Justice for Jessica
August 26th 2007 16:19
As a resident of Florida, I remember well the horrific abduction, rape and murder of nine year-old innocent Jessica Lunsford in February, 2005. John E. Couey, one of the most vile pieces of scum to ever roam the planet, kidnapped Jessie from her home on February 23, 2005. A relentless search, spearheaded by the police and the girl's father, Mark Lunsford, resulted in the tragic discovery of her lifeless body three weeks later, buried at the home of Couey's half-sister.
After his arrest, Couey had reportedly stated that "this kind of thing happens everyday," you know, so what's the big deal? Apparently in his sick, twisted mind, the brutal rape and murder of a child is nothing more than a hobby, much akin to bowling or golf. If a statement like that doesn't send chills down the spine of every parent, I don't know what will.
Then there's the issue of out-of-control judges bestowing outrageously weak sentences on convicted child rapists. Thanks to talking heads like Bill O'Reilly, it has become increasing evident that the so-called arbiters of justice in America seem to echo Couey's sentiments, if their lenient rulings are any indication. All across America, in states including Vermont and Missouri, pedophiles have been basically given a free pass by agenda-driven judges after a jury of their peers pronounced them guilty of the most heinous crimes against children.
Unfortunately for Couey, Judge Ric Howard was not one of them.
On Friday, August 24, 2007, Howard not only upheld the jury's recommendation for the death penalty, but also recounted the horrifying final moments of Jessica Lunsford's life:
"Couey caused a slow, suffering conscious death. Simply stated, civilized society recoils in horror at the image of the abject fear and terror that Jessica experienced in her final, conscious minutes of life."
The Judge went on to describe how Couey persuaded Jessica to get into a trash bag, promising that he would take her home but did not want anyone to see her. He then knotted another trash bag over her head, placed her in hole and shoveled dirt on top of her. The desperate child had managed to poke two holes in the bag in an effort to escape, to no avail. Jessie died by asphyxiation as her oxygen slowly ran out, with her beloved stuffed purple dolphin -- a gift from her father -- as her only companion.
People in the courtroom were moved to tears as they listened to Howard's words and absorbed the magnitude of the terror inflicted upon this child. Watching the ruling from the comfort of my living room, I felt a mixture of anger, sadness and satisfaction. I didn't know Jessica, nor do I live anywhere near her community in Citrus County. But as I suspect is the case with anyone familiar with this crime, its unsettling implications reverberated in my head. As I thought of my ten nieces and nephews and the children of close friends, it hit me that it only takes a few seconds for an entire family's world to be turned upside down.
How would I react, God forbid, if any one of them had been Couey's innocent victim? How would I resist the urge (along with their parents) to kill the SOB myself? Would we all handle the situation with as much strength, dignity and resolve as Mark Lunsford? I pray we never have to find out.
After the verdict, Lunsford publicly urged Couey to accept the fate he wrought upon himself:
"Skip all these appeals. Take your punishment Stand up and be a man."
Though it's an outlook shared by many Florida residents, it's doubtful Couey will spare the Lunsford family or taxpayers the outrage and expense; but since Florida is one of the swiftest states for administering the death penalty, there's a good chance that the world will be rid of this dirtbag in less than 10 years. Compared with California's Tookie Williams, who languished on Death Row for more than 25 years, that seems almost efficient. Nothing will bring back Jessica. But at the very least, Couey won't have the opportunity to harm another child or destroy another family ever again. And it sends a clear message to his partners-in-crime that this evil will not be tolerated.
Since his child's untimely and unnecessary demise, Lunsford has channeled his grief into meaningful action. He created the Jessica Lunsford Foundation whose stated goal is to bring awareness of the issue to the forefront and to urge state legislatures throughout the USA to adopt tougher laws for child predators, based upon Florida's own Jessica's Law. Enacted after Jessie's death under then-Governor Jeb Bush, Jessica's Law mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison for first-time child sex offenders.
While perusing the website for the Jessica Lunsford Foundation, I came across this timeless quote from Albert Einstein:
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Thank God, in this case at least, justice prevailed. God bless the souls of Jessica Lunsford and the untold number of children who have suffered and died at the hands of monsters like John E. Couey.
After his arrest, Couey had reportedly stated that "this kind of thing happens everyday," you know, so what's the big deal? Apparently in his sick, twisted mind, the brutal rape and murder of a child is nothing more than a hobby, much akin to bowling or golf. If a statement like that doesn't send chills down the spine of every parent, I don't know what will.
Then there's the issue of out-of-control judges bestowing outrageously weak sentences on convicted child rapists. Thanks to talking heads like Bill O'Reilly, it has become increasing evident that the so-called arbiters of justice in America seem to echo Couey's sentiments, if their lenient rulings are any indication. All across America, in states including Vermont and Missouri, pedophiles have been basically given a free pass by agenda-driven judges after a jury of their peers pronounced them guilty of the most heinous crimes against children.
Unfortunately for Couey, Judge Ric Howard was not one of them.
On Friday, August 24, 2007, Howard not only upheld the jury's recommendation for the death penalty, but also recounted the horrifying final moments of Jessica Lunsford's life:
"Couey caused a slow, suffering conscious death. Simply stated, civilized society recoils in horror at the image of the abject fear and terror that Jessica experienced in her final, conscious minutes of life."
The Judge went on to describe how Couey persuaded Jessica to get into a trash bag, promising that he would take her home but did not want anyone to see her. He then knotted another trash bag over her head, placed her in hole and shoveled dirt on top of her. The desperate child had managed to poke two holes in the bag in an effort to escape, to no avail. Jessie died by asphyxiation as her oxygen slowly ran out, with her beloved stuffed purple dolphin -- a gift from her father -- as her only companion.
People in the courtroom were moved to tears as they listened to Howard's words and absorbed the magnitude of the terror inflicted upon this child. Watching the ruling from the comfort of my living room, I felt a mixture of anger, sadness and satisfaction. I didn't know Jessica, nor do I live anywhere near her community in Citrus County. But as I suspect is the case with anyone familiar with this crime, its unsettling implications reverberated in my head. As I thought of my ten nieces and nephews and the children of close friends, it hit me that it only takes a few seconds for an entire family's world to be turned upside down.
How would I react, God forbid, if any one of them had been Couey's innocent victim? How would I resist the urge (along with their parents) to kill the SOB myself? Would we all handle the situation with as much strength, dignity and resolve as Mark Lunsford? I pray we never have to find out.
After the verdict, Lunsford publicly urged Couey to accept the fate he wrought upon himself:
"Skip all these appeals. Take your punishment Stand up and be a man."
Though it's an outlook shared by many Florida residents, it's doubtful Couey will spare the Lunsford family or taxpayers the outrage and expense; but since Florida is one of the swiftest states for administering the death penalty, there's a good chance that the world will be rid of this dirtbag in less than 10 years. Compared with California's Tookie Williams, who languished on Death Row for more than 25 years, that seems almost efficient. Nothing will bring back Jessica. But at the very least, Couey won't have the opportunity to harm another child or destroy another family ever again. And it sends a clear message to his partners-in-crime that this evil will not be tolerated.
Since his child's untimely and unnecessary demise, Lunsford has channeled his grief into meaningful action. He created the Jessica Lunsford Foundation whose stated goal is to bring awareness of the issue to the forefront and to urge state legislatures throughout the USA to adopt tougher laws for child predators, based upon Florida's own Jessica's Law. Enacted after Jessie's death under then-Governor Jeb Bush, Jessica's Law mandates a minimum sentence of 25 years and a maximum of life in prison for first-time child sex offenders.
While perusing the website for the Jessica Lunsford Foundation, I came across this timeless quote from Albert Einstein:
"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it."
Thank God, in this case at least, justice prevailed. God bless the souls of Jessica Lunsford and the untold number of children who have suffered and died at the hands of monsters like John E. Couey.
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