A repeat sex offender whose crimes against nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford led to new, tougher laws across the nation, was sentenced to death today in a Florida court. Circuit Judge Ric Howard spent almost an hour reminding John Evander Couey why he was being given the ultimate punishment by detailing the gruesome details of his crimes against the "girl in the pink hat."
Earlier this month, Judge Howard ruled against arguments from Couey's attorneys that he was mentally retarded and not eligible for the death penalty.
Couey was convicted of breaking into the home of Jessica's grandparents, where she lived with her father, abducting her from her bedroom, taking her to the mobile home where he lived, concealing her in a closet, raping her and finally burying her alive in trash bags in the backyard.
A jury convicted Couey in March of murder and kidnapping and recommended by a 10-2 vote the death penalty. Under Florida law, the final decision was left to the judge.
Members of Jessica's family were present for the sentencing, including Mark Lunsford who has campaigned across the United States for tougher laws to deal with convicted sex offenders.
After the sentencing hearing, Lunsford told reporters he had a message for Couey: "Skip all these appeals. Take your punishment."
Background:
The Jessica Lunsford Case
The Jessica Marie Lunsford Foundation
Poll:
Should Sexual Offenders Wear Tracking Devices?
See Also:
Jessica Lunsford Killer Sentenced to Die
Comments
GOOD!! He DESERVES TO DIE for killing that poor INNOCENT little girl!! I say FRY Couey FRY!!! You deserve it!! I as a mom of 3 kids a daughter and 2 sons and a adopted daughter say that these repeated offenders NEED to be taught a lesson about CARING AND RESPECTING ALL people despite what some 1 says or does that they think is wrong to them. I say that Couey’s execution SHOULD BE televised LIVE on t.v. to show these criminals-to-be that crime does not pay at all. Couey GOT what he deserves!! And the SOONER it’s done and over with the more of our hard earned money stops feeding dogs like him that are on death-row thru out the USA.
No I am not a death happy person at all. I am sick of these death-row inmates taking up our HARD EARNED money like mine every day! As far as I’m concerned these death-row inmates DO NOT DESERVE any thing from us the hard working tax payers! They committed the crime I say let dogs like Couey pay for thier sins against God and against man with thier execution going forward and not being allowed stay after stay of thier pending execution. It’s people like me who works hard for thier money every day and doen’t complain about her work or paying her fair share of the taxes every pay day. I say let’s get on with executing these death-row inmates and STOP FEELING SORRY for them!!! THese inmates as far as I’m concerned do not deserve any outside contact with our society at all after they commit a crime or crimes against us and against God. Today we the tax payers say to a inmate “We’ll help you stay alive and avoid your execution” instead of going forward with it and getting it done and over with! Yes I am 1 upset tax payer that has to help the “poor” inmates escape thier date with thier executioners. Well like the saying goes “You do the crime you do the time”. That is one thing that I was taught as a girl and I never forgot it either. It was the state’s fault for ever allowing that dog Couey out of prison after being “good” in prison. Sorry but in my eyes that doesn’t cut it with me at all. I detest that inmates that rape and sodomize and molest people despite the age of the person are let back in to our society every day! Back in the olden days they were executed for this kind of garbage done to INNOCENT people who didn’t deserve to be hurt in that way. You may feel that I’m wrong and that’s fine with me no offense taken. I’m just stating how I feel about this kind of stuff that’s all. Inmates get t.v.’s and radios in prison and cable t.v. in prison and WHO PAYS FOR IT ALL?? WE THE TAX PAYERS DO. They get FREE medical and dental care from WHO US THE TAX PAYERS THAT’S WHO anhd it has got to stop. Do any of you think I’m wrong and a heartless lady who don’t care about people? Well I am none of these things I am a very caring and hard working and out-going lady and I don’t think we the tax payers should be supporting these inmates whether they are on death-row or not. What do you all think? THink I’m wrong for saying this?
i agree with S.Noll. Instant death to all sex offenders and rapists.
I agree with S. NOLL, as long as the system makes “SURE” that it is the guilty one. There are over 200 innocent people been released due to DNA technology, that had been on death row, and general population for decades, and totally, 100% innocent! If there is no doubt and the piece of #### did something to any child, he should be killed immediately, and not worry about whether he suffers or not. Coey is a good example of who needs to be put down and it should be as swift as Iraq did saddam. I would gladly help KILL the ###### any way i could and not wear a mask and not charge anything. End of story.
I agree with you. I think the person after being convicted shold get one Dna test to make sure they are the right person forget the appeals then get on with the execution.No wonder the death sentence isn’t impressing people not to commit crimes because thay can be on death row for years…I say get it over with as so as possible aand not let these people use up anymore space in our world. I keep saying the prison systems has to change…Write your congressman or woman people…Let them know you are tired of your tax dollars going to this….
Drug induced mental retardation does not count. He was smart enough to know that he would go to jail if she was released and told anyone, therefore he is can be sentenced to death.