Police Find Jessica Lunsford's Shallow Grave

Police found the body of Jessica Lunsford buried in a shallow grave under the back porch of a mobile home less than 150 years from her home, a day after a convicted sex offender told authorities that he had killed the nine-year-old.

Authorities said that registered sex offender John Evander Couey confessed after taking a lie detector in Augusta, Georgia and told police where they could search for Jessica's body.

After visiting the search site shortly after sunrise, Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford made an emotional statement to reporters: "Everyone heard me say, time after time, that she would be home," he said, "She's home now."

Registered sex offender John Evander Couey, a "person of interest" in the disappearance of Jessica Lunsford in Homosasser, Florida, confessed to authorities that he killed the nine-year-old on Thursday. Police tape was immediately placed around the residence where Couey sometime stayed and it was declared a crime scene.

I've Got My Man

The bombshell announcement that Couey had confessed came hours after an "America's Most Wanted" spokesperson said Couey had been cleared of all charges and eliminated as a suspect, a day after he was arrested in Augusta, Georgia and questioned.

"I've got my man," Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy told reporters.

A crime scene investigation unit worked late into the night around the mobile home, within "eyeshot" of the Lunsford home. They left around 3:30 a.m.

Sheriff Dawsy said Couey's half-sister and two other people were charged with obstruction for failing to notify police when Couey told them he had committed a crime. He said he plans to prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law.

The three charged with obstruction were Couey's half-sister Dorothy Dixon, 47,; Madie Secord, 27; and Matthew Dittrich, 31. All lived in the home where the Jessica's body was found.

See Also:
Cops Find Body of Missing Florida Girl
Police: Suspect Admits Killing Fla. Girl
Cops: Couey Admits to Killing Girl
Locate Registered Sex Offenders

Background:
Sex Offender Questioned in Jessica Lunsford Case
Police Puzzled Over Disappearance of Jessica Lunsford
9-Year-Old Jessica Lunsford Still Missing