Murder of Jessica Lunsford

Jessica Marie Lunsford (October 6, 1995 – February 27, 2005) was an American nine-year-old girl   who was abducted from her home in Homosassa, Florida on February 24, 2005, then raped and murdered by 46-year-old John Couey, a known sex offender.

The media covered the investigation and trial of her killer extensively. On August 24, 2007, a judge in Inverness, Florida sentenced Couey, a convicted sex offender, to death for kidnapping, raping and murdering her.  On September 30, 2009, before the sentences could be carried out, Couey died of natural causes.

Lunsford's murder influenced the legislation in Florida known as "Jessica's Law". It is designed to protect potential victims and reduce a sexual offender's ability to re-offend. It has influenced legislation in forty-two other states. 

 References 

Category:2005 crimes
Category:1995 births
Category:2005 deaths
Category:2005 in Florida
Category:2000s murders in the United States
Category:American child crime victims
Category:Kidnapped American people
Category:Murder in Florida
Category:Deaths by person in the United States
Category:Murdered children