Murder John Couey Dies

In 2005, 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was abducted, assaulted and murdered. Now, her abductor, rapist, and murderer, has died. A much more humane death than hers, I might add.

Florida death-row inmate John Evander Couey, 51, died today at 11:15 am ET, according to A Florida Department of Corrections officer, he died from natural causes after being transported to a Florida hospital. Officials, citing privacy concerns, could release no further information about Couey's death. It was, however, released to CNN by someone close to the case that Couey's had been ill for some time and his death was not unexpected.

In August of 2007, Couey was sentenced to die for abducting, raping and murdering Jessica by burying her alive. Jessica's body was found wrapped in garbage bags, hands bound, clutching a purple, stuffed dolphin she was allowed to take with her when she was snatched from her bed on February 23, 2005. Her body was found in the backyard of Couey's half-sister's house, within sight of Jessica's house.

It is believed that she was kept alive for some time after her abduction, and at one point could have been within 300 feet of where searchers looked. Jessica's fingerprints and blood were found in Couey's house. While searching for her, police twice visited the house, and it has since been noted by a prosecution memo in the case that; "Couey's timeline after he kidnapped Jessica Lunsford leaves open the possibility that she was alive, and in the house, at the time of the first and possibly the second interview."

The judge in the case, Judge Ric Howard, said that police dogs used to search for Jessica caused Couey to become fearful. He then told her that he would take her home, but did not want her to be seen, and convinced her to get into a trash bag. Couey proceeded to place and tie another trash bag over her head, and then placed her in a hole and buried her.

During the trial, one person who testified for the prosecution was a medical examiner, who noted that Jessica could have been alive for more than five minutes before she lost consciousness. Before she died, in a desperate attempt to get away, Jessica was able to poke several fingers through the first trash bag covering her. During this time, her only source of comfort would have been the purple dolphin that her father won her at the fair.

In March 2007, Couey was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and sexual battery on a child under the age of 12.

Source: Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison, Florida officials say; CNN News