Girl Was Kidnapped, Killed Nearly 3 Years Ago

2005

Feb. 24: Jessica Marie "Jessie" Lunsford is discovered missing by her father, Mark. She had been tucked into bed by grandparents the night before.

Feb. 26: Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton and his wife offer a $25,000 reward for information.

March 3: The organized search ends without leads.

March 15: Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy announces authorities are seeking a person who later is identified as John Evander Couey. Couey is a convicted sex offender who was living in the area.

March 17: Couey is arrested in Augusta, Ga., on two warrants charging him with violation of probation and failing to tell probation officials he was leaving Florida.

March 18: Couey acknowledges abducting and killing Jessie. His criminal history reveals a sex crime involving a 5-year-old girl in Kissimmee.

March 19: Jessica is found buried 150 yards from her bedroom, behind Couey's home.

March 21: Couey is charged with first-degree murder, sexual battery on a child younger than 12, kidnapping and burglary with battery.

March 25 and 26: Jessica is buried, and 1,000 people attend her memorial service.

April 1: A grand jury indicts Couey.

April 19 and 20: Evidence released to the defense includes a coroner's report that states Jessica suffocated.

May 11: Circuit Judge Ric Howard says that a fair trial in Citrus or other counties within the circuit is not out of the question.

June 23: Documents show Couey's account. He is quoted as saying, "She was alive. I buried her alive. ... It's stupid, but she, she suffered."

July 21: Couey's trial is set for Feb. 6, 2006.

Sept. 15: Judge Howard refuses a request to step down. The defense argues the tentative trial date was too early.

Oct. 13: Howard grants a later trial date of July 10, 2006.

2006

March 30: Transcripts reveal that on March 5, Couey told a jail guard he raped and killed Jessica.

April 21: Judge Howard grants a defense motion that might move Couey's trial.

June 5: Howard rules that Couey will be tried in the same county where he is charged and jurors will be brought from another county.

June 30: A judge rules that Couey's statement in which he acknowledged guilt in the crimes will not be allowed at trial. Prosecutors successfully argue, however, that evidence retrieved because of that statement is admissible. Two later statements by Couey were admissible.

July 10: Jury selection begins in Lake County.

July 13: Judge Howard abruptly stops jury selection and agrees to move it, and possibly the trial, outside the 5th Judicial Circuit.

Sept. 12: Court officials announce Couey's jury will be selected in Miami-Dade County, tentatively starting Feb. 12.

2007

Feb. 12: Trial begins in Miami.

March 7: Jury returns guilty verdicts on all counts.

Aug. 24: Couey is sentenced to die.

2008

Feb. 20: Pre-suit notice from Mark Lunsford and Jessie's biological mother alleges negligence from the Citrus County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners during the investigation into the girl's disappearance.

A staff report