seeking MONEY!!!!! He needs money and he is now using the death of his daughter to gain it. Shame on him and shame on you for defending a man who should have been home that night and not out boozing it up and shacking up with his girlfriend!!

You all seem to think it is about the money! all of your comments pertain to cutting the father down and say he is living off us, and his limelight is over and he is greedy! what your not saying is,,,,,,,,If this was me that lost my child I would be doing the same thing he is doing right now,,,and maybe I wouldnt have waited as long as he did before i decided to sue.....   If you are not a parent that lost a child, you have no idea what its like, so stop condeming the man until you can honestly say you have walked in his shoes!!  as far as being a perfect or better parent then he was,,,,    No parent is perfect, we all make mistakes and if you think that is not true then you are lying to yourself...  If you have children how many times have you left them with a grandparent? a babysitter? a family friend??? why you were out partying it up at the bar??????   We have all done it, that doesnt make us a bad parent just because we went out!!    You people need to get over it and quit sucking up to the sheriff dept...   they messed up, they are human, but there were alot of things not done right,  it happens!!  but you need to lay off mark, he already lost his daughter and nothing is going to bring her back, stop making him out to be the rotten one. john couey is the rotten one!!

This is to Tabitha?
key word  PROBABLE CAUSE!!   The child lived on that street, they had rights to search every house on that street looking for that little girl.   did it ever occur to you that maybe mr. lunsford said praises to the sheriff dept. when this happened because he was in shock?    have you ever lost a child?? do you know the numbness you get from that?   you do and say things without even knowing really what you said or who you spoke to, you attend a funeral, but you have no recollection of it?   you cant even remember who was there???    Probable cause is whatever the sheriff dept. wants to say it is.........   I was one of the ones on the street right after she was missing. i was there when the sheriff dept showed up, I wanted to start looking for her right away, the sheriff held the people of the community off from searching!!  we were not asked who we were, showed no id's to any of the officers, nothing was recorded on who was involved in the search or anything.   How do you know if the hundred of us walking through the yards, and around peoples houses, that Jessica wouldnt have heard us and made a noise to let us know she was in trouble?    If you were not there or never lost a child, you need to be quiet about it!! alot of stuff happened at the scene that was not handled correctly, and just because the man went out or was spending the night away does not make him a bad parent. shame on you for saying that!! he left his child with his parents whom he trusted very well,  Needless to say........I HOPE IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN YOU NEVER LEAVE THEM WITH ANYONE WHILE YOU GO OUT FOR AN EVENING....CAUSE IF YOU DO, THE NEXT STORY WILL BE WHAT A ROTTEN PARENT YOU ARE FOR NOT BEING THERE WITH YOUR CHILD 24/7

Teresa.. I have no reason to suck up to the sheriffs department. I live in Pinellas and they are in Citrus. Noone is saying that we are perfect parents BUT from what has been said Mark was known to leave his daughter alot while out. I am a parent and NO I do not leave my kids to party all night long. His big mistake was suing the very people who did their very best to find this child. Do you honestly think that the sheriffs deprtment did not want to find this child?  Go back and review the many many interviews Mr. Lunsford did. On almost all of them he praises the efforts of Sheirff Dawsey and the law enforcement. Why now did he change his mind?? My guess is a greedy lawyer got to him. It is a parents responsibilty to make sure their child is safe and to know who lives around them. I sure as heck know where the pedophiles live in accordance to my house. The police can patrol and only do so much BUT it is we as parents who need to be vigilant.  I do not fault Mr. Lunsford for his actions that night... I do fault him for his actions now that are motivated by GREED!!!! Just has you said Couey is the rotten one..not the sheriffs department. Mr. Lunsford needs to remember this.

True he should have been at home. But on the other hand at least he left his daughter with adults, unlike the Mcann family who were ignorant enough to leave their daughter alone.

Teresa,  You are grasping at straws. SHOCK?? Yes there is no doubt in my mind that Mr. Lunsford was in shock... But his praise continued for a couple of years. Would you still call that shock?? FYI,  A loss of a child is tragic and heartwrenching and do not assume that I have not experienced this. You do not know what my life has been.

OK, well it seems this forum has a lot of silly people.  I figure I might as well chime in.  So what if the guy was with his girlfriend.  So what if he was with 50 women having the time of his life.  So what if he was drinking.  So what if he was having the time of his life.  The point is, his daughter died by the hands of a sick man regardless of where he was at.  He did not leave her home alone and it's not normal to think that some sicko is going to come and take your kid and hurt her.  Hindsight is 20/20.  I think we are all smart enough to know that.  Had he known what to expect, he would have stayed home.  Things will happen and we cannot prevent certain things from happening 100% of the time.  Even if he happened to be home at the time, it doesn't mean that this couldn't have still happened.  It most likely would have.  And we have all left a door or window unlocked at sometime in our life.  Elizabeth Smart's parents were home when she was abducted.  That sick man still took her.  

If I run to the store and leave my 10 year old home for 30 minutes while I grab some groceries, granted I lock the door and she knows the rules, then if some sick man breaks in and takes her, it's nobody's fault but the sick man's.  And if the police fail to follow procedure, then shame on them too.  However, since we don't know the details of the lawsuit, we can't judge or assume.  And back to leaving my daughter home for 30 minutes.  Even if the door was left unlocked, it gives nobody the right to to open the door and take a child.  Regardless of where I'm at or what I am doing.

I don't know the details of the lawsuit, so I cannot comment on it.  There may be details in the lawsuit that we don't know about.  So, before we can judge, we have to have the details.  To comment on the lawsuit without the details is like talking out our rear end, which most of you have done.  Get the facts first.  And remember, her dad was not out committing a crime by spending time with his girlfriend.  Good grief.  Unlike many fathers these days, he spent quality time with Jessie and cared for her deeply.  Whether he was with his girlfriend or home with Jessie, he loved her just the same.  

wasn't cooey a registered sex offender?  How could the cops set up a comand center in front of cooeys trailer and not know cooey buried Jessica in his back yard while they were within 100 Feet?  Yes the cops could have saved Jessica  and failed in thier duties.  I hope Mark is awarded millions and millions of bucks.  That sheriff needs to look for work as a spokesman.  He seems to be good at that......  

Suing is not going to make Mark Lunsford a happier man and its certainly not going to bring his unfortunate little girl back.

This is to Teresa Morgan:

"The state must declare the child to be the most precious treasure of the people. As long as the government is perceived as working for the benefit of the children, the people will happily endure almost any curtailment of liberty and almost any deprivation." - Adolph Hitler (Mein Kampf)

He was speaking to people like you. living on the same street where a child was abducted doesn't give the police the right to search your house and belongings. Sad as it may be that curtailing our liberties would have saved this girl, the notion that liberties can be taken away at a seconds notice just because of an need to save a child threatens us all.

I think the police department is at fault for not monitoring a previous sex offender.

I agree the police could have done a better job and the father should have been home but just because you have children doesn't mean you stop your life completely. Whether he was home or not she still could've been taken. sickos like that guy are sneaky I'm sure. He would have gotten her sooner or later with the father home or not. I have a child myself and I don't condone what he is doing but the man has suffered a lot. leave the poor guy alone. I agree with the people who say don't judge until you have walked in their shoes. you might do the same thing yourself.  

HERE IS THE 4TH AMENDMENT

Amendment IV (the Fourth Amendment) to the United States Constitution is one of the provisions included in the Bill of Rights. The Amendment guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, and was originally designed as a response to the controversial writs of assistance (a type of general search warrant), which were a significant factor behind the American Revolution.[citation needed] Toward that end, the amendment specifies that judicially sanctioned search and arrest warrants must be supported by probable cause and be limited in scope according to specific information supplied by a person (usually a peace officer) who has sworn by it and is therefore accountable to the issuing court.

First if a child is missing that is not probable cause to kick in everyone's door on the street.  Sorry this is the real world.  Second they originally focused on Lunsford as a suspect because of what was reportedly found on his hard drive.  Third, Couey was registered as living someplace else so the police did not know who he was right away or that he was a sex offender.  By the time it was discovered he had skipped the state and was in Georgia where he was eventually arrested.

Though my heart aches for Mark, if he had been home with his precious daughter,
she would still be alive.  He obviously thought shacking up was more important.

I feel terrible for the Lumsford family however I think they are very wrong to file any law suits against anyone in law enforcement or the county.  The anger needs to be directed to the murderer period.........I'm afraid Marc Lumsford is so grief stricken he is no longer acting in a  responsible manor.  I was so proud of his work throughout this country in passing legislation on child preditors.  I can't believe that he would do this if he was in his right mind.  I am hopeful and pray that he will see that this is not the way to work to continue Jesse's legacy.

In reading everyone's comments I have to agree with most. Where was Mark Lundsford that night? Go to Guidestar.org and check out his non-profit. He's had a good ride on his daughter's tragedy. The money must be running out and this is his answer, pointing the finger at everyone else. I agree, now here's Mark Lundsford true colors.

He doesn't like the laws? The laws that he promoted and named after his daughter?

Mark ....get on with life. Quite trying to milk a tragedy.

My heart goes out to Mark Lunsford. It is sick how he lost his daughter. I do NOT blame the police or the FDLE. They did there best to find this little girl.  He is just upset about the fact he wasn't there for his daughter and is lashing out. We just need to hug him and say we are sorry for your loss but the blame belong on the sick pervert who took her and thank god everyday that he can never hurt another child. Just think of the punishment he is getting in jail. that should give you a great laugh. He is someone wife and getting molested everyday.

How insane is Mark Lundsford!!  It sounds to me like he has lost notariety and is running out of money.  Ask the Two Guys from Italy restaurant - they held a fund raiser and Mark was going to take them to court because they didn't get the money fast enough to him.  Shame on Mark trying to sensationalize his daughters life.  I think Mark is a fool and a gold digger.  Sheriff Dawsey - Please keep up the good work.  You have my 100% support.  I only wish I could do more to help you.  

MARK LUNSFORD AMAZED WINNER OF THE jack a** OF THE CENTURY AWARD!!  WHO REALLY IS DUMB AS HE APPEARS TO BE!!  HE DESERVES NO RESPECT

I was very saddened by the things I heard that happened to Jessica Lunsford.  I believe that her killer should be executed as soon as possible.  Someone like him, doesn't deserve to live.

However, Mark Lunsford's 15 minutes of fame should have ended 3 years ago.  I am so sick of seeing him on the news and hearing him speak.  I tend to hit the mute button whenever I see him on tv.

If he had loved his daughter so much, he should have been home with her to protect her, shouldn't he?  Instead he left home and left the front door unlocked for her killer to gain easy access to her.

If he wins this lawsuit, who will pay for it?  Taxpayers, that's who.  

You can blame anyone and everyone for what happened, but you know who really deserves a large part of the blame, don't you?

Your time has passed.  Sit down and shut up.  

I think we have every right to judge Lunsford.   He is suing the taxpayers of his county, the same people that volunteered and searched frantically for his daughter, who prayed for her to return and then cried when she didn't.   Sorry, I no longer have any respect for Mr Lun$ford.

IF ANYONE WAS NEGLIGENT LUNSFORD WAS BY NOT BEING HOME AND SEEING THAT THE DOOR WAS LOCKED FOR THE NIGHT.

Mark Lunsford is more to blame for Jessica's death than anyone else.  He's obviously looking for more free money. With Cooey on death row, Lunsford must be afraid he'll have to get a real job now.  He's a disgrace!

I've meet Mark a few times at bike rallys and had a gut fell that he was looking for $  sad. But last year I stopped going to his rallys.And where does the money go?

   The police went to the trailer and questioned John Couey and or his relatives when Jessica was still alive in John Couey's bedroom. He later killed her. The police could have saved her had they searched the trailer. If there is a little child involved the police should get warrants if necessary to conduct searches.

Mark what are you thinking? Why did you make all the positive comments about brotherhood, family? Is this the same man? Has the media and high ticketed lawyers
got to him?
We all sat and watched this unfold, and I remember my family dicussing the wrongs of the police dept. that should have been handled 3 years ago.
Did he forgive and now take it back? I think we all are cofused and I don't think
we know the entire story. Will we ever? This child suffered a death that was
unecessary and cruel. God rest her soul.

A law suit is it the answer? I wish he would think about it.
 

Why has it taken three years for Mark Lunsford to decide he needs money in his pocket. Where was he the night his daughter was taken? Maybe Mark and his ex-wife should not have left it up to his elderly parents to take care of Jessica. The Sheriff's Dept. and all of the volunteers did everything they could to find her.  Shame on you Mark for letting greed come before the memory of your daughter.

The police and the coriner have always denied Couey's account and have said they believe she died the night she was taken.  Couey doesn't seem the truthful type but I suppose we will see if this goes to court.

I BELIEVE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT DID EVERYTHING THAT THEY COULD, AND STOOD BEHIND MARK AND HIS FAMILY WHEN THINGS TURNED OUT FOR THE WORSE, AND NOW HE WANTS TO SEW THEM, I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A MONEY ISSUE INVOLVED AND IT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH PEOPLE APPRECIATE WHAT OTHERS TRY TO DO FOR YOU...DO YOU SEE A PATTERN GROWING HERE, ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY NOT ABOUT JESSIE!!!  HOW SAD THAT IS.  FIND A JOB AND KEEP YOURSELF OCCUPIED AND STOP DEPENDING ON FUNDS FROM PEOPLE THAT HELPED AND CARED FOR YOU DURING THE TIME OF YOUR LOSS. REMEMBER IS ABOUT JESSIE NOT YOU...............................................

No judge would issue warrants to search neighbors' homes based on a child missing without more evidence of complicity.  Once again this is the real world people.

 This lawsuit could be about several things, maybe lunsford thinks He is right, maybe it's about money, what I really think it is is a guilty conscience, but rather than blaming Himself for not being at home that horrible night, Lunsford is blaming everyone but God for His Daughters death and if by some chance Lunsford can get a jury to find any of the three named units guilty of negligance, He will then feel vindicated and He will be able to sleep again at night. Lunsford looks like hell, I think that He needs to get some professionial help to get over His grief.

Mark Lunsford had universal sympathy and a lot of support for his cause.  This lawsuit will eat up a lot of that goodwill.  Mark may even be forced to get a real job instead of living off the kindness of others.

It is a tradegy that Jessica was killed.  I blame her father, Mark, just as much! You do not raise your children by luck alone.  If you love them then you watch out for them.  You can't go to bars and leave your daughter in a house not locked and think everything is going to be okay, even if his parents were there.  He was not a responsible parent.  He is the one that should be charged with NEGLECT of his own daughter.  I understand he has other children by other women and he hasn't shown much responsibility for them either.  There is a few words for him that I won't repeat.  He has already had too much attention in the media.  

Unreal that everyone on this forum is bashing Mark Lumsford for not being home the night his daughter was kidnapped from their home. Although I do not necessarily know whether I agree or disagree with him suing the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, I definitely do not agree with the tactics by those on this forum to make this man feel worse then I'm sure any of you feel about his daughter's death. I agree with a previous statement of hindsight is 20/20 but even if he was home, there is still a chance that this nightmare would still have unfolded.

My prayers to the Lumsford family for strength to keep Jessica's memory alive.

IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT MARK LUNSFORD WAS OR WASN'T DOING THE NIGHT JESSICA WAS ABDUCTED.  WHAT DOES MATTER, IS THAT THE SHERIFFS OFFICE DID "NOT" DO THEIR JOB.  IF THEY HAD BROUGHT IN THE TRACKING DOGS THE FIRST THING, INSTEAD OF LETTING EVERY FOOL IN THE AREA TRAMPLE ALL OVER THE PLACE.  THEN, MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE FOUND JESSY BEFORE THAT MONSTER BURIED HER ALIVE----DAYS LATTER.  COME ON, NO ONE SAW COUEY DIGGING A HOLE, INCLUDING HIS "WONDERFUL" HOUSE MATES.  WHERE WERE THE DEPUTIES?  GUESS THEY WEREN'T THINKING ANYTHING COULD BE GOING ON AT THE DRUGGIES TRAILER ACROSS THE ROAD.  OH, FYI, DAWSEY IS FROM NEW YORK, LISTEN TO THE ACCENT!

The death of Jessica was horrific and she did not deserve to die.   This Government need to crack down on the Attorney's in the USA because they are bleeding the tax payer dry, with all these law suits.    People are having to spend money to defend themselves when all they tried to do was help someone.   I can only repeat some of the things already said, Mark Lunsford thought the citrus county police were the best thing since sliced bread, that they could not have done more to try and find little jessica, but then the Attorney's arrive with the big dollar numbers and all that goes out the window.   Jessica's mother is also suing yet she never even saw Jessica for years.   Mark Lunsford thought he was some kind of celebrity, thought he could be a policitian - come on - he is no John Walsh.   Having lost a child I would have thought he would want Jessica to now rest in peace not drag her through the court system yet again - all for money and stardom.  What a shame. God bless you Jessica you deserve better.

The police should have did that, they should have done that....
Mark should have been home, doors should have been...
Ok maybe some mistakes were made, but not intentionally.
It's all so  drainning. I do not think that police have any blame
here. Don,t think it is Marks fault or the grand parrents.
Come on , we all know  where all the blame must fall.
   yes Mark should move on and heal his heart.
Why a law suit? Well i do not know what Mark is thinking.
I just thank God and count my blessings that nothing like this never happened to one of my children. We all should do that instead of
giving life to this topic of blogging.

The Sherriff's Dept and Citrus Cty  went over and above their line of duty to comfort the Lumsford Family.   Originally from Out of State and  I was so impressed with the Community, Sherriff's Dept and Officials coming to Mark's aid with such devotion.  I remember the Sherriff losing sleep over this case for days and certainly showed the pain he was going through in trying to find Jessica.   How the whole Community showed love and kindness at the funeral.  Even I cried watching it all take place on TV.   We all felt Mark's pain but the Sherriff felt it most and wore it on his face for days, weeks  and at the funeral.    I'm sorry to say,  I feel Mark is a back stabber and can't be trusted, after all the love & kindness showed to him in honor of his daugter from the whole Citrus County Community, is now all lost.   The real Mark has woke up and showing his true colors.    Shame on him.

To Mark Lunsford's lawyers - are you needing more money?  It's people like you that people have gotten sue happy!  There is no basis for this issue.  You are nothing more than a money monger and looking to make a name for yourself.  I hope it backfires and you lose your credibility.  Just go back under the rock where you came from.

To Mark Lunsford - You are truly a slimball trying to gain money from your daughters death.  If you wern't shacking up with your girlfriend, you would have been home for your daughter who truly needed your help.  You think you are such a big deal riding around on your motorcycle.  I've seen you on the road and you should see how stupid you look.  When was the last time that you did 8 hours of work for 8 hours of pay.  I hope that you aren't skimming from the foundation to pay your monthly bills.  All I can say again, you are a slimeball and why don't you just leave Citrus County.  We don't want your kind here.  You are a disgrace to the county and the sheriff's department.  

To TERESA MORGAN:  I didn't even read all your posts but it's clear you don't know what you are talking about.  In what world can the police kick in every door on the street to look for a missing child?  (hey, I'm a cop myself it would be nice sometimes if we could just do what we want and disregard the constitution -- especially to save the life of a child).  Get ur facts straight before you start preachin'.

To Tammy -- do you really leave your 10 year old child home alone for 30 minutes or so, so you can go to the store??  scary -- shame on you.

But on Lunsford -- I think he is suffering from DENIAL -- of his part in all of this -- what happened could have been less likely if he had been home -- he may have been able to prevent it -- he may have locked a door -- he may have been the extra set of eyes and ears to stop the horrific tradgedy -- we won't ever know that.

But, unfortunately -- a child died at the hands of a monster -- they debate -- even now -- exactly when Jessica was killed -- but, forensically John Couey was found to be guilty of the actual slaying of this young girl.

Accordingly to Black's Law Dictionary the correct definition of "Contributory Negligence" is:

"The act or omission amounting to want of ordinary care on the part of complaining party, which concurring with defendant's negligence, is proximate cause of injury."

I don't see from this definition -- how Lunsford can blame the Citrus County Sheriff's Office from not protecting his daughter -- when he didn't make sure she was protected himself.  If Jessica had been his priority -- this whole thing might never have happened.

His claim would have more merit (because I see none right now), if he had done the "right" things -- stayed home, been there, checked for sexual predators, etc. -- that what he actually did.

And, I do think he has been out of the limelight -- and the money may have dried up -- but, get a job -- please stop getting a paycheck off your daugther's death -- do you think she is proud of that??

Two tradgedies now come from this -- Jessica's death and the damage the a worthy cause of Jessica's Law that Mark Lunsford's greed/misguided/shameful indignance for the entire Law Enforcement that searched, found, and arrested the person who was the killer.

And about searching the home -- without a proper search warrant -- they may have found something sooner -- but, no one but Couey probably will ever know that -- but, he could have walked on a technicality -- and how much more horrible would that have been for all -- especially if she was already dead on the first day -- to walk with no punishment would have been the ultimate worst case scenario for this piece of evil.

The Citrus County Sheriff's Office may have made mistakes -- but, Lunsford is not blameless -- yes, he lost a child -- but the killer of that child now sits on death row -- how does he think that happened?  a miracle, maybe??

He should be thanking them -- and be happy that his daughter's murder was solved.

Jessica -- I do hope you RIP.

Cheryl

Mark Lunsford looks like an ignorant man and he acts  like one. I didn't trust him from day one. And this guy concidered himself for running for public office. What a joke ! Get a life and get a job. Stop leaving off of peoples sympathy!!

Shame on you Mark Lun$ford ! ! ! ! !  The volunteers that spent hours and hours of hunting, searching, consoling you, helping you in any way they could will be sad to know their taxes are going to be used to fight you in a law suit that hopefully will be thrown out of court right away. What a weird way to show your appreciation ! ! !
Get a haircut so you can get a job to take care of yourself. The freebies are over....

I must say that I am not shocked at all over Mark Lunsford's behavior. As a Citrus County resident, I have seen first hand how this man has relished in the "celebrity" the death of his daughter has made of him. Who is truly responsible for this besides the obvious John Couey?? My opinion, Lunsford himself. Why wasn't he at home the night of his daughters kidnapping?? Maybe because he was out partying and drinking it up until 5 am, leaving his daughter in the care of his parents. Anyone who has lived here long enough knows that Mark Lunsford is a drinking, drug abusing low life. It is disgusting that he is suing the County over this. Just another way to suck more money out of the people of this county. What's the matter Mark? Funds running low from the foundation you set up so you don't have to work a real job like the rest of us???

I TOLD A FRIEND YEARS AGO THAT THIS MAN WOULD DO ANYTHING TO KEEP HIS FACE IN FRONT OF A CAMERA AND HIS NAME IN THE PAPERS. HE IS PROVING ME RIGHT. HE HAS BEEN LIVING OFF THE GOOD WILL OF OTHERS FOR TOO LONG, NEW MOTORCYCLE, MONEY, TRIPS AROUND THE U.S. PAID FOR BY OTHERS, AND NO TELLING WHAT ELSE. NOW HE HAS GONE TOO FAR. IF HE GOES THROUGH WITH THIS LAWSUIT, HE SHOULD LOSE, HE AND HIS LAWYER SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE LEGAL FEES(WISHFUL THINKING), AND HE SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME IN JAIL(AGAIN WISHFUL THINKING).

When I heard this story tonight my first thought was that Mark Lunsford needs to do some real deep soul searching and ask himself what part did HE have in his daughter's abduction.  He needs to place blame where it belongs and it normally starts with the parent(s) or parent.  He is yet another self absorbed "person" not parent in our society that chose to put his pleasures above being a responsible father and failed to accept parenting RESPONSIBILITY.   Jessica paid the ultimate price with her life and was dealt a bad hand by many adults in her short life.   She was in innocent child who depended on the adults around her to keep her safe and secure and they failed her miserably.

Had Mark been at home would the abduction ever taken place?  If he had been at home would he have heard the intruder?  How much time did John Couey have with Jessica before he decided to come home?  And now he wants to sue the Sheriff's dept for negligence?  It's not the sheriff's department’s fault that he chose to lay up somewhere until dawn instead of being home with his daughter.

During all of the tv coverage the sheriff showed more anguish than Mark did and it was obvious that he enjoyed the camera attention.

His action to sue tells me that my first impression of him was accurate.  If he wants to be a respectable spokesperson for Jessica then he needs to act like one and be a contributor to society not a burden.  I wouldn't donate a dime due to lack of respect for him and I would have to doubt if the "fund" is actually receiving the money.  Is the "fund" supporting Mark and his partying?

He will have accountability one day.

Further research using Black's Law Dictionary states the definition of "Criminal Negligence" as:

"Criminal negligence which will render killing a person manslaughter is the omission on the part of the person to do some act which an ordinarily careful and prudent man would do under like circumstances, or the doing of some act which an ordinarily careful, prudent man under like circumstances would not do by reason of which another person is endangered in life or bodily safety; the word 'ordinary' being synonymous with 'reasonable' in this connection."

How many people do you know regularly leave their young child with the elderly grandparents so they can go party with their girlfriend?

He's lucky the Citrus County Sheriff's Office didn't find something like this to charge him with ...

Of course, sometimes, even years after the incident, when you hit the bee's nest, you get stung.

Mark, can you hold this flower?

I think what Mark is doing in the name of Jessie's Law is great exspecially to protect the rest of the children out there,  BUT THE BAD THING IS,  MARK DIDN'T DO IT FOR JESSIE, MARK DID IT FOR MARK. BOY, IT REALLY MADE THE CASH FLOW! Mark, us that know you,and you know we do, know what you are doing and you need to stop. I have a son on a ventalator. He can go to sleep to nite and not wake up tomarrow. So should I go out and find someone to sue. Come on- get real. You know how lucky you are that they found Jessie,s killer, they never found Jenifer Odems killer. Those parents have no closure, the same with the Ramsey girl, and plenty others. I tell my kids all the time and now I will tell you, " START TAKING RESPONSIBILTY FOR YOUR OWN ACTIONS." I thank god that Jessie isn't seeing what you are doing, but then again, she never did cause you weren't home that much. I feel bad that you lost your child but you are not the only one and quit making a circus out of this. You are losing respect that the people who don't know you have for you, so quit while your ahead, for Jessie

yes I believe the Authorities were negligent , if i remember correctly the Authorities never checked  inside Coey's house.

Mark I know that you are the one who lost the child, But remember"IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RAISE A CHILD," you have to take the responsibality that "YOU" did not know your neighbour. When you have children and new neighbours move in your area it is your job to make sure that you know your neighbour.  the police dept can't be there for us 24,7. NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE PAY THEM. I know I am a single mother of 3.

What we all forget is what a sicko man this is with child porn on his computer and now that the sheriff and others let him off. So now that he is walking around free like Mark Foley he can do what he wants. Not to mention that this entire story sounds like a John Walsh he said the same thing on CNN Larry king that the police botched his case. Now look at all the money they have the both of them. Now he is suppose to be getting $ 500.00 a week pay from the JML foundation, and the IRS will not allow the foundation to pay for legal fees where is he getting all this money. If you really want a true fact about these guys look at a blog I saw. Even Lunsford had a my space page with Gun in hand on his page. Really something for our children to see. Not to mention that Walsh admitted to having a SEX ADDICTION FOR WOMEN ON CNN and LUNSFORD ADMITTED TO LOOKING AT PORN ON THE NET. I would ask all is this people we want around our children? See the blog I just read. johnwalshournewgod.blogspot.com

The old saying goes SHERIFF NO GOOD DEED GOES UN-PUNISHED!!!! NOW YOU LET HIM GO WITH THAT CHILD PORN AND SEE WHAT YOU GET BACK?

This is absolutely absurd that this parent is trying to sue a policed department.  This is only going to complicate matters even worse.  It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their children, which is apparent this father failed to do.  He is a failure as a father and is certainly not a daddy a child depends on for their safety.  He is just trying to compensate for his own neglects and weakness to provide adequate protection for his child.

So who else is there to blame for your own actions? Mr. Lunsford - stand-up and take responsibly for your own actions and responsibilities for once in your life.  This is not the police departments fault or negligence!

Come on, the guy is trying to make sense out of a horrible situation and looking for something/someone to blame.  The horrible way in which his daughter died at the hands of this criminal only make his loss more painful.  
Instead of coming down on the guy, lets seek to understand his level of pain.  He is clearly looking and searching for some way to take action and he doesn't know how.  He probably does blame himself and I am sure the ramifications of that will live on in his life long after the attention, court actions, etc all fade away.  
I think that if you believe this is about money you are mistaken.  I think this is about doing something and trying, in vain, to come to peace around what happened.  I don't believe this will help him, but my belief is others are hoping it will.  
Remember, he couldn't do this on his own, there are attorneys and other advisers that may be guiding him.

I kept up with this case and had nothing but support for Mr. Lunsford but I have since changed my mind.
My heart goes out for his loss and our loss of Jessica.
What those LE officers go through each night now knowing how close she was and that they did not find her... I am sure this stays in a pocket in their minds.
Everyone suffered, not just the family and for them to turn around and grub for dough makes me sick.
Emotions are high I am sure but to bite the hands that were out there helping amazes me.
Shame on the Lunsfords. This is not to change laws or put a light on child predators, this is a way for them to cash in. Shame on them.
He has not done much to profit and I suppose he feels it is his due for being out there trying to make change with no income but he should have set something up to bring in income.. not slap the LE agency in the face that looked so very devastated by the loss of Jessica and hurt right there along with him.

YOu can all say what you want, I dont care. I was on the street when this happened. I seen alot happen that shouldnt have happened the way it did.Everyone
is entitled to their opinion, so it goes.........  If you are a parent, you can't honestly
say you have never left your child with a sitter. If you say you are with your kids constantly then i beg to differ with you...... does that mean you attend school with them to? Your children never stayed with grandparents?    IN my opinion it does not
make you a bad parent because somthing tragic happened and you were not there.
maybe the sheriff dept. was not to blame, maybe they were, that is up to the judge to decide.  there are factors in the lawsuit that we do not know,   as to the one who says they are a cop. well let me tell you, I have been held up in traffic more than once due to the fact of vehicle searches for a missing escapee from jail, who was not known to be dangerous. they checked every vehicle coming and going for miles, dont give me the crap that they cant search without a warrant. They did not have a warrant looking for this guy when they opened the back of a box truck to look inside.  give me a break!!!!   looking for a missing child is probable cause to search door to door.   and if anyone thinks that is taking our rights away, you better start looking around, seems to me they have been doing that for years already!!
I would rather give money to MR. Lunsford to help change laws and put up parks in his daughters memory then give my money to illegal aliens, who can take our social security!!   WAKE UP AMERICA!!,  OH Yeah, and lets put Obama in for the president so the rest of the foreigners can get OUR MONEY to blow us up some more!!!!!
Good Grief, Talk about being stupid!!!!

I can't believe so many of you are blaming Mark because he wasn't home that night.  That's ridiculous!  Doesn't matter whether he was with a girlfriend or working the nightshift someplace....it would have eventually happened.  This man was watching Jessie for who knows how long!  So there is no one to blame for this tragedy but that sicko John Couey!  
 I do think that the sheriffs office should have brought tracking dogs there immediately!  They would have found her very soon.  And it does bother me that he was able to dig a hole in the yard and no one even notice that.  The detectives were all over that area and never even noticed that!    I don't actually think they did anything wrong but I think they could have done more.  But, that happens in every case.  
 But it's not Mark's fault in any way at all!  I can't imagine what he has gone through these past 3 years and if you haven't lost a child to rape and being buried alive after suffering for 3 days in the hands of a sicko...then you shouldn't even point a finger toward him.  Think about it.

Teresa,
  I totally agree with you!!  Even the Obama Thing!  They can search anything they want if they have probable cause, which is a missing child!  I have been stopped in my car as well....because a child was missing.
 It is no different than being at a Walmart store and a code adam goes through the intercom.....they will lock all doors and no one is able to leave until they see that you do not have that child!  
 I've left my children with their grandparents many many times....who hasn't?  Come on people...geez

 I will take this oppurtunity to correct a mistake I made. as I am women enough to admit when I may be wrong!!   I was told by someone else that the sheriff lived in the carolinas before and beat his ex and went to jail, then couldnt become a sheriff there, so he moved to florida. I ADMIT I DID NOT DO THE RESEARCH ON HIM, SO I SHOULD NOT HAVE POSTED THAT.  I retract that statement.  It just goes to show, I like everyone else  should know the facts before you run your mouth!! It can cause alot of unnecessary grief to all involved if you dont know.........
including the running off about Mark not being a good parent because he wasnt there..  Mr. Couey worked at the school,,,, He was doing the roofing at many schools in citrus county!   So does that mean we shouldnt send our children to school even though the law says we have to?  we may not be good parents if they attend school without us!   There are alot of factors involved that we wont even know until the suit comes out in public.   I am not responding to anymore of this, as I have a life and other things to do, just remember there is alot not known yet, dont make a person a bad parent just because he wasnt home!!

What happened to Jessica Lundsford= Tragic beyond words.
What Mark Lundsford is doing now = Pathetic beyond belief.

How dare you all call Mark Lunsford greedy? I hope he wins this lawsuit, and it leads to procedural changes within the sheriff's department as to how they handle missing child cases. Common sense would have told you to take a hard, close look at the immediate family, friends, and neighbors. They are the closest and have an easier opportunity to abduct a child. Not to mention that statistically, most abductions are done by 1) non-custodial parent, 2) another relative, 3) friend/neighbor. They should have run a check on Couey's name, they would have seen that he is a registered sex offender, and perhaps they would have saved Jessica. Remember, he kept her for a few days before he murdered her. If the sherrif's department had been more thorough, she may be alive today.

Okay as I am reading all these I am thinking how ridiculous some of it is.  First of all, Mark Lunsford left his daughter with two grown adults--her grandparents.  He didn't leave her alone or with some young kid or stranger--give me a break--how much more responsible could he have been?  Also, by all accounts, he was a loving and supportive father who loved his daughter and she was well adjusted, happy, provided for, and loved.  I admire him for taking care of his daughter and raising and supporting her when so many men, and women, would just have gotten rid of the responsibility or been a horrible parent--shame on you for coming down on this man.  I was wondering, when this all happened, why Mark wasn't more upset with the investigation and why he was praising them so much.  It DOES seem they could have done a ton more at the beginning stages.  This girl was murdered practically in his backyard--I would have been very upset with how everything was investigated.  I think he was probably not given the right guidance at the time it happened, and now that he was time to get his head cleared and see things and deal with things, he is realizing alot of truth and questions.  Also, remember that Mark has done a ton for children and families who have gone through this.  He has worked endlessly so others don't have to live through this.  

Have some respect for Mark and his family.  IT IS NOT HIS FAULT.    I do think any sex offender should have a sign posted in his or her yard stating "I (name)  AM A SEX OFFENDER"

The police department was in the very house where the girl was being held.  She was in the closet when the police were in the house.  They did not do a thorugh search when trying to find her. I think they should have been more dilegent with there search. Blaming the father because he went out is crazy.  He was an only father doing the best that he could, he is intitled to go out every once in a while, at least he didn't leave this girl by herself alone, he left her with supposedly capable people. I am not saying that it is totally the fault of the police department, the blame actually lies with the criminals behind it, but the department should have been doing the job they were hired on for.  There was probably cause to search the place. Either way, my god this was a little girl, even if there is protocol they should have still done everything to get her back.

I agree with one of the earlier posters....Brooke...Mr. Lundsford needs to be asked some very hard questions .....I can still remember the Sheriff's very real emotion and concern over the disappearance of Jessica Lundsford.  Our law enforcement officers need to be supported.....they are human beings and put their lives on the line everyday to protect us and our children....this is an outrage....to launch a lawsuit against them saying they were negligent is abominable and why after all this time leaves a lot of questions to the validity of such a case because it has none.

Mark Lunsford has made a career out of Jessie's murder, he has not worked since she was abduced and has been living off the Foundation set up in Jessie's name. Mark has been traveling all over the Country and accepting expensive gifts such as a Harley Davidson motorcycle.....profiting from his daughter's horrific murder. Mark has dollar signs in his eyes and has found a way never to work again, he's been living off the generosity of people horrified at what happened to his daughter.  I just hope the IRS takes a good look at his finances and how he has been spending Foundation money.  I also hope the Citrus County Sheriff's Office does not settle out of Court and makes Mark prove his ridiculous accusations.  I do not believe Mark can win that lawsuit and then will he pay his lawyers out of Foundation money?

In case you haven't noticed, the reason Mark hasn't "returned to work" is because spreading awareness and keeping Jessie's story alive IS his work now! Have we as a society become so cynical that we cannot believe someone is doing anything just for the greater good of their community? I'm curious, has anyone on here ever lost a child to a violent crime? I'm betting the answer will be a resounding NO. And as far as Cam's comments: no one is saying that these officers didn't feel emotion, that they aren't supported. Mistakes were made, and obviously the sheriff is not willing to step up and say "hey, we could have done that but we didn't, we'll be sure to do it in the future." But no, he is flat out denying that they were negligent. He is saying that the sheriff's department did everything in their power to find Jessie, when in all actuality they didn't. All Mark wants is someone to admit that they screwed up this one time. John Couey slipped through their net, and they need to be held responsible for that, period.

i think they did a great job, if anything he should sue coueys family or maybe jessie dad should have been home with his daughter instead of leaving her with her grandparents!!!

Mark has spent alot of time trying to prevent this tragedy from happening again. And he has done a great job...getting Jessie's Law passed as well.  I think he should get whatever he can from this.  He has lost a child!!  In probably the worst way possible!  I can't imagine what he thinks when he looks over at the place his daughter was bound and tortured for 3 days....so close to home.  And why was John Couey able to work at schools??  Who's fault is that?  It sure isn't Mark's.

I agree with what you had to say Brandi.

Does Mark work for a living or does he just siphon off donations from his adoring fans?  Maybe he's decided he needs money to buy his own double wide now that he's a big media star.  

What a loser he is to spit in the face of the people who helped him the most.  The police do not deserve this kind of treatment.

I agree with Joe in that the first response to a missing child should have been tracking dogs. (when prisoners escape the bloodhounds come out--not crowds of people mucking up the scent)  A bloodhound's testimony will hold up in court.  They waited after rains & many searchers to use dogs.  I wrote to the Tribune reporter way back after it happened & he said I brought up a good point, but I never heard any more about that.  I feel they messed  up right at the beginning.

The finger pointing needs to stop. The one and only person responsible for this is John Couey. This dad left his child with grandparents and the went out for the evening. So what!! The sheriffs department did what they could to find this little girl. To hold them liable is ludacris. It is a sad day when we see lawsuits being allowed against the very people who tried with blood, sweat and tears to save this child. Mark Lunsford is passing legislation to stop this from happening BUT he needs to take a long hard look at this lawsuit and realize he is hurting the very people who helped him find Jessica. Statistics will show you that most kidnapping/ murders take much longer than a month or two to solve. The Citrus County sheriff did all they could and solved this crime in a month. The outcome is not what any of us would have wanted BUT this lawsuit will not bring back his daughter. I have to question his motive.

We all can agree this was a horrific crime. However, can someone explain why the people living in the trailor were not held accountable for their actions? I saw a picture of the trailor and it was a very old,  very small and the closet Jessica was in had an accordian type door. Just the size of the trailor would have made it very difficult for any type of noises to go unheard. Coffey was the mad man but the people living inside that dump were accomplices as well.
As far as Lunsford suing, this does not put him in a favorable light. It looks exactly what it appears to be.
Anyway can some one post an answer to this question...

I have no idea Matty....that is one that I'll never understand.  Anyone knows that those people living there had to have heard that little girl.  That man was raping her and I can't imagine the pain she was suffering so I know someone heard something...even if she was gagged with something.  And for those people to be able to buy him a bus ticket out of there because they knew he had committed this crime, they were helping him get away with it.  Such a disgrace!

I just read that the father AND mother are suing. You know the mother who hasn't been around for the last 8 years........

Let's show him here in Citrus County that we won't donate a cent to his "lifestyle"-turn your skooters off and don't ride tomorrow. And don't whine about the lack of funds hurting Jessie's Place; they are totally independant of Mark Lunsford's fund-raising effort. Only part of this goes to Jessie's Place-they have their own fundraisers in place-which will probably hurt them now with people thinking he is involved. They even had to seek legal counsel to use her name for the future CAC. This whole mess sickens me; and all due to a tragic loss of a young life-wondering what whe is thinking right now????

I do think the sheriffs dept was negligent in their search for Jessica.  Too many mistakes were made & they focused on the family.  They should have searched the trailer.

Just think.....the only reason they found her was because he confessed.  Weeks later.  If he hadn't confessed....then what?

I'm not pretending to know what Mr. Lunsford feels or what he's going through; this was a tragic event that no one could foresee happening. I think the police did everything they could with what little information they had to go on.  I understand Mr. Lunsford's need to keep Jessica's memory alive, however, suing the police department and staying in the limelight isn't the way to do it.  I think its time for him to let go of the anger and move on.  This was about Jessica but somehow it has turned into being all about Mr. Lunsford.  When is it enough?  Let Jessica rest in peace!!

If Mr. Lunsford would have been a father to his daughter she would not have been taken out of her own house.  Our children are our responsibilty.  If anyone should be held accountable it should be Mr. Lunsford.  Why wasn't he charged with child neglet?

What is wrong with him? I have lost all respect for him now.

Shame on him is all I have to say.

It is a said day when parents profit off their child's death.  The mother of all people has no right to this frivolous law suit.  She had abandon her child years before her death.  If I remember correctly they had a hard time finding her to notify her of her daughter's death.

To accuse Mark of being a bad father because he wasn't home that night is wrong   As a parent I have left my child over night on occasion with friends or family.  Does that make me or others who have done the same a bad parent.  I do believe he loved his daughter very much and I have personally seen his pain.

However this law suit is wrong, Mark you can't bring her back with this law suit.  Nor, should you live a lavish life style either.  I have heard rumors of misuse with the foundation's money.  You haven't worked since her death and yet you have a new harley motorcycle!  You go out to the bars on a regular basis, Gyspy's Den used to be your regular hang out.  I have also heard rumors of drug use!

Shame on you for suing Sheriff Dawsey.  Dawsey is probably the best sheriff Citrus County has ever had.  Dawsey has always been an advocate for children and long before he became the sheriff.  I saw no fault on the behalf of the Sheriff's department or the FDLE.  Get a job Mark and start to take care of yourself instead of living off your daughter's terrible death.  Don't ruin what people remember of your sweet and beautiful daughter.

the sheriff did nothing wrong. he was sincere and caring in his investigation.
the parents are just looking for money probably after they were approached that they could get some.

the kicker was when he announced a long while back that he wanted to run for office, looks like Lunsford got some better cloths and some new teeth to go with that new cycle.

Learn to stay home and lock your doors, Lunsnut..... your own son was charged with  being a pedo, sure the apple didn't fall far from the tree.

I suggest not to run any stop signs, read light, or J Walk if you want to mess with the fuzz. Had them in his hip pocket... not no more. Leave that dubie at home and that open container in the trash...

These parent are looking for a quick buck at the expense of the sheriff department and the state of Florida.
I believe that the Grandmother was Jennifer greatest asset.
I can only speak for myself but if I lived 150 feet from a convicted sex offender, and was unable to move due to financial reasons, I would have bars on my windows, and doors, I would also get myself a security dog.
Not only for the protection of my daughter but also for my parents who were the main caregivers of my daughter. It was his responsibility to make sure the necessary precautions were in place.
Parents also have lives, they must go out just to keep sane. I would venture to say that everyone on this site would have made sure doors were locked, phone numbers where to be reached, and maybe 1 call for check up (optional). Other than that you expect to arrive home and everything and everybody would be ok.  
I know you should not judge people by the way they look or dress but this guy looked like a real low life. He did not even clean up well...he is what he is.

Please quit showing couey's face on your channell. Who cares if he is saved.
quit giving him media attention.
God knows that Dawsy and the sheriff's department and all the volunteers did
the best they could. The blame belongs to couey and his family.

The constitution does indeed state that a search cannot be enacted unless allowed by the resident or a search warrant is issued. However, John Coohey was a person of interest from the beginning. If his sister had nothing to hide, why did she not allow a search of her home when initially approached by the Sheriff's Dept? Why did she purchase a bus ticket for him to specifically leave the area, if he had done nothing wrong? It was already established that he (Coohey) lived there and that he was a predator/felon. (Heads Up Citrus Sheriff). Therefore, the Sheriff's Dept should have searched his sister's home, (where they eventually found Jessica), when they went there the first time, based on the knowledge that a known parolee/felon was living there.

He held this beautiful little girl captive for 3 weeks, sexually assaulted her, intimidated her and buried her ALIVE! It makes me cry when I think of how frightened, hurt and alone she must have felt.

As for as his current alledged defense of metal retardation, PLEASE don't insult my intelligence!!! This man knew enough to run from what he did. Therefore he KNEW what he did was wrong.

We might be considered "mentally inept" if we actually believed his plea.

Now he says he has "found" God and seeks forgiveness.

My God is a forgiving God, yet I cannot help but wonder if Mr. John Coohey would be asking for God's forgiveness, had he not gotten caught...

Mentally challenged? I think not.

Clever like a fox is more like it.

Ultimately, God has his own way of dealing with deviates...

The one at fault is the father himself. Perhaps if he would have been home taking care of his daughter rather then shacking up, his daughter would still be alive.

To Teresa Morgan, great that you admitted your mistake.  Just because someone is a public servant, does not give any of us the right to post completely false statements.  Also, to all posters who say Mark is doing great things.  Mark is not the first and he certainly will not be the last to help children.  John Walsh, Mark Klauss, Ed Smart, the group who started the Amber Alert in 1997, and the list goes on. By the way none of these people sued their county government.  I have talked to quite a few people since this came out yesterday.  They have thought not so kind things about Mark for a long time.  They all feel real comfortable now in saying so.  Mark is going to find that through all of this all his little secrets will come to the surface.

I can't believe you people.  You all make me sick.  The hate spewed here is unfreakinbelievable.  What have any of you done besides sit here behind your computer screens and condemn this man who has been through unimaginable pain??   I can't believe that you all are blaming him for what John Couey did.    How many time had he done this??  Didn't he tell them not to let him out????   Who is responsible for that?????  WHO let him do this over and over and let him back out to take that beautiful child???

Soooo, if I go out on a date and have my parents babysit, and my child is kidnapped by a CONVICTED KNOWN SEX OFFENDER, then I AM RESPONSIBLE??????   I am to blame???  

None of us can ever go out again, we must stay with our children 24/7, because of something happens, it is our fault.  Come on people!

Wrong folks, just wrong.

JMO, love me or hate me, I don't care ;)

For the first 2 Cheryl posts -- that was me -- the 3rd one -- I don't know who that is -- because I would never leave my children home -- even at 10 years old --

But, I have talked to quite a few people about this -- and all of them can't believe that Lunsford has the nerve to do what he is doing.  

The repercussions are too much -- CCSO will have to spend tax $$$ to defend doing their best to find the monster.

And, I think Lunsford impeded the investigation -- kept them from looking elsewhere -- because of the child porn on his own computer -- which is illegal.

Mark is not blameless -- yes, he has suffered a great loss -- but culpability is there -- he did not do EVERYTHING possible to protect his child -- which, in this day and age -- is a lot more that it was 20 years ago.  

He needs to wake up and smell reality.

I just saw a video today and Mark Lunsford said that he will have a press conference on Tuesday..next week...and talk about the civil suit. He said that he had discovered some new information that he hadn't been aware of and this new info led to the civil suit.

Jennifer...you said that you believe that not one person here has had a child die of a violent death...WRONG. My daughter died a very violent death at the hands of her ex-husband. She left a little 4 yr old girl behind. No, she wasn't a child when she was murdered...she was 25 yrs. but it doesn't make the pain any less. Losing a child at the hands of another is the worst nightmare a parent can ever go through. I followed Jesse's case from beginning to end. I know that Mark Lunsford's grief for Jesse was real. He reminded me to much of myself. I saw that grief in his face and especially in his eyes. Anyone who doubts that wasn't really looking at him or had bias to begin with.

I have respected the work that Mark has done in Jessica's name. I don't live near Mark and do not know him as a person or anything about his life style. I only know him as a grieving father. I don't put blame on him because he wasn't home when Jessica was kidnapped. Jesse was with her grandparents. Who better to leave a child with. Yes, the door somehow was not locked. Do we not believe that the grandparents haven't suffered every day and night because of that? It wasn't intentionally left unlocked. I am sure of that. It could happen to any of us.

So far I believe that LE did everything that was possible to find Jesse. I do agree about the tracking dogs though. I think Jesse might have been found alive if the dogs had been brought in right away. John Couey has told so many lies that no one is sure when he murdered Jesse or anything about what happened after her abduction. As for the people living in that mobile...everyone there was so high on meth that it is possible that they didn't know what was going on. Couey says that the other male came into the bedroom. Did he really or is that another of Couey's stories? At some point his sister must have known something or she wouldn't have gotten a bus ticket for him. I remember it being a big thing about the others not being arrested. The Prosecutor refused to arrest them from what I remember. There was a fuss about it but he stood his ground. LE gathers evidence and hands it over to the Prosecutor who decides if there is enough evidence to go to trial. LE doesn't make those decisions.

I am waiting for the press conference on Tues to see what the new details are and the reason for the civil suit. I want to hear Mark's side and then make a decision about what I think. That is only fair.

I followed the case in the papers and on the news and, having walked in the shoes of all those deputies and investigators who spent untold amounts of man hours doing not only their job as required by the department but many more hours above and beyond, I have this to say:

Mark Lunsford, during all the time, from first report of Jessie being missing to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the suspect, not once did you even remotely suggest that the sheriff's department were anything but acceptable. If I remember right you couldn't say enough about their efforts to find Jessie and bring the perpertrator to justice

Now, all of a sudden, out of the blue, you decide they didn't do enough and you need to sue them?????? Did you experience some sort of epiphany or have some vision that showed you some point in the investigation where the agencies involved could / should have done something different????? Or, has your income from the "NON-PROFIT" programs dwindled to the point that you need to do this for money??? (Yes, all you bleeding heart Mark Lunsford supporters, IT IS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AND NOTERIETY!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Now, to all you morons who like to play arm chair /Monday morning investigators.....don't go there. You have, at best, less than one percent knowledge and understand of the protocols that underlay and govern an investigation of this magnitude. Yes, even I would not claim to understand them either because it's been a lot of years since I walked this path and a lot changes have occurred. And yes, there may be some person who has weighed in here with his / her opinion that is more current than I but, if you weren't directly involved, you can't (SHOULDN'T) be casting dispersions on how the investigation was conducted. Let's be clear: You may rest assures that some of the best impartial legal minds in the business had their say as to the LEGAL CORRECTNESS of the investigation and you got to know that as lame and wishy-washy as the legal system is, if there a loop hole by which any other outcome could have been attained.....some one would have found it.

In closing I would like to say congratulations to all the people, professional and volunteer, for their efforts in this unfortunate tragedy and, to you Mark Lunsford, first, had you been home with Jessie instead out with your 'bar hog" things might be different and, you should be greatful things turned out like they did (finding her and the conviction) instead of now, three years later not knowing what happened, where she is, and who did it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mark has said "he found out some things after the trial was over".  Perhaps he saw police reports that he had not seen before, police rarely give out all the information they have to the parents of a missing child.  Perhaps he found out something that could have saved his daughter?  

Mark is not at fault for his daughter's death. Period.
Jessica died at the hands of John Couey and his sister knew Jessica was there.

If a felony has been committed and a child is missing, I believe the officers have the right to "ask to search their home" it is up to the people living there if it is allowed or not.  If the police were invited in to search and they didn't search a closet during that time, what then?  

Or perhaps Mark is suing because no charges were brought against the sister and her friend.  There are many possibilities and rather than judge Mark at this time, let's wait and see what he found out first before "we hang him."  

Mark has been judged since Jessica went missing.  He had long hair, drove a motorcycle, was a biker, didn't work, left her at his parent's house while he went out, now he's suing the Sheriff (or is it the department and the Sheriff is named?), he sat in court and heard all the things that was done to Jessica and kept his mouth shut so he would not screw up the trial.  He has proposed legislation that will, if each state accepts it, protect all of our children and grandchildren from preditors or at least make it harder for them to just hang around the neighborhood and schools.  He may very well have a respectable lawsuit, something that would also prevent it from happening again.  At least wait until Tuesday until you hang him up to dry.

Remember Jessica.

Mark Lunsford's only claim to fame is that his daughter was the victim of a child molestor and murdered.  Why does ABC Action News try to make him look like a hero?  

To Marsha:  Mark's hair has nothing to do with how some think of him.  Here is what has some of us upset about his pending lawsuit.

Financial Details

Financial documents filed by the Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation state that the primary focus of the nonprofit organization is to provide public awareness and education for the safety of children regarding sexual predators.

The documents show that between July 2006 and last June, the foundation collected about $150,000. The year before, the foundation collected about $100,000.

Lunsford, as foundation president, took an annual salary of $20,800 in the 2005-06 fiscal year and $54,800 last fiscal year. He still lists his home address as his parents' Homosassa mobile home.

Over the past two years, the foundation spent $38,000 on travel. Lunsford has spoken before legislative bodies in several states.

More than $12,000 has been spent on phone bills, and about $25,000 has been spent on office equipment and furniture. In June 2007, the foundation had nearly $79,000 in available cash.

Cherie Sanders, the treasurer for the foundation, said it has plans to donate significant funds to Jessie's Place and other advocacy centers.

Since announcing the possible lawsuit, Gelman and Lunsford have declined to offer details. Gelman has said witness statements and evidence from the trial show a pattern of negligence. Gelman said specifics on the lawsuit will be discussed Monday on TV's "The O'Reilly Factor" and at a Tuesday news conference.

He lives with his parents, has $25,000.00 in office equipment and furniture.  Where is his office.  An over $54,000.00 salary, $12,000.00 in phone bills.  Give me a break.  When you suffer a tragedy it does not exempt you from getting a job.  This is outrageous of Mark.  People in Citrus have thought this for a long time.  His little law suit just gave people a reason to open the flood gates.

john should get hung just like saddam

`hang cuhy

shame on mark lunsford riding on the coat-tails of jessicas death... he is just trying to get more money,look does he work?? does he pretend he is a politcal figure.... get real were all sick of him... now his site is not processing as much money as whrn this first happened, so now we must try to sue and get more.... he need a reality check....people who know the sorry --- really see what he is up to... also when this happened 3yrs ago did the mother have any camera time... wow but now he NEEDS her to sue as a FAmily....get wise citrus this guy should be ashamed of his self.....this is after all about the poor little sweet girl jessica...god bless her....bonnie

wow what did i tell ya... he is riding on the support from the public without putting anything into the memory of jessica.. like a playground or a school classroom project.. after all jessica was a school girl and was loved by her classmates.....stop this malarky, yes his parents watched jessica not him, as soon as the camers hit his fake self and the court room drama we all know mark from HOMMASASSA.. now poor dawsey is at fault...who is next .. it was coey who did it and he will die either at the hands of an inmate or god, or the slow death from the intravenious injection... no matter he is a sicko and deserves to die..... but mark get off the BANDWAGON....it will soon run dry.........

you want to hear part of the story of how the Sheriff Dept found out who left town right after Jessicas disappearance and the truth behind the real story go to topix.com and look at true blue

pretty amazing story sounds like everyone made out but the real hero  

where were the sniffing dogs??

They should have checked inside every house within a 5 miles.  Jessy was only a few yards from her front door.  If they would have just gone into every house then she would be alive today.  ALIVE.  Not burried alive in a trash bag.  We need the ability to search in every house at least within a 1 mile area.  Then a search warrent if needed.  She should be alive and safe.

I remember seeing a report on the news when Jessica first came up missing your station may still have the video.It was of a officer with his dog on a leash.The dog was tring to go to the steps of the house where they found her.The dog was jerked away by the officer,After they found her I wondered why they pulled the dog back,they could have found her sooner.Hopefully your station still has that film.

I do not feel it is to do with greed. I can only imagine and do feel that there surely must be a period of hatred that a person goes through after enduring what Mark has had to endure and a time to place blame.
I am not sure if what took place could be considered as actual negligence but I have always wondered why this trailer was not gone inside of the first time they went there.
Also ... it is most common for people to attack a person such as Mark with 'ignorant' words as if to say he should have been home when his daughter went missing ... Sorry people but you show your sheer ignorance with such stupid words as that !! I am sure Mark has had a lot of self blame going on inside and he doesn't need your ignorant words to make him feel a guilt that he most certainly should not feel.

And I agree with ...
 Susan said:
The reason I think there was negligence is because they should have searched the trailer where they eventually found her (the first time they went there) and they should have paid special attention due to a parolee living there and should have known he was there.  And why was he living there close to children. This has always bothered me as to why they did not do this.

And to Mark, if by chance you read these postings, know them for their ignorance and stand up like you are doing, as no biker, no rebel is to ever back down and certainly is to never conform to others ways of thinking or being !!
God Bless You and Ride Free !!

I never belived in anything he (mark) said or did - I always felt he was using his daughters death to advance his self - a low life that he is - he is a real scum bag - the less we hear about him on
the ABC news the better we will all be.

I  believe if people knew what type of people these Lunsford people are there would be no sympathy for any one in that family. My heart goes out for the child. But, where was the father the night his daughter was killed? I moved here to Florida almost 6 yrs ago and had my first encounter with the Lunsford family thru David Lunsford he stole $5000.00 from us in the form of cash. This was for a manufactured home for our daughter, which she never got nor did we ever get our money from him! We are just one of 33 families that were scammed by this family.
As far as Mark Lunsford goes he looked like a bum on TV when this first came to light his daughter had been killed. They had to really clean him up to be presentable on TV. As far as the donations goes for his campaign. We gave nothing because this man as what we were told had been in trouble before, so if you have one bad egg in the family then why in gods name would you give another one any money? He is only in this for the money! this is how I feel! To use the death of a child to profit for yourself is horrible.
Thank you
Carole

My feeling on Mark is that if he had been home maybe Jessica would still be alive today.  He was her parent and should have been there for her, not her grandparents.  Mark don't blame others for your own mistakes.

Once a scumbag still a scumbag......
Someone needs to look into his and the mothers past,,,its court record...and find out the great parents they were .  Also lets find out what happened to Marks porn laden computer the sheriffs ofice took.

TRASH.  I can not put into words what I think of you and your attempt to extort money from the sheriff.  Where were you that night, getting trashed, leaving your parental responsibilities for someone else.  YOU bare the responsibility of the death of your daughter, not the sheriff.  You need to get back with your drunk wife and get out of this state.  

simple- Law Enforcement knew there was a sexual predator nearby and waited to investigate him. And when they did, there was an obvious cover up by crack-smoking losers. Obvious to everyone except the hayseed Sheriff.

Jessica lived for a couple days and in those days, trained Law Enforcement would have been focused on someone besides Mark Lunsford

What a loser Mark is. I didn't like from the beginning, he looked shady to me. I later find out that he never held a steady job but has been living off of Jessie death. He lives with his mom and dad and never owned a home. He drives a $85,000 motorcycle that was supposed to be auctioned off for Jessie house but he liked it so much he kept it. REAL NICE MARK. I hope that county does not cave in and settle and give him one red cent. Go get a job......in another state like Alaska.

I hate the fact that Mark has jumped in bed with his get rich quick lawyer,whom you know has covinced him to play this out so he'll never have to work a real job the rest of his life. I feel this is the real "ride for Jessie", that will be an annual event. The Sheriffs office worked hard and fast to find and put the predator in jail. If they hadn't done what they did it could have turned in to a cold case, Thank God they were good at what they did. That saved other children from this predators ways. My heart goes out to Mark for the lost of Jessie, but I've lost my respect for him,for allowing his lawyer to con him in to this. I think Mark is a simple person that would have never thought to do this on his own. I would like to see him follow his heart instead of his lawyers greed to bleed the tax payers.

I think you people who are defending Marks actions should start doing some home work on this guy and his family and on the laws in florida. John being home or not home is not in question here, but it is not the sheriff's fault either. He say's the laws suck. Well sueing the sheriff is not going to change the laws. If he can take that money that people are donating to lobby for Jessie's law, then take some of it and a group of supporters and fight to change the laws. I had to do something in the same sense ( little different ) for my child, and I had no funding or help, just myself and I accompliced it. It doesn't take a guiness or money to do things to help their children. SOOOOOOOO why do you think Mark wants the money!  WAKE UP - DO YOUR HOMEWORK!

I can not believe the totally uneducated nitwitts that have posted here. Most of you buttkissing cop lovers that think you know what the citrus county sheriffs office did during the initial time period that Jessie was missing, obviously were not physically there on scene. Well I was, and I saw the rediculous way that they started things off. Only in Circus County Florida.  Way to go JEFFY BOY.

THE TRUE BLAME GOES BACK TO THE NIGHT OF THE KIDNAPPING.
THE FATHER WAS OUT WITH HIS BIKER CHICK, AND HIS BIKER BUDDIES,
BAR HOPPING.
IF HE WAS HOME WITH HIS OWN KID, SHE WOULD BE ALIVE TODAY.
NO LAWSUIT IS GOING TO RID THE FATHER OF HIS LACK OF PARENTAL
RESPONSIBILITIES IN PROTECTING HIS OWN DAUGHTER.
RANDY

It's too bad that he wasn't home to watch over his daughter, I think he is the one that should be blamed for his daughters death.

I FELT VERY SAD FOR JESSIE AND WAS UPSET WITH THE PARENTS WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT I CHANGED MY MIND WHEN I SAW HOW HURT AND CARING  MARK SEEMED TO BE.  I HAVE SINCE GONE BACK TO MY ORIGINAL FEELINGS , MARK IS A GREEDY  MEDIA HOUND AND A ROTTEN PARENT. HAD HE DONE HIS JOB JESSIE WOULD STILL BE WITH US,TODAY  THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN 3 YEARS IS HE HAS MORE WEALTH AND FAME. BUT HE IS STILL A DOUCHE...........

I FELT VERY SAD FOR JESSIE AND WAS UPSET WITH THE PARENTS WHEN IT HAPPENED, BUT I CHANGED MY MIND WHEN I SAW HOW HURT AND CARING  MARK SEEMED TO BE.  I HAVE SINCE GONE BACK TO MY ORIGINAL FEELINGS , MARK IS A GREEDY  MEDIA HOUND AND A ROTTEN PARENT. HAD HE DONE HIS JOB JESSIE WOULD STILL BE WITH US,TODAY  THE ONLY THING THAT HAS CHANGED IN 3 YEARS IS HE HAS MORE WEALTH AND FAME. BUT HE IS STILL A DOUCHE...........

MARK!!!! What are you doing????? You are turning this into a money thing. Please don't be like all the other money hungry jerks out there. And for gods sake, don't treat us like we are stupid and try telling us it's to show the sheriff that there is a problem in his department. We are  very sorry for your loss but you will lose 95% of your support if you sue for more than  one dollar... if you want to show there is a problem then go for the victory, not the money. If not, than you are a lot worse than the sue happy morons that clog our court system already.

Have we all forgotten about the Mark Lunsford and Jessica's Law, the one that increases penalty for lewd acts against our children? If Mark Lunsford really only cared about the money, why would he go through all that trouble. I think it’s really petty of you people to attack him after all he's gone through. Judging him from his looks but not paying attention to the fact that the police department went to the pervert’s house four times that day yet never asked to look around once.

Mr Lunsford has sunk as low as possible.  Regardless of where he was and what he was doing, the fact remains that he and he alone was responsible for his daughter's health, education and safety.  The more I read about Mr Lunsford the more I am convinced that the only thing he assumed responsibility for was relying on someone else to accept his parental duties.  He is a candidate for Jerry Springer if there ever was one, however I think that even Springer's show standards far exceed anything Mark Lunsford can exhibit.

Mr Lunsford has sunk as low as possible.  Regardless of where he was and what he was doing, the fact remains that he and he alone was responsible for his daughter's health, education and safety.  The more I read about Mr Lunsford the more I am convinced that the only thing he assumed responsibility for was relying on someone else to accept his parental duties.  He is a candidate for Jerry Springer if there ever was one, however I think that even Springer's show standards far exceed anything Mark Lunsford can exhibit.

I believe if people stooped paying attention to the way he looked and if he was in trouble or not they would realize the hell that happened to him. Put yourself in his shoes and imagine your only daughter who you raise as a single parent is in that situation. That sweet innocent child's life shouldn't have ended like that. We all saw him on television crying with his eyes all red. He may not have been a perfect man but who among us are.
I HOPE YOU FIND SOME PEACE THU THIS MARK LUNSFORD AND FAMILY.

Betsy Iadarola ---- HOW CAN YOU SAY THAT HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF HIS OWN DAUGHTER??? DO YOU NOT REMEMBER JOHN COUEY???
John Couey is an American sex offender and murderer. He was convicted of kidnapping, raping, and murdering nine-year old Jessica Lunsford in February 2005, in Florida. Lunsford's disappearance and Couey's subsequent confession and trial received extensive media coverage. Due to Couey's actions, Jessica's Law was enacted in Florida, and Congress created the Jessica Lunsford Act.

I always wondered why the police did not get a search warrant to search or asked if they could just look around the mobile they had gone a few times, they would have  found little Jessie  in the closet ALIVE.
I think what Mark Lunsford did traveling all over for his cause for children was wonderful.  

I DON'T THINK A SINGLE ONE OF YOU MORONS HAVE CHILDREN. OR AT LEAST CARE ABOUT THEM. YOU AE CONCERNED WITH YOUR TAXES AND IF THEY ARE GOING UP NOT IF YOUR CHILD GETS ABDUCTED. DO YOU THINK THAT JUST B/C YOU ARE HOME AT NIGHT THAT YOUR KID CAN'T GET ABDUCTED. HOW ABOUT AT THE SCHOOL BUS OR THE SUPER MARKET. FILTHY HEARTLESS SCUMBAGS.

The admission stated that she was kept in his bed that evening, where he raped her again in the morning. It further stated that Couey put her in his closet and ordered her to remain there, which she did as he reported for work at "Billy's Truck Lot". Lastly, the admission recounted that three days after he abducted her, Couey bound the child's wrists together with speaker wire, placed her in a garbage bag, placed the bag containing her inside another garbage bag and buried her alive in a shallow grave, where she suffocated to death.

I DON'T THINK A SINGLE ONE OF YOU MORONS HAVE CHILDREN. OR AT LEAST CARE ABOUT THEM. YOU AE CONCERNED WITH YOUR TAXES AND IF THEY ARE GOING UP NOT IF YOUR CHILD GETS ABDUCTED. DO YOU THINK THAT JUST B/C YOU ARE HOME AT NIGHT THAT YOUR KID CAN'T GET ABDUCTED. HOW ABOUT AT THE SCHOOL BUS OR THE SUPER MARKET. FILTHY HEARTLESS SCUMBAGS.

When I was a kid I had a cousin who was killed and I remember people right away asking if my aunt and uncle planned to sue those involved. And what stands out in my memory is my aunts reaction "will it bring my child back?" So rather than sue, the family holds an annual golf tournament to raise money for a student scholarship in my cousins memory. Maybe Mr. Lunsford does feel more could have been done, but he should also look in the mirror and ask himself if more couldn't have begun at home. Nothing will bring Jessie back, but to sue the people who worked so hard to find her is just wrong. And Mr. Lunsford money will not ease your pain.

Yes. They were negligent.

stop sucking up to the cops and why didn't they look around. she was alive for three whole days and despite VERY suspicous actions they don't search or even ask. they obviously faultered here and should correct there mistake....

Well its always the fault of the convicted felon, however, knowing now that Jessica was alive for a period of time following the kidnapping, Police do have some explaining to do.

Jason from Florida
jas0n0@yahoo.com

First, my heart goes out to mark and his family.  Anyone who can question that the Sheriff was negigent in his search operation anr complete  idiots.  I am a ex-detective from the Washington D>C> area and  I think the sheriff needs to be fired fire,sued and perhaps be considered an assescerry to the act.  Jessica was missing in a isolated area not well traveled.  The firsrt thing should have been a house to house search.  Maybe the  little girl somehow went out side and couldn't find her way home.  Maybe a nice person would have kept her until the morning and took her home.  Instead, It was a monster living 150 yards from her house.  An as for Mark not beeing home, How many of you have left your children with their grandparentss or other relatives.  If I were on the sence and saw the "Meth heads" that answered to door I would have don't it old school style and I would have been inside that trailer finding the little girl while having a uniform check out the  "Meth Heads:.  Since when does a "search warrent"  mean anything anymore.  I would have gladly taken a reprimand or blown the case  but Jessica would have been alive.  And I dn't think Couey would be.  "Old School Works"  The sehriff's don't seem to mind firing 160 shots into one man but couldn't fing a little girl 150 yards from her her.  Mark should have got a friend or two and went door to door hisself and he would have fould his daughter  within an hour.  If you are looking for a missing child and the ocupents of a hme refuse to let you search  something must be wrong.  As for the Sheriff sayinf she was alive as soon as he hit the scene, well that's crap.  Even so, she was buried next the trailer with a shovel nearby.  Didn't anyone have the commen sence to even kick the dirt around in freshly dug area?  Mark, God Bless You and good luck.  Sheriff, step up and be a man and resign along with the other so called edcetives working the case.  If I gat in a jam I certainly wouldn't waste my time calling you.  And to the Taxpayers of Citrius County who think Mark is only in it for the mony well, none of you have ever lost a child.  Just because Mark chooses to be a "Biker" doesn't mean he insn't intitled to Juris Proudance.  And speaking from experience you cannot put a $S oon a child's life.  You should be more worried about the Quality of the Police work being done in your county, it could be your trailer next.  I lived right down the street from Mr. Walsh's house when his son was taken.  One thing nobody ever mentions is it was DIRECTLY across the street from the Hollywod Police Departmen Headquarters!!! So, put the blame where it belongs, on Mr' Couy  and the negligent police work done by the Sheriff and his Department.  People think about it remenber who is the VICTIM here.   Think of your own children and love and protect them  all the time.  Sincerely

Thirddog99
gtwndgs2@aol.com

George This is from one of the morons you are refering to, I do have children,and one of them lives on a ventalator and is fed through a feeding tube, and he is going to die from muscular dystrophy. So should I sue god for not giving me a healthy child. Can you please get me gods phone # from Mark and his money hungry lawyers. So once I become money hungry I won't be in the moron club anymore? Who's the stupid idiot here!

A good father would not have moved in with his aged parents in raising his children. A good father would have been home with his children instead of spending the night with a girlfriend. Just who is respondsible for the safety and well-being of a child if not the parents, somehow, Mark forgot this. If he is an example of fatherhood, God help all of our children!!

I think people are forgetting that Mark Lunsford has spoken with MANY people around the country who have probably told him about ways law enforcement could have done things differently to perhaps have saved Jessica, especially since that horrible rapist/murderer told the details of that precious child's demise.  The sad, horrifying thing is people who are disgustingly warped as Couey will find ways to do their horrific deeds no matter how cautious the rest of us try to be.  Btw, parents make mistakes just trying to be good parents.  While I understand Lunsford should have been home, if he is a heavy sleeper like my husband, a bomb could go off and he'd never have heard it!

I think in hind site on any investigation you can what if about things like going inside the mobile home where that trash Couey was staying.  If anyone should be charged as negligant it should be the people who were hiding Couey out in their mobile home, not telling law enforcement he was in there, staying there, knowing full well he is a sex offender.  I think Mark Lunsford needs to take a look at himself and ask if his night out partying when she was abducted was worth it?!?  It's easy to point fingers in a tragedy, but had he been home maybe it would never have happened.  With all the law enforcement people did I think it sick that Lunsford is trying to make money off of his daughter's death, BUT I've been waiting and watching for it to go this way.  He shoud sue the people who had Couey in their home not the police because had they known a sex offender was there they would have ripped that place apart!  The people hiding Couey withheld that info for quite a while!

I understand that Mark Lundsford is hurting and he misses his daughter terribly, however, I can't help but think that he is just trying to take advantage of the situation. He should be grateful that he got a law passed to protect other children. Many children abducted from their homes are never found and Jessica's body was found so she got the proper burial she deserved. Also, the man who did it is getting the death penalty....what more can a parent seeking justice ask for? If you ask me, I think the men and women who worked on this case did all they could.  He needs to stop and come to realization that our laws aren't perfect...no one is and nothing can be. You can't change what happened. There are sick people out there. I am truly sorry for his loss and I hope one day his family can find peace, but what Mark is doing isn't going to help him. It makes him look like he's trying to get rich from this tragedy.

Granted, this was a horrible crime.  But you just can not go entering anyones residence without a warrant.  I am sure that by going to the house four different times, the investigators were looking for probable cause to secure a warrant.  without it they are helpless.  Each visit to the suspects home was an attempt to secure the evidence needed for a warrant.  As for Mark, he has suffred a great loss, but let it go.  I guess all of the time in front of television cameras, he has grown to enjoy, and by doing this, he puts himself back into the lime light, but this time, he is VERY WRONG!

I find it disgusting that Mark would now want to make money from his daughters death. Where was he when she was taken??? He couldnt get along with his wife and he wasnt home to watch over his daughter. A party was more important. Now he blames everyone else and wants money also. Just disgusting.

For those of you who think Mark is craving more attention and needs the 'limelight'... read the news outside of your little world!  Almost on a weekly basis Mark is somewhere in another state fighting for our children!!!  Do a search on Google news and you will see he is NOT in need of media exposure!!

As for him being money motivated... nothing I have seen in him could be further from the truth!  I know Mark personally, after the tragedy, and have seen him in many different situations.  He could have gotten a new home from Extreme Makeover - he refused!! And instead did an "Extreme Makeover' of the playground at Jessie's school!  If it were all about enriching himself he would have taken the offer of a new home and never looked back!

Instead he puts himself out there, working to change the bureaucratic system set up for the criminals, to protect my children and your children!! It won't bring Jessie back and guess what... it does not make him rich either!!

Just because Mark has long hair and a 'biker' appearance, means NOTHING!! And guess what... all these personal attacks on him will do just the opposite of making him go away... if I know Mark and him family, which by the way are the nicest, most down to earth people you will ever meet, this will fuel their passion and urge them to continue the fight!

Mark, I am sure you wont read this as most of these comments are a waste of time... but don't give up, dont be discouraged.... you are fighting a fight that most of us do NOTHING about until it affect us!  I for one want to thank you for putting your 'real' self out there and for all your hard work to affect 'change' in our screwed up system!!!!

God Bless you Mark, Ruth and Archie.... I know Jessie is proud and with you each and eery day!

I hope none of you people putting Mark down NEVER has to experience what he or his family have lived thru!!

As for money.... i hope you people end up with egg on your face when at the press conference it is revealed that this lawsuit is about changing the way things are done and NOT money!!!  Just because he is suing does not mean he will collect!  I am sure if money is awarded... it will go to helping other children and NOT in Mark's pocket!!

Seems Tampa Bay is filled with a lot of 'perfect' people if all you can do is tear Mark down.... more like a bunch of sanctimonious, judgemental wanna-bes!!

How sad that we always have to blame someone else? This was a tragedy and the one at fault is in JAIL.
If Mark Lunsford has a concern with the sheriff then why not work with him and improve how these cases are solved.  The law has a hard enough time with poor pay and not enough people trying to keep out country safe.  Lawsuits do not increase the workforce or pay for more training.  Why does't Lumsford help raise money to help the law enforcement instead of suing them for doing their best?
Shame shame on him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder what percentage the lawyers will be getting?  Shame on them!!!!

Sorry Mark...you just shot yourself in the foot.  You were a good advocate for getting Legislation in alot of States concerning Sex Offenders but you just screwed up big time and shot yourself in the foot as to anyone listening to you or contributing to your cause again.  Jessie's Place will suffer because of your greed!!!

If Mr. Lunsford feels justified by factual evidence that the authorities did
not do everything necessary for a favorable outcome for his daughter homicide case, then
isn't that up to him to seek justice for her as he has clearly evidenced that
through the legal system, children, like his Jessica, needed to have  a voice.
Why wouldn't he champion for her case continually until all sides of
justice prevail for her.  Do we know how many cold-cases have yet to be solved
simply because not enough or the right personnel did their job to  bring
about a favorable and just ending to a criminal case.  There are hundreds, if not
thousands.  If Mr. Lunsford's information as spoken on the news is correct. Then isn't the Sherriff held accountable when a criminal case is botched?   Isn't a law enforcement officer held accountable to how well he presents all of state's evidence?  Clearly Mr. Lunsford sees a gaping hole in this last accountability issue and he should address this through the channels he's taken. I know people feel that we should respect our law officers. "To err, is human, to forgive, divine", but to err on the side of crime is unjustifiable. Would you forgive a law enforcement officer who (because of shoddy detective work) had the opportunity to spare your loved one such a passing (as Jessica Lunsford endured) and didn't, and you were left to do what Mr. Lunsford endured for years to seek justice?  Be honest!

It irritates me that people keep bringing up the fact that Mark Lunsford was not home when his daughter got kidnapped.  It's not as if Jessica, a 9 yr. old, was home alone all night long.  Her grandparents and the dog were there.  The grandparents didn't hear anything and chances are Mark wouldn't have heard anything either.  John Couey was good at breaking into houses and burglary.  He had done it before.

The fact of the matter is, our children can be kidnapped while they are at home, walking down the street, playing in their own yard, getting off the school bus, etc.  It's because the laws are too easy regarding sex offenders!!!!  

I am keeping an open mind regarding the lawsuit until I hear more information.

I  SAY, THE POLICE CAN MAKE MISTAKES. THEY ARE HUMAN, HOWEVER, THEY MUST LEARN FROM THERE MISTAKES AND PAY FOR THEM.                                                                                                                 MR. LUNSFORD I HOPE THEY LISTEN TO YOU. TO MANY TIMES THEY THINK WHAT THEY THINK IS CORRECT, AND THE CASE FALLS THROUGH THE CRACKS.                                                                                                               IF IT WAS THIER LITTLE GIRL, THEY WOULD NOT STOP KNOCKING ON DOORS , UNTILL LAWS WERE CHANGED TOO.                                                                                                                   I KNOW  YOU ARE NOT IN IT FOR THE MONEY,DONT GIVE UP.  KEEP GOING TILL THEY ARE PUNISHED, AND KEEP FIGHTING FOR THE LAWS AND PROTICALS ARE CHANGED.                                                                                                           I HAVE NOT AN OPEN MIND WHEN IT COMES TO  OUR CHILDREN AND LAWS.                                                  

MR. LUNSFORD, MY WIFE AND I TALK ABOUT YOU AND YOUR DAUGHTER OFTEN. WE BOTH THINK YOU ARE RIGHT. KEEP GOING MARK, WE ARE WITH YOU. THE LAWS HAVE TO BE CHANGED AND HOW THEY CONDUCT THIER INVESTIGATIONS.   OPEN MINDS ARE FOR THE WEEK ON THIS CASE! I PERSONALY I  HOPE YOU WIN WITH ALL HANDS DOWN. IF YOU DO RECIEVE DOLLARS FROM THIS LAW SUIT, (NOING IT WILL NOT BRING JESSICA BACK) IT WILL HELP YOU FIGHT FOR HARSHER LAWS ON ANY SEX OFFENDER. PEOPLE WHO SAY, HES IN IT FOR THE MONEY ARE SO BLIND. AND HAVE NO IDEA WHAT IT MEANS TO BE LIED TO. OR THE PAIN THE LIES BRING. KEEPING FINGERS CROSSED.  

To Jake - When a functioning adult spawns offspring the person assumes all responsibility for safely caring for the child until the child reaches maturity.  There are many families where multiple generations occupy the same dwelling and for the most part this is a wonderful arrangement for all.  However, Mr Lunsford choose the neighborhood in which to reside with his young daughter, he choose to leave his young child in the care of his parents while he was absent from the family home over night.  If he is such a caring parent, why did he not check as to who his neighbors were?  Couey is an animal with barely an IQ of roadkill however I feel  that he reacted to an opportunity.  With him as a neighbor, he quite possibly had befriended young Jessica and this had never been brought to the parent or grandparents attention by the child.  This was just a neighbor who was "friendly".  I know that for the rest of his life Mr Lunsford will have to live with the fact of when and how his child was killed and maybe this is enough grief to bear.  Regardless of anyone's opinion or feeling the fact remains that a child lost her life in a preventable situation.  Mr Lunsford comes across not as a distraught parent but as someone with an opportunist streak a mile wide.  When was the Harley auctioned and how much money went into Jessie's fund?  

I would now like to see a poll asking if the viewers think Mr. Lunsford may have been negligent that night.

The sheriff made a mistake in how he handled the initial case the same as many small town law enforcement agency do. If he had asked for help from more experienced law enforcement Jess would be alive today.

If Mark Lunsford is truly interested in policy changes, why is this lawsuit necessary.  If is is not about the money, then Mark Lunsford should agree to donate any proceeds received  to the cause of missing and exploited children.  

Hogwash, Any respect I had for Mr. Lunsford, has been washed away, He appears to be filling his pocket with Gold! Shame on you Mr. Lunsford.

At first I thought that Mark Lunsford was just exploiting his daighter's death - and I had thought that before this lawsuit ever happed. But after hearing the details, I tend to think I misjudged him.

I believe if Mark had been home, this may not have happened, but we will never know.  Mark is entitled to a life too.  Jessica was with her grandparents, not alone, or with strangers.  I have always felt the sheriff's dept was negligent in not getting a warrant and searching the mobile home.  The dogs must have led them there @ some point. The way to make changes and get laws passed is to repeat what he did after Jessie's death to get Jessie's law passed.

Mark Lunsford has taken advantage of everyone's good will so he could profit from his daughters death.  New Motorcycles, and Agent, Paid Appearances.  I think the media has played him up so much he was trying to be like John Walsh from AMW.  I have allot of questions for Lunsford. Like where was he the night his daughter was taken.  How did this guy (Couey) get in his house.  What in Lunsford life caused the Police look at him for this.  Allot of unanswered questions.

i think they should have checked the trailer out and she would still be here today as far as mark there is no singal parent that dont stay out all night his daughter was in good hands its not like he left her home alone you people that think mark is wrong have never lost a child i have i know what he fells and i would do the same thing as him i said the when they where looking for her they should look in the trailer there was reason to knowing he lived there and his back ground so yes i think the law was so in the wrong

Before everyone gets all upset with this, let's step back and look. The lawsuit has not been filed as of yet. Why wouldn't the Law Enforcement Community not want to revisit this case ans see if any mistake might have been made? Could this case have been handled more effeciently? I realize that hind sight is always 20/20, but it seems to me the motive behind this proposed suit is not money but seeking change in the way these cases are handled. Instead of charges and excuses, let the two parties get together and discuss what happened. As Mark Lundsford said, if it saves even one life, it is worth the pain.

I think they are negligent for the simple fact they did not search the inside of that trailer.
They should have gotten a warrant and there probably would have a happy ending to  this story and no body would be sued.

i think Mr. Lunsford is like everyone else at the moment....strapped for money and thinking of ways to get extra cash...for all the authorities did for him he should be ashamed of himself!!! The almighty dollar will take him down. Instead of good memories of him we will just remember him as another greedy individual. Im sick of sue sue sue and greed! What happen to how nice everyone became during 9-11? How quick we forget...do we have to keep having tradgedy to pull us together as  humans??? When Mr. Lunsford was in need everyone was there for him and this is the thanks? Disgusting!!! We can not save our children from all the preditors, there is no fool proof  way! And remember....we cant infringe on peoples rights. So Mr. Lunsford....go to h......!

I AGREE WITH LUNSFORDS ATTY         POOR POLICE WORK
HAS THIS SHERIFF EVER HEARD OF PROTECTING A CRIME SCENE
HE SHOULD BE FIRED           WHAT WILL THE PEOPLE HEAR ABOUT THIS ???         COVER-UP !!!     COVER-UP!!!!    COVER-UP!!!!

I do not agree with Mark's intentions but I always wondered WHY the dogs did not pick up her scent when they were on Couey's property searching so hard?????

No one person could have saved Jessica, at least not a human.  We are all human, and Jessica's death, as horrible as it was gives us all a pause; grateful parents, more aware, and our authorities realizing they can and should do more.  I just hope that everyone who has followed this, no matter how close or far have learned that something has to be done to protect our children.

Mark Lunsford is doing a lot of good for all; I just don't know if a lawsuit is the right way.  I continue to listen and hear.  If it saves a child, then I will say he did right.  It's about the children who will take our places in the future, they deserve a chance to live, and to make us all better people.

There is plenty of fault to go around on all accounts.  We need more outraged parents and neighbors and law enforcement standing up for our families and our laws.  Sometimes, goverment agencies aren't held accountable for their actions or decisions same goes for some parents and individuals.  I don't beleive that anybody was negligent on purpose, everybody wanted to find her.  But never the less, Jessica was across the street alive for three days and they couldn't find her.  A criminal fell through the cracks and another child is dead because of it.  I don't agree with sueing but most of us have never walked in his shoes.  Sometimes we have to do things as parents we don't want to.  No matter his intentions I think all of our children will benefit from his efforts.

No one person could have saved Jessica, at least not a human.  We are all human, and Jessica's death, as horrible as it was gives us all a pause; grateful parents, more aware, and our authorities realizing they can and should do more.  I just hope that everyone who has followed this, no matter how close or far have learned that something has to be done to protect our children.

Mark Lunsford is doing a lot of good for all; I just don't know if a lawsuit is the right way.  I continue to listen and hear.  If it saves a child, then I will say he did right.  It's about the children who will take our places in the future, they deserve a chance to live, and to make us all better people.

It has always bothered me that the police were actually in the trailer where Couey was holding Jessica.  That being the case, without a doubt, there is obviously a major problem with police procedures that needs to be remedied, as well as an overall lack of common sense.  How devastated any parent would be with knowledge that police were but a few feet away from preventing this tragedy.  I'm with you Mark, and thanks for all you have accomplished in bringing needed changes in child protection policy!!

I am very angry, that Mark Lunsford gets so much News Coverage, every time he has something to say, the News camera, as well as the Newspapers, just chime in on what he says, his toughts, My god, is Jessie the only child in the state, that has been taken away from her family.

Did we forget about Carly Bruisher ( I hope I have not mispeller her name, if so, please forgive me. )

Her case was basically the same, did her Mother sue the Sheriff's Office, I don't think so.

I feel, it's time to put other stories on the News, that touch our lives, and not praise a Father that I feel didn't do his job, keeping a eye on his neighbors, his daughers friends, and his parenting skills.

Let Mark Lunsford stand on his own 2 feet, again without the Press and News Media, and ask yourself, if it was your child, would the news media camp out on your door step????

People, let's wake up, this is 2008

whatever mark lumsford reasons for lawsuit, is not the issue. the girl was next door. you always profile lowlife people. what where they thinking? not searching the trailer. what happened to the rest of the dirtbag family. all the above negitive comments directed at mark are made by smart people who have not lost a child.
god forbid it happened to them, and deputies were 100 feet within the girls life. my dog would have found her in a heartbeat. mark did not leave the girl ( home alone) .the police need to take part in easter hunts, before they resume ther duties.

I am a single mother that lives in citrus county and I used to work with a women who lived next door to where this unspeakable crime took place.The citrus county sheriffs dept had no problem searching her trailer so you tell me why they did not search all of the trailers within a five mile radius of this missing child?I know if they came to my house I would have no problem with them searching my home,I would let them look whereever they needed to in order to find a missing child.So my answer is no!They did not do there job to the best of their abbility.  

Frankly, I wonder what took him so long.  I was shocked the police did NOT do a door to door search of the immediate neighborhood right away.  When the police talked to the people in the Couey trailer, they acted SO suspiciously, they sent out red flags that more experienced lawmen might have picked up on.  Putting the command post near the crime scene was particularly stupid, as the volunteers trampled over the crime scene.  I mentioned that to my family at the early stages of the investigation.

I am a puzzle-solver by heart, and noticed many of the screw-ups at the start of this investigation right away, without having any background in law enforcement, just common sense.  Since it was not my business, I never spoke out, so I wondered what took Lunsford so long to finally hold the Barnie Fifes accountable.

All of you that think Mr. Lunsford is horrible for getting an attorney and suing, you cannot walk in the man's shoes, or wear his pain.  The investigation WAS bumbled from the get-go; I noticed it in 2005 and mentioned it to others and I am just a humble housewife with a probing and curious mind.

I would like everyone of you to take one long walk in Marks shoes and come back with all the information you now know and have learned and tell me you feel the same way.
I for one know if this was my daughter that I learned was in that MONSTERS closet when the police knocked on the door of that house and did not once ask if they could look around I would be wanting a hell of alot more than just a law suit. I can't even fathom the feeling of knowing this.
Mark you have done so much for our country with Jessica's law I want to thank you a thousand times over and apologize for every ignorant individual that throws a stone!!
I am behind you 100%

I have to back Mark Lumsford on this one, he has always been about CHANGE.  The only way to change policies is to get attention on the issues at hand.  I have a hard time believing that this is about money at all.  If I had lost a child and later found out that the police did not do all in their power, or were negligent in their ways, I would've sued them too!!!!

It's sad when someone loses a child. It's all to easy to be a Monday morning quarterback.  Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda.  We we all knew then what we know today Mark would have stayed home with his child that night. But, hindsight is 20/20. The Sheriff's office has to follow the law.  The scenario could very easily have been John Couey getting off because the Sheriff's Office went into the trailer without PROBABLE CAUSE. Yes a child is missing and that is a very important factor but even in that situation law enforcement does not have any more right to come in and search a home then it does any normal day of the week.  I believe that each and every crime is used by the police to learn from to better procedures but again...they still have to follow the law.

I can not believe that so many people are against Mark Lunsford for being human. So he went out that night. Come on now. Becoming a parent does not require life to stop for you. And Mark left his child with his parents not some unknown babysitter. I think he did the right thing that night. How can you blame him for being responsible? His poor parents must feel so guilty and that is not fair. IT IS NOT THEIR FAULT THAT SOME SICK MAN ENTERED THEIR HOME AND TOOK THIS CHILD FROM HER BED! Haven't any of you watched the news lately with all of the home invasions and murders when people were doing all the right things but in the wrong place. Sadly, this kind of stuff happens everyday! I think Mark Lunsford is right to sue. He said he is doing it to make changes in procedures and I agree. In fact, he shouldn't be just suing the police department but the entire state so they will make changes in procedures in how they handle sick people like Couey. The police knew that A convicted sex offender was in the area. They were at the door of his residence and listened to the drug addicted friends when they said he was not there. They should be held liable for Jessica's horrific murder! The sheriff should have requested a search warrant and searched the residence. In fact, that law requiring a search warrant to search a sex offenders home is ridiculous. The police should be allowed to search the home of a convicted sex offender as soon as a child is missing. Forget protecting their rights. In my opinion they lost their rights when they took away the rights and freedoms of an innocent child. Mark, I support you in every way. As a single mom of a little girl, I hope you can get through to them that the current laws are not helping children in this state. We need to toughen up against these sick people who are tearing our lives apart by taking our children from us.  My heart and prayers remain with you and your family. I will never forget sweet Jessica! I hope things will change in memory and honor of her.

Mark is now GOING to make CHANGES where changes should have been made YEARS ago. For all these idiot's that think he is after a financial settlement ,get real and try for one single moment in their lives to put themselves in Marks world. IMAGINE FOR ONE MOMENT THAT " THEIR" DAUGHTER/SON WAS IN THE CLOSET- WITH-IN SIGHT OF THEIR HOME. AND KNOWING THAT ANOTHER CHILD MOLESTER WHO OUR SYSTEM HAS SET FREE LIVED THAT CLOSE---WHAT WOULD THEY DO.
I know exactly what I would've done,HOW ABOUT YOU???
Every time I look at my 6 & 9 yr. olds & think about ALL THOSE CHILD MOLESTERS SET FREE BY OUR SYSTEM  IT TRULY PROVES THAT OUR SOCALLED SYSTEM IS VERY VERY BROKEN.
YOU KEEP IT GOING MARK & MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ALL THE WAY

Oh, and for people like Rick Q up there, I cannot believe you would even begin to question a pioneer like John Walsh!!!  Are you naive to the fact that he has brought many offenders to justice??  Do you just chose to ignore the good that has come out of his public appearances??

I belive that if you look at a man's past actions, that tells you alot about a man now. Given his past actions, I belive that in his heart, he feels he is doing the right thing,  for the right reasons.  If the authorities were negligent or not who knows, but  if Mark Lunsford feels they where negligent, he as anyone would, needs to follow his heart, right or wrong. If a law suit is in his mind the only way to get closing, then I say let him have his closing and let the courts decide, not us.

All I know is they knew he was a sex offender and they were at his door step and never went in the trailer. if they did we would not be here today
period..

I just found out you cannot trust the poll numbers on front page of this website, all I have to do is open a new browser and vote again, watch your back-door action news, lol.

When Mark first informed the News of his intent to sue, his reason was that legistlative budget cuts would not allow his funding of advocacy centers and a law suit was the only way he could get them funded.  I remember sitting and listening to his statement on the news.  Now his story has changed in the past week and I find that sad.  Now he just wants to initiate "change".  I think this would make for an interesting news follow up story, to follow up on his original statement.  His appearance and lack of professionalism makes me question his reasons.  

I HAVE DEALT WITH THE CITRUS CO. AUTHORITIES BEFORE, UNLESS YOU ARE IN THEIR GOOD OLE BOY CLUB YOU ARE SCREWED. THEY SHOULD HAVE SEARCHED THE TRAILOR. I HAVE NO RESPECT FOR CITRUS CO. VERY GLAD TO HEAR JUDGE GUROLLA HAS RETIRED. SHE WAS SCHIZO.

Your still a slug Mark and your attorney is looking for his 15 minutes of fame and a fast $25,000.  You do not have to sue the sheriff to change laws.  Isn't that what you were doing around the country anyway?  You should be sued for child neglect.  Where did the money go that was given to you in the past.  Who's checking your bank account.  

Doris said:
Lunsford should HANG his head in shame for leaving his daughter to be with his "girlfriend". Yes there were others in the home but NOT Mark Lundsford!!
Shame on you!!
Doris

My heart still bleeds for Mark. No person on this earth deserves to suffer the loss of a child especially the way he did but I agree with most of you, I am outraged at this lawsuit.  Even if all of Mark's allegations are true, I believe the sheriff's office did all they can.  People seem to think that the police should be miracle workers.  When they do something good for us they are great but if things do not turn out the way you want it is all the police's fault.  That is what is wrong with this worl all we care about is law suits, whoever says "this is not about Money"  you live in a dream world.  Maybe Mark should, sue his parents for not hearing the break in, or the trailer maker for not making stron enough locks.  The only person to be blammed here is in prison and (although it may nt fit he crime) he is serving his sentence.  (I'd like to beat him to death)  As sad as it is there are sick sick people in this world and horrible things happan, no one is to blame but the people who commit the crime.  The law and the people who work in are not mind readers and they can not predict the future. As a parent it is your job to protect your children and unfortuantly sometimes even the best parents have sickos ruin their lives.  God bless you all and pray that all of our children live to be great granparents.  

I find it hard to believe that a law enforcement officer/division allowed their investigation center to be set up so close to the scene of the crime.  Furthermore, the trailer/mobile home where Jessica was being detained was never searched.  If a convicted pedophile lives/stayed/visited/had relatives there, the place should have been searched.  It was not.  In addition, Mr. Lunsford is suing for !00k, not a great amount in this kind of loss.  He is attempting to accomplish a purpose and one hundred grand minus attorney fees is nothing.  What if Jessica had been your child?  Wouldn't you have demanded that the pedophile's residence be examined?  

I think enough is enough.  No amount of money will bring Jessica back to life.

here is a man (if you can call him a man) making a name for himself on his off his dead dauhter.  We should into his passed.

here is a man (if you can call him a man) making a name for himself on his off his dead dauhter.  We should into his passed.

I think enough is enough.  No amount of money will bring Jessica back to life.

I have lived in citrus county for over two years. I have never seen the lack of structure &  communication within the sheriff department of citrus county. There are to many "rookies" still being "rookies".

Basically the sheriff's department in Citrus county are incompetent to do their job thoroughly and professionally! Citrus county must work on hiring well educated and trained detectives. Do you know there is only one detective in citrus county handling missing & run away children? Is this not a problem?!

I strongly support Mr. Mark Lunsford in his pursue to sue the Sheriffs department.

Yes, Their quick to give tickets, sometimes harass citizens over silly, false reports,    and other things they should have took more time with something so precious, although I do beleave they work hard and are very needed and apreciated.

you really dont want to know how i feel about mark now.

yes!

Before anything came out in the news about this my first thought was this is a way to get a change in the was a future case would be handled.  i.e., calling upon the house where Jessica was hidden and not giving it a complete check on every
nook and crany.  Is they had done so maybe she would still be alive.  It seemed to me from what I can remember that the sheriff's office was too slow and not going to the max to checking "EVERYTHING & EVERYONE".  Hernando Country seems to be a haven for Sexual Offenders so when a child disappears there should be an extra effort to check up on "all" the offenders on records.  Maybe it would make feel better if Mark Lundsford and his wife would give most of his settlement, if any, to chairty.  I'm sure he could use some of this money to better his living conditions and the rest could go to Jessica's Place.

Before anything came out in the news about this my first thought was this is a way to get a change in the was a future case would be handled.  i.e., calling upon the house where Jessica was hidden and not giving it a complete check on every
nook and crany.  Is they had done so maybe she would still be alive.  It seemed to me from what I can remember that the sheriff's office was too slow and not going to the max to checking "EVERYTHING & EVERYONE".  Hernando Country seems to be a haven for Sexual Offenders so when a child disappears there should be an extra effort to check up on "all" the offenders on records.  Maybe it would make feel better if Mark Lundsford and his wife would give most of his settlement, if any, to chairty.  I'm sure he could use some of this money to better his living conditions and the rest could go to Jessica's Place.

Before anything came out in the news about this my first thought was this is a way to get a change in the was a future case would be handled.  i.e., calling upon the house where Jessica was hidden and not giving it a complete check on every
nook and crany.  Is they had done so maybe she would still be alive.  It seemed to me from what I can remember that the sheriff's office was too slow and not going to the max to checking "EVERYTHING & EVERYONE".  Hernando Country seems to be a haven for Sexual Offenders so when a child disappears there should be an extra effort to check up on "all" the offenders on records.  Maybe it would make feel better if Mark Lundsford and his wife would give most of his settlement, if any, to chairty.  I'm sure he could use some of this money to better his living conditions and the rest could go to Jessica's Place.

COME ON EVERYONE WHO ARE YOU KIDDING, ALL IT TOOK WAS A FAST TALKIN LAWYER TO CONVINCE MARK OF ANY WRONG DOING. MAYBE IT'S NOT ABOUT THE MONEY, BUT IT SURE AS HECK ABOUT JESSY'S LAW LET US ALL REMEMBER WHAT MARK WANTS TO DO FOR ALL THE OTHER KIDS OUT THERE. JOHN COUEY IS A PIG AND SHOULD DIE NOW!!! HOW MUCH DO WE THE PEOPLE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT WEEK OF THE ABDUCTION AND MURDER. GUESS WHAT I MYSELF THOUGHT THE GRANDFATHER DID IT. MARKS OUT GETTING DRUNK AND HE STILL PARTY'S JUST AS MUCH NOW AS HE DID BACK THEN.  HE LEFT HIS DAUGHTER ALL NIGHT HE CAME HOME AT 6AM TO WAKE HER FOR SCHOOL AND NO JESSY HIS PARENTS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO HEAR ANYTHING TO OLD.  

seems like we have another gold digger among us. thought this guy was a republican and was against these type law suits or now he is a victim its ok. BIG QUESTION, where was he the night of the abduction? at a bar having a good time?

GOOD FOR MARK.      LET THE FACTS COME OUT.  I think the true FACTS will come out ONLY in a law suit.  Do you think if Mark was a doctor or teacher he would be getting the negative attention about his lawsuit.  Just because he has a past and long hair doesn't mean he has no right to fight to have the TRUE FACTS brought out. I feel there could be a cover up from the Sheriffs office for neglect from an employee that didn't do his job as well as he should have.  Do you think the Sheriff would let it be known that one of his employees failed to do the job?  He who protest the loudest usually has something to hide.

LET THE LAWSUIT GO FORWARD THEN WE WILL KNOW ALL OF THE FACTS. Let us not judge any until then.

Was the MARTYR gimmick over for him. New Hummer, New motorhome, A Custom  Motorcycle(that he kept after it was loaned to him for a motorcycle rally in honor of Jessica by pressuring the owner to donate it to him). Is all of this neccesary to promote a cause ? For Gods' sake he doesn't even have a job !!. Now he wants a PAYDAY from the very people who did everthing humanly possible to get his daughter back. Maybe, Just Maybe if HE HAD BEEN HOME WITH HIS DAUGHTER THE NIGHT SHE DISAPPEARED everything else would be a moot point. Fortunately I have FAITH in the court system and they will see right through , THE FATHER OF THE YEAR and his IDIOTIC charges. Look in the mirror Mark and tell yourself YOU FAILED your daughter by not keeping her safe in her own home..WHERE WERE YOU ???

I would like to know whom contacted whom.  If the lawyers contacted Mark first than that answers most of the questions. It appears that they did some investigating on their own and decided that they could make some money out of this horrifice crime.  

Im sure it  is hard for he .Why does he keep his name and face in the news.  TIME FOR HIM  TO LOOK AT HIS SELF

Where was Mark staying when his Daughter was taken and who was at the Trailer at that time to watch over Jessica?
God forbid that they trusted  John Couey to babysit for them, if he did?
All I can think of is Jessica was "HOME ALONE"!
Mark was with his girlfriend and where was Jessica's mother.
I feel the blame should be put on the parents, not the Sheriff Dept.

The issue is NOT where was Mark on the night Jessica disappeared; she was in the home with her grandparents- adults present.  The issue is NOT what type of father Mark was to her and/or what Mark has been doing since her death.  The issue is NOT what money Mark has accumulated.
THE ISSUE IS DID THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF's OFFICE MAKE MISTAKES in their investigational activities??? The answer is yes
  continue to ask:  why were the "scent dogs not used on Day 1"
          why was the mobile within eyesight of the mobile where Jessie was under
                  surveilance?
     why did they try to coerce her own grandfather into an admission of guilt?
IT all boils down to ONE summary...........JEFF DAWSY's ego got the best of him...
he wanted to be the big hero in solving the case....

the legal system will prevail.....

Mark Lunsford is a low-life and he, not the sheriff's departrment, should be investigated.  He was the one who was not there when his daughter needed him.  He was out releagting his parental responsiblities to his elderly parents.  Does Mark have a job?  Did he have a job at the time of Jessica's kidnapping?  If anyone, aside from the murderder, is responsible/negligent here, it's Mark Lundsford.  He should hang his head in shame and disappear so that we don;t have to hear from him again.

The issue is NOT where was Mark on the night Jessica disappeared; she was in the home with her grandparents- adults present.  The issue is NOT what type of father Mark was to her and/or what Mark has been doing since her death.  The issue is NOT what money Mark has accumulated.
THE ISSUE IS DID THE CITRUS COUNTY SHERIFF's OFFICE MAKE MISTAKES in their investigational activities??? The answer is yes
  continue to ask:  why were the "scent dogs not used on Day 1"
          why was the mobile within eyesight of the mobile where Jessie was under
                  surveilance?
     why did they try to coerce her own grandfather into an admission of guilt?
IT all boils down to ONE summary...........JEFF DAWSY's ego got the best of him...
he wanted to be the big hero in solving the case....

the legal system will prevail.....

I do agree with Mark.  THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN NEW jERSEY,,,,2 MISSING LITTLE BOYS,  THEY SEARCHED THE AUTOMOBILE BUT NEVER THOUGHT OF OPENING THE TRUNK...AND GUESS WHAT ... 2 DEAD CHILDREN.   I HAD A CHILD MOLESTED AT2 YEARS OLD BY HER FATHER.....GUESS WHAT THE AUTHORITIES DID???   CALLED THE CHILD A LIAR   AND NOW I HAVE A TROUBLED TEEN MARK HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH.  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABDUCTED AND YOU ARE OUT TO DINNER  WITH A BABY SITTER AT HOME.  SHAME ON YOU, HOW DARE YOU GO OUT....GET REAL

I do agree with Mark.  THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN NEW jERSEY,,,,2 MISSING LITTLE BOYS,  THEY SEARCHED THE AUTOMOBILE BUT NEVER THOUGHT OF OPENING THE TRUNK...AND GUESS WHAT ... 2 DEAD CHILDREN.   I HAD A CHILD MOLESTED AT2 YEARS OLD BY HER FATHER.....GUESS WHAT THE AUTHORITIES DID???   CALLED THE CHILD A LIAR   AND NOW I HAVE A TROUBLED TEEN MARK HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH.  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABDUCTED AND YOU ARE OUT TO DINNER  WITH A BABY SITTER AT HOME.  SHAME ON YOU, HOW DARE YOU GO OUT....GET REAL

He needs a new Harley,he dosn't like work the lawsuit will probably backfire on him.

Above should have said?  why was the mobile.....NOT under surveilance????
   esp when they had reason to believe Couey lived there
Dawsy says...or questioned why believe Couey...well he did, that is on the information that he needed; discounts all the others
how long did the ME say she had been dead....
JUSTICE IS FOR ALL...a fact that Sheriff Dawsy is learning on this case and possibly more to come

Ask Mark what does he do for work and how does he live?  Also is he using some of the foundation money to live with?  What kind of work did he use to do before?  And how come he wasn't there to take care of his daughter?  Did he think the public is stupid and not realising that all this is for is money, money and more money.  I hope the Sheriff find more things wrong with Mr. Mark so he don't get a penny.  He is the one wrong here not the Sheriff Dept.

Above should have said?  why was the mobile.....NOT under surveilance????
   esp when they had reason to believe Couey lived there
Dawsy says...or questioned why believe Couey...well he did, that is on the information that he needed; discounts all the others
how long did the ME say she had been dead....
JUSTICE IS FOR ALL...a fact that Sheriff Dawsy is learning on this case and possibly more to come

WHAT IS WRONG WITH EVERYONE? HOW EASY IT IS TO JUDGE A FATHER AND FIND REASONING TO WHY HE IS SUING THE CITRUS SHERIFF DEPT.  IF THIS WASYOUR CHILD DEAD, AND THE CITRUS POILICE DEPARTMENT FAILING TO DO THEIR JOB YOU WOULD BE MORE THAN JUST SUING!  PEOPLE ARE MISSING THE MESSAGE, DUE TO THE CITRUS POLICE DEPARTMENT LACK OF INTELLIGENCE AND TRAINING, AND EXPERIENCE THEY COULD HAVE SAVED ANOTHER CHILD,LEFT DEAD... THE CITRUS SHERIFF DEPT. WANTED TO CLOSE THE CASE AND SOLVE IT AS EASY AS POSBLE BY BLAMING THE GRANDFATHER.... WE ARE SURRONDED BY PRETEORS AND THEY ARE HAVING IT EASY WITH THE POLICE DEPT. IN CITRUS COUNTY. SOMETHING MUST CHANGE!!!! POLICE WERE AWARE OF THE PREDETOR OF COUEY LIVING NEXT DOOR. YOU PEOPLE AGAINST MR. LUNSFORD ARE JUST AS TERRIBLE AS THE SHERIFF IN THIS COUNTY..WAKE UP READ THE REASON BEHIND THE LAWSUIT, IT'S NOT AT ALL ABOUT MONEY$$$ YOU EASY JUDGEMENTALERS.  WHAT IF IT IS YOUR GIRL NEXT/ HOW WOULD YOU COPE???

Why is it that noone is reporting and asking Mark Lunsford why the doors to his home were left unlocked that night and does he think if the doors had been locked would Jessica have been safe?  Perhaps if he had been home and insured the doors were locked, John Couey would not have had such easy access to his home.  I think filing a lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office is ludicrous.  As difficult as it must be to admit that you contributed to this horrific crime, Mark Lunsford needs to take a good long look at himself and place the blame where it belongs.

Why is it that noone is reporting and asking Mark Lunsford why the doors to his home were left unlocked that night and does he think if the doors had been locked would Jessica have been safe?  Perhaps if he had been home and insured the doors were locked, John Couey would not have had such easy access to his home.  I think filing a lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office is ludicrous.  As difficult as it must be to admit that you contributed to this horrific crime, Mark Lunsford needs to take a good long look at himself and place the blame where it belongs.

What about his son??? Joshua was 18 and his girlfriend was 14.   That was in Ohio, he even wore a Jessica shirt to court.  Any other man would be in jail for what he did  but not Mark's son.   See ethicaltreatment.org.   It's a crime what our judical system is doing to our youth.    And Mark had porn on his computer they day Jessie came up missing.  It was on the police report.

  Jennifer said:
How dare you all call Mark Lunsford greedy? I hope he wins this lawsuit, and it leads to procedural changes within the sheriff's department as to how they handle missing child cases. Common sense would have told you to take a hard, close look at the immediate family, friends, and neighbors. They are the closest and have an easier opportunity to abduct a child. Not to mention that statistically, most abductions are done by 1) non-custodial parent, 2) another relative, 3) friend/neighbor. They should have run a check on Couey's name, they would have seen that he is a registered sex offender, and perhaps they would have saved Jessica. Remember, he kept her for a few days before he murdered her. If the sherrif's department had been more thorough, she may be alive today.
I AGREE WITH YOU. THE COPS SHOULD KNOW WERE ALL THE PERVERTS LIVE AND GO RIGHT TO THEM. I KNOW THAT IS HOW IT WORKS IN OTHERS STATES. WHEN A CHILD GOES MISSING THEY LOOK TO SEE WHAT PERVS LIVE NEAR THERE AND QUESTION THEM. BUT HERE THEY DIDN'T. YOU ALL WANT TO BLAME THE FATHER. YOUR WRONG. HE HAS THE RIGHT TO GO OUT,GROW HIS HAIR THEY WAY HE WANTS, AND YES LIVE IN A TRAILER. YOU ARE JUDGING HIM FOR BEING WHO HE IS. WHEN ARE YOU PEOPLE GOING TO WAKE UP AND TAKE A STAND FOR THE CHILDREN AND NOT LET THESE PERVERTS OUT OF PRISION. THE LAW SUITE IS GOOD BECAUSE IT WILL CHANGE HOW THINGS ARE DONE AND SAVE THE NEXT CHILD. IF HE WINS I AM SURE THIS MONEY WILL BE USED FOR HIS CAUSE TO SAVE ALL ARE CHILDEREN.

Listen, I was a part of that search along with my two kids and husband.  Just so you understand....when Jessica went missing they immediately made contact with all sexual offenders in the area to make sure they were where they were supposed to be.  John Couey's address was NOT at the trailer across from Mark, but at another address in Homosassa.  They went to the address Couey listed with the sheriff, he was not there. They went to Coueys family that lived by Mark and they lied, said that hadn't seen him, he wasnt living there.  
When we were searching most homeowners and people that lived in the area had no problem letting us search their property, but their were a few that denied us....that is their right.   There is nothing you can do about it.  The only people to blame here are John Couey and his scumbag family.  We can thank Brad King for not prosecuting them too...did everyone forget about that.
I'm sorry but I still cant help but think if the door had been locked, it just wouldnt have been as easy for Couey.  There might have been some noise, he might not even attempted to get in.  But I do know that he was watching Mark and knew that he left often at night.  
Mark just needs to stop this nonsense, WE all did everything that we could do to find your daughter.

I do agree with Mark.  THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN NEW jERSEY,,,,2 MISSING LITTLE BOYS,  THEY SEARCHED THE AUTOMOBILE BUT NEVER THOUGHT OF OPENING THE TRUNK...AND GUESS WHAT ... 2 DEAD CHILDREN.   I HAD A CHILD MOLESTED AT2 YEARS OLD BY HER FATHER.....GUESS WHAT THE AUTHORITIES DID???   CALLED THE CHILD A LIAR   AND NOW I HAVE A TROUBLED TEEN MARK HAS SUFFERED ENOUGH.  WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO SAY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS ABDUCTED AND YOU ARE OUT TO DINNER  WITH A BABY SITTER AT HOME.  SHAME ON YOU, HOW DARE YOU GO OUT....GET REAL

I WOULD TELL THE BABYSITTER TO LOCK THE FREAKING DOOR FOR ONE!!!!

GET FOCUSED!

This is not about Mark Lunsford's life or his children's life. This is about our Citrus County Sheriff Department! Read the lawsuit and reports thoroughly. You will then take note that the Sheriff's department did not follow proper procedures.

For goodness sake, they allowed for a crime to happen right under their nose! I reiterate,  read and become familiar with what is documented. Don't go by hear say.

The people of Citrus County deserve a change to better their Sheriff's department. They need more experienced and highly educated investigators for these type of cases!

WTH? It doesn't make one iota of difference if Mark Lunsford was there when his parents WERE there. Anyone who brings that up is just sadistic.(among other things) And trying to make money??? Don't make me laugh. Do you have any idea how many hours of work this man has donated? That would be a resounding NO!!
 You people are so cruel..."shacking up" with his girlfriend? Good Lord!! I don't even know what to say to that..(that I'm aloud to say here) Yeah, it's a PLOY to make a buck. That's what you people get? That Mark is some devious sleaze, just because he wears jeans and a T-shirt.
 Is this all the tolerance we have in Tampa Bay?? That's a damn shame. Especially for Mark, because look at what he has to put up with now. Everyone who bucks the system faces the same thing. He'll "MOVE ON" when things are better and he has made a difference. Untill then he's gonna try with all his heart.  
 I say "ROCK ON MARK"!!

I cant imagine what Mark Lundsford is thinking to allow two dead beat lawyers seeking national attention intimidate him in attacking Sheriff Dawsy. The Sheriffs Office acted with the upmost professionalism including interviewing techniques to begin the investigation. It would have been better if Mark had stayed at home in lieu of shacking up at his girl friends.
Folks, get in back of your local law enforcement officials and stay with them, they are your only defense from the crazed idiots on the streers willing to kill you for just dollars. And for Mark Lunsford, find anoither way to get your new Harlery Davidson motorcycle. From 5000 riders last year to 400 this year and none next year. Dude, bikers support law enforcement not sue it. Get a grip.

I cannot believe that people would doubt the integrity of Mark Lunsford after all he has done to protect children in the past 3 years.  His daughter is gone and he works tirelessly to strengthen laws to protect YOUR children.  Those who doubt him should be ashamed of themselves.
If this lawsuit makes one positive change in procedure of the Sheriff's Dept. and saves ONE life... Jessie would not have died in vain.
God Bless you Mark!

"Don't make me laugh. Do you have any idea how many hours of work this man has donated? "

Your making me laugh!  DONATED????  You dont become richer with toys and material items by donating time!

Yes his daughter is gone and nothing in the whole world can replace her.

Sheriff Dawsy: Fight this til the end, and please dont just settle to get rid of this problem.  The truth will come out.

and Fran...doubt his integrity?  I sure do more than ever now.  

Have you seen the reports of money he is paying himself and the ungodly amounts of money he is using for transportation, phone bills etc?  If you have, I cant believe you would even write that.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I felt Mr. Lunsford had shown tremendous courage & character during the past 2 years under horrific circumstances with the rape & murder of his lovely daughter.  His ceussade in obtaing stronger  legislation in 34 States for better protection for our children was quite admirable.  It seemed that he had a superior relationship with the Sherriff.  With this established rapport , I don't fathom why he could not have sat down with the Sherrif & discussed his concerns which now appears to be a big deal.  I feel he has been given extemely poor legal advice by these 2 Jacksonville lawyers.  His image has been severly tarnished in my eyes & his formerly high statue has now gone way down for me.  This current legal action will probably make it far more difficult for him to continue his fight for stronger protection legislation for our children.  I feel his current legal action is a huge mistate.

I feel the Sherriffs office did what they needed to & could do under law.Wasn't A.Lunsford the grandfather arrested for a sexual crime & also his own son .So if Mark Lunsfords laws would have been in affect little Jessica wouldn't have been living with the grandparents.Let your little girl live in peace.This county & the whole country prayed for you & your family.It was a very sad thing that happened.Put the blame where it goes John Couey is a sick man whom will have his day.Let things go,when was the last time you went to work,Stop living off your little girls death.
Your not just suing the sherriff your suing taxpayers,people of this county who helped you when you needed help.Stop seeing $$$

Lets send Dawsey and his croanies, and all his wannabe detectives on a one way ride out of Florida in his 2+ million dollar helicopter. We don't need a showman for sheriff, we need a law enforcement pro.

And please tell me just how many children have been saved by these laws.   Go to ethicaltreatment.org and see just how many children have been sacrificed by these laws.   Just because Mark can influence the law in Ohio so his son  doesn't have to be on the registry doesn't  mean our children are fair game.  HOW CAN YOU PEOPLE LET THIS HAPPEN??????   YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!!!!!!!!!!!!    He should be saving these children they aren't crap at 10, 12, 14, 16 years old.  But they are registered for the rest of their lives.   America wake up.

i M NOT SURE BUT DID MARK HAVE A DOG IN HIS HOME.  AND THE IDT BARK? mY CAT WILL LET ME KNOW IF SOME IS COMING.  WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE FATHER AND GRANDFDAD.  AND WHAT THEY MAY HAVE DONE TO THE LITTLE GRIL. HOW CAME THE MOTHER IT NOT HAVE THE LITTLE GIRL LIVING WITH HER. DID MARK KEEP HER FROM HER MOTHER I SURE SHE IS FEELING THE LOST OF HER LITTLE GIRL. LET GOT MARK OF THE TV AND IN JAIL
FOR NOT KEEPING HER SAFE.

Why did'nt police take dogs around M/H and have them search under M/H with the  dogs. You think the dogs would have got a smell or something to lead then. I already mention to several people maybe trailer across st. someone near by someone who knew her or family. A guy who likes little kids. I do beleive the police officer is a good man, which also has a good heart, and does a good job. but i do feel it could have been done in a faster way. To much time wasted to me.
He is an adult and has the right to go out, he did leave her with grandparents his mother and father, how many of you have done this plus some leave theirs  babies with other kids to watch. The mother wasn't there true, but doesn't mean she isn't hurting never the less.  Still a great loss for both parents, My love and prayer go out to the whole family.

Why did'nt police take dogs around M/H and have them search under M/H with the  dogs. You think the dogs would have got a smell or something to lead then. I already mention to several people maybe trailer across st. someone near by someone who knew her or family. A guy who likes little kids. I do beleive the police officer is a good man, which also has a good heart, and does a good job. but i do feel it could have been done in a faster way. To much time wasted to me.
He is an adult and has the right to go out, he did leave her with grandparents his mother and father, how many of you have done this plus some leave theirs  babies with other kids to watch. The mother wasn't there true, but doesn't mean she isn't hurting never the less.  Still a great loss for both parents, My love and prayer go out to the whole family.

john said he didn't do it, then he said he did, then he said his son in law came in the room and jessie was in the closet and the son in law saw blood on the bed. The next day John went to work with Jessie tied and gaged in the closet. This went on for three days. Come on, you believe this, All we hear is what a bright girl Jessie was. Do you honestly think that girl didn't have anough sense to bang her head or feet on the wall or floor and make some kind of noise while John was gone so that someone else would help her. Some reports say she was dead the first night. John first said he killed her the first night, then he changed his story again. Police where also told of  John being in the area, But not there. He wasn't aloud there because other children lived there and John wasn't aloud around children. They went to where they were told John was, but he wasn't at home. Story has it that Jessie use to go over there and play with the other children who lived there, and people have witnessed this. The grandfather is a known pedafile, why would the cops not question him. Thank god he did not do it, but if he did and the cops did not question him, you all would be accusing the cops of neglect for not questioning a know pedafile. But out of all reality, the grandfather had no right being around Jessie either.. I have a nephew who dated this girl, she was 15 and he was 17. When she turned16 and him 18, they married. She got pregnant. They arrested my nephew and he became a registered pedafile and he wasn't aloud to be around his own daughter. 10 years have passed and he does not even know what his daughter looks like. So why is it ok for Mark to leave his daughter with one, are they sueing him for his wrong doing. GET REAL PEOPLE>

unless u have delt with the citrus county sherriffs dept. u need to keep your judgements to yourselfs,because u think they did everything they could. i live in the same cummunity and have had to ask for help from the sheriffs dept,and thats a joke! i am not at all suprised that this has happened,and mark lundsferd was wize to wait till all legal problems were setteled.i pray he proves his point loud and clear and next elec. perhaps we need a sherriff who would use his head for more than smily faces for news reports. the dept as a whole needs to b looked at, and the ppl criticising, mark lundsferd need to stop!

i will not air my dirty laundry n public but believe me citrus couny shrriff dept. needs to be investigated . and god be with mark lundsford in this outragious injustice that he has been put threw,and the pain and sorrow his family has indured god bless them all. and sheriff dawsey just think all the while u here trying to blame grandfather, that poor child was going threw hell,i truly hope thats what u see when you close your eyes every night for the rest of your life.

That girl was dead before they started looking for her! Mark should have been at home protecting his own child. If he does win the lawsuit, it will come from the tax-payers! How will that "teach the sheriff's office" as he claims is his purpose! His 15 minutes of fame are gone, now go get a job!

Brooke said:
This is to Susan.  Couey was not registered at that address.  They had no idea he was staying there.  This is America, you dont get to just go in an search, you have to have probable cause and a warrant.  Sorry this has been bothering you but you could have found this information anywhere.  The police asks the crackheads and remember they did not tell.  They are law enforcement not Ms. Cleo

ACTUALLY "MS. CLEO", THEY DID KNOW HE WAS STAYING THERE AND THEY DIDN'T NEED A WARRANT TO SEARCH BECAUSE COUEY HAD A WARRANT FOR HIS ARREST, YOU OBVIOUSLY DON'T WATCH THE NEWS, YOU ARE JUST ANOTHER DISGUSTING AMERICAN GOSSIPER, WITH NO LIFE OF YOUR OWN, AM I RIGHT? PROBABLY!  
I LIVE IN FL SO I CAN'T HELP BUT SEE THIS ON THE NEWS AND THAT IS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO VISIT THIS SITE, TO VOTE ON THE NEGLIGENCE POLL, AND THEN I SAW THESE HORRIBLE COMMENTS FROM NOSY AMERICAN JACKASSES SO I DECIDED TO FOLLOW THIS HORRIBLE TREND AND POST A COMMENT.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND WORRY ABOUT THEIR OWN LIFE, HE WAS LEAD TO BELIEVE THAT HIS OWN FATHER KILLED JESSIE BUT WOULDN'T TELL WHERE THE BODY WAS SO THEY WERE TELLING HIM TO ASK HIS OWN DAD WHERE HIS DAUGHTERS BODY WAS, ITS ON VIDEO BEFORE ANYONE TRIES TO COMMENT THAT I'M MAKING THAT UP.

ANOTHER THING THAT BOTHERS ME IS THE PEOPLE WHO SAY ITS MARK LUNSFORD'S FAULT BECAUSE HE WAS OUT, AND LEFT HIS "OLDER" PARENTS TO WATCH HER, ATLEAST HE LEFT HER W/ ADULTS, UNLIKE MOST PEOPLE WHO HIRE TEENAGERS TO WATCH THEIR CHILDREN.

IN PEOPLE MAGAZINE THERE IS A STORY OF A GIRL AND HER PARENTS WHO FOUGHT OFF A BURGLAR, AND OH HOW HEROIC THE PARENTS WERE AND HOW BLESSED THEY FELT, WELL GUESS WHAT? THEY LEFT THEIR BACKDOOR UNLOCKED (INTRUDER ENTERS @ 4 A.M.) SO, IS IT THEIR FAULT THAT THEIR DAUGHTER COULD'VE BEEN KILLED HAD THEY NOT BEEN SO LUCKY? THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT MARK LUNSFORD, SO ARE YOU HYPOCRITS AND ONLY FEEL THIS WAY DUE TO MARKS APPEARANCE, HOME BEING A TRAILER, ETC.? OR DO YOU HOLD ALL PARENTS AT FAULT FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO THEIR CHILDREN?

GET A LIFE, STOP BAD-MOUTHING, UNLESS THATS WHAT YOU WANT TO TEACH YOUR KIDS, NO WONDER THIS COUNTRIES ECONOMY HAS TAKEN A DIVE, AND MOST AMERICANS TAKE LOANS THEY CAN'T PAY OFF, I JUST HAD AN EPIPHANY, YOU GUYS ARE SELFISH, DUMB, STUPID, ROTTEN, LIFELESS CREATURES!

AWESOME COMMENT SANDY, I DON'T LIVE IN CITRUS, BUT A NEIGHBORING COUNTY AND DEALING WITH SOME OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS IS HARDER THAN PULLIN A WOODCHUCK'S FRONT TEETH OUT WITH DENTAL FLOSS.

SOME POLICE DO PROTECT AND ALL THAT MUMBO JUMBO, BUT PEOPLE NEED TO GET OUTTA LALA-LAND AND REALIZE THAT NOT ALL COPS ARE WONDERFUL CITIZEN PROTECTORS, THEY ARE HUMAN BEINGS WITH THEIR OWN PREJUDICES AND BIASED OPINIONS, THEREFORE YOU CAN EXPECT THAT THEY MAKE MISTAKES. HAS ANYONE NOT SEEN ALL THE CRAZY POLICE BEATING VIDEOS ON THE NEWS WHILE WATCHING MARK LUNSFORD'S STORY? THOSE BEATINGS HAPPENED IN FL! WOW SO HARD TO BELIEVE!!

LET MARK LUNSFORD SUE FOR "TAXPAYER DOLLARS"! I DON'T CARE THAT THE $$ WILL BE FROM TAXPAYERS, ACCORDING TO U COMMENTORS.
HE IS CHALLENGING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT SOME FLAWS THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE BELIEVE SLOWED OR HINDERED THE SEARCH FOR JESSICA, AND THAT UPSETS PEOPLE??
FRANKLY, NO ONE SHOULD BE BLAMING HIM ABOUT SUING FOR TAXPAYER'S DOLLARS OR WHERE IT GOES, IN CASE YOU COWARDS FORGOT THE GOVERNMENT DECIDES WHERE OUR $$ GOES, AND IF SOMEONE BELIEVES  THAT THEY ARE SUING FOR JUSTICE, THEN THAT IS HOW IT GOES, IF MARK LUNSFORD IS WRONG IN SUING LET THE COURT DECIDE. ALSO EVERYONE IS SO MAD AT MARK FOR SUING FOR TAXPAYER DOLLARS, BUT WHY DOESN'T ANYONE GET THIS ACTIVE WHEN IT COMES TO URGING THE GOVERNMENT.

WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU WHEN WORLDWILDLIFE.ORG NEEDS A PETITION SIGNED?

WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU COMMENTORS WHEN THE B ADMINISTRATION WON'T HELP FIGHT GLOBAL WARMING, AND GOVERNORS LIKE ARNOLD OF CA MAKE BETTER STANDARDS TO COMBAT GREENHOUSE EMMISIONS?

WHERE ARE ALL OF YOU INTERNET CRAZIES WHEN THE PICTURES OF POLAR BEARS LIVING IN PUDDLES INSTEAD OF ICE ARE SHOWN, ITS NOT GOSSIP SO U IGNORE IT?
JAPAN WANTS TO KILL WHALES, WHERE ARE ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS FOR THAT?
THE SYMPHONY IN N.KOREA IS MORE GOSSIP-WORTHY THAN THIS STORY!

AND WHAT ABOUT AFRICA SANCTIONING TO KILL ELEPHANTS, NO ONE WILL VOICE THEIR OPINIONS UNLESS IT IS ABOUT USELESS GOSSIP.

SELFISH! A LOT OF U INTERNET BLOGGER/GOSSIP/COMMENTORS COULD SURF OTHER SITES WHILE LOOKING FOR MORE GOSSIP TO COMMENT AND SEE WHAT U CAN DO TO HELP THIS COUNTRY JOIN IN CUTTING GREENHOUSE GAS EMMISIONS? DOESN'T THAT SEEM A LITTLE MORE HUMANE?

What a loser Mark is. Go get a job buddy. When a child disapears the family is always the first place the authorities look, and Mark you are not fooling anyone it is about the money. Go get a job like everyone else, loser. I hope Dawsey holds his ground and fights this trailer trash loser. Go get him and put him in his place Jeff. Citrus will stand behind you. Remember any settlement will come from Citrus County tax dollors, in other words citizens from your pocket book, because Mark dosen't want to work.............

It has been mentioned in some of the above comments that there has to be PROBABLE CAUSE, I guess KNOWN CHILD MOLESTER living there doesn't mean probable cause?  How about when they did answer the door it was obvious drugs were in the house. IF THAT IS NOT PROBABLE CAUSE THEN ALOT OF CASES IN COURT SHOULD BE THROWN OUT.  I have a relative in the Justice System and he stressed that probable cause also, but how much probable cause do they need?  
THE SHERIFFS OFFICE BLOTCHED IT AND NOW THEY WANT TO COVER IT UP.
Alot of you judge Mark for being out and should have been home, let that come to your mind when you decide to get a sitter the next time and go out. Remember DO NOT DRINK that could make you a low life like you are calling Mark.

The only one to blame is John Couey.  I'm sorry for Mark's loss, but blaming law enforcement is not the answer.   Lawsuits like this are what's wrong with our legal system.  

 If what M. Lunsford and His Attorney's claim is true, I owe Him an apology and am Man enough to admit it. I was unaware that the sheriff convinced Lunsford that His Father was guilty of the murder of Jessica. I was also unaware that the maximum amount that they can sue for is $100,000 and the Lawyers get 25 percent of that and if the sheriff called off the tracking dogs at the Couey residence and law enforcement was at the door four times before Jessica died, well then I truly owe Mark an apology, especially after He pledged to give the money up if they sue and win.
 If all of those things did really happen, the sheriffs department protocol needs to be changed, if law enforcement knew that Couey lived within a mere 200 feet of where that sweet little child was sleeping and did nothing about it, that would be Gross negligence.
 My heart goes out to the entire Lunsford Family, I have kept a picture of Jessica as My screensaver ever since Her murder, I keep it there as a reminder for My Grand Daughter not to ride Her little bike around Our neighborhood without someone to watch Her and how unfair is that to Her ?, when I was a boy, I could ride My bike to My Grand Mothers, 15 miles away, without fear of being murdered, people would often stop and put My bike in the trunk and drive Me right to Her front door and My Grandma would wave to the nice people and thank them for giving Me a ride, how much this world has changed in the past 50 years. I have had to tell My Grand Daughter to run away screaming, cut through yards to get to My house if anyone should even stop to talk to Her, and this is all because of Sick people like Couey.
 When Jessica first disappeared, I drove around the County for two days, hoping to find Her walking along the side of the road, praying that She would be found, alive and unmolested, but that was not what happened and the sweet child is gone, way far too soon, not only changing the lives of Her Family, but changing the lives of All of Us.
 So Mark, if all the things that You and Your Lawyers say is true and the Sheriff won't change the County's policy, Sue the County, the State and the Sheriff directly, do what ever You have to do to make the changes nessasary so that it doesn't happen to My grand Daughter or anyone elses. If all the things You say really happened, I do apologize for coming out against You when I first heard of Your possible lawsuit.

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