INVERNESS - Death.
That's the sentence Citrus County Judge Ric Howard just issued to John Evander Couey.
In March, a Miami jury convicted Couey for the kidnapping, rape and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford. In a 10-2 vote, jurors recommended that Couey die by lethal injection. The case was moved to Miami after Howard could not seat an impartial jury in Central Florida.
Under state law, Howard makes the final decision on Couey's fate.
Couey broke into the Lunsfords' Homosassa mobile home and took Jessie to a nearby trailer where he was staying. After sexually abusing her, he told her to climb into two plastic garbage bags. Couey dug a 4-foot hole and buried Jessie alive. She was discovered missing on Feb. 24, 2005.
Lunsford entered the courtroom today wearing a black suit with a black shirt and a tie patterned with several pictures of Jessie's face.
Before Howard issued his sentence, Lunsford and his parents, Ruth and Archie Lunsford, listened intently as Howard, in often horrifying detail, recounted Couey's actions, how Jessie's body was found, and the injuries she suffered.
As he explained the law behind his decision, Howard described Jessie's last minutes.
As he listened, Lunsford's eyes welled up with tears.
As Howard issued his sentence, Couey looked straight ahead, showing no emotion.
Minutes later, Lunsford hugged his parents.
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