Lunsford refuses to talk about lawsuit

By: Kathryn Bursch

Inverness, Florida – Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy says notice of a lawsuit by Mark Lunsford leaves him feeling "gut shot."

Attorneys for Jessica's Lunsford's parents, Mark Lunsford and Angela Wright, put the Sheriff on notice Wednesday of their intent to sue. The certified letter states that "the negligence of the Citrus County Sheriff's Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement directly and indirectly led to the death of Jessica Lunsford."

On Thursday afternoon, Mark Lunsford refused to talk about the lawsuit saying he'd answer questions at a news conference with his attorneys in Jacksonville next Tuesday.

"I know everybody has a lot of questions and I promise you, you'll have the answers that you deserve; all of you, the public, all of you," said Lunsford outside his parents' home in Homosassa.

Nearly three years ago, 9-year-old Jessica was kidnapped from her bedroom. Law enforcement and volunteers immediately started an exhaustive search of the area, but it took nearly a month before Jessica's body was located. She was buried outside a trailer very near her home.

In 2007, John Couey was convicted of murdering Jessica. But there have always been questions about whether Jessica was still alive when deputies knocked on Couey's door. Sheriff Dawsy says no way.

"Jessie was already dead before I hit the street looking for her. I'm a firm believer in that. The medical examiner confirmed that."

Dawsy calls the litigation baseless and says if anyone's to blame for Jessica's death, it's John Couey.

"John Couey abducted her, sexually assaulted her, murdered her by burying her alive. We found him, we convicted him and we had him sentenced to death. He'll never hurt another child."

News of a lawsuit comes nearly three years to the day of Jessica's kidnapping. A motorcycle fundraiser called "Jessie's Ride" is scheduled for this Saturday. Money raised will go to help establish a child advocacy center in Citrus County called Jessie's Place.

Mark Lunsford says his focus is not on the lawsuit, but on the ride this weekend. And Sheriff Dawsy says despite the lawsuit, it's likely he'll still attend the event, because it will benefit children.

For more information on Jessie's Ride, click here.