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200 Ride In Jessie's Name

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By DAVID SOMMER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 24, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Despite stormy weather and looming litigation, about 200 motorcyclists took part Saturday in a motorcycle ride and fundraiser in memory of Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford.

The group, which included Jessie's father, Mark, pulled out of the New Port Richey Harley-Davidson dealership about noon and headed north to Crystal River, where Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy was to give a speech in Jessica Lunsford's memory.

On Wednesday, Dawsy received a letter from Mark Lunsford's attorneys alerting him that Lunsford expects to file a lawsuit alleging that negligence led to the death of his daughter.

In 2005, 9-year-old Jessie was abducted from her Homosassa trailer. After several days of searching, her body was found buried near the trailer of John Evander Couey.

Last year, Couey was found guilty of Jessie's abduction, rape and murder. He was sentenced to death.

The Jessie's Ride motorcycle run is a fundraiser for Mark Lunsford's child advocacy-focused charities.

Lunsford declined to comment at the kickoff of Saturday's event.

Pasco County Sheriff Bob White was at the kickoff but did not ride.

"It's too wet for me," he said, referring to a line of storms that moved through the area before the event started.

White echoed the statement Dawsy released Friday, saying the potential lawsuit and advocacy for child safety are separate issues and that one should not affect the other.

He also defended Dawsy, however, saying: "Sheriff Dawsy feels a tremendous amount of responsibility for all the citizens of his county."

Reporter David Sommer can be reached at (727) 815-1087 or dsommer @tampatrib.com.

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