By Don Germaise
The Jessica Lunsford case has been a gut wrenching story to cover for the past two and a half years. Now that the murderer John Couey has been sentenced, I can let you in on a little secret. Jessie’s family and I have become quite friendly and we tend to joke around when the cameras are not rolling. Some things you didn’t know. . .
I once had to help Mark Lunsford dress. Mark’s a blue collar guy and never really needed a tie. However, one day in South Carolina he needed one to address the legislature. He asked us for a ride to the state house and we agreed, since we were going that way anyway. We were on a tight schedule and told Mark to meet us at his hotel no later than 8:00am. Mark was 25 minutes late, and wasn’t answering his cell phone or room phone. I started to panic because we were going to be late covering the story. Finally, Mark sheepishly got off the elevator holding his tie in his hand. He’d been trying and failing to tie the darned thing for 45 minutes. YES, I tied his tie for him right in the lobby. We still giggle about that one. AND Mark has now learned to tie his own ties!
Then there was the time Mark Lunsford thought were rolling tape, but we were only playing a joke on him. . . I looked in the camera and in my most serious voice said, “I’m Don Germaise in Citrus County. . . Is he a grieving father whose daughter was murdered or a crazed biker dad? You decide! Coming up.” Mark tries to imitate that line every time he sees me.
Finally . . . and this will tell you just how genuinely wonderful Mark’s entire family is. . . We staked out Mark’s house in Homosassa, all day once because Mark was due home and we needed to interview him for a story. We got there at 9:30 in the morning and Mark never showed. Mark’s parents Archie & Ruth Lunsford felt so bad they roasted a turkey for our crew and carved turkey sandwiches with iced tea for a snack. Archie Lunsford even made us homemade banana pudding. It might have been the best banana pudding I’ve ever had! I mentioned that to Mark the next time I saw him. Mark’s response: “Damn! If I’d had known dad was making banana pudding, I’d have come home!”