Andi: Jessica Lunsford

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Jessica Lunsford

Man convicted of killing Jessica Lunsford faces sentencing today

MIAMI (AP) - A Florida jury reconvenes today to consider the fate of a sex offender convicted of kidnapping, raping and killing nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford. John Couey was convicted of first-degree murder, sexual battery on a child, kidnapping and burglary last Wednesday. The jury will deliberate whether he should face life in prison or the death penalty. Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, has said in interviews that he's "all for the death penalty." A psychologist for the defense testified during the trial that Couey has signs of mental illness and mental retardation. Those are mitigating circumstances that could spare him the death penalty. A judge will ultimately decide Couey's sentence, taking the jury's recommendation into consideration.
Photo Copyright Getty Images

Thursday, March 8, 2007

A Message from Rebecca

In an effort to keep this blog with a human touch and not all just news stories copied from the AP wire I will do my best to comment on things.

I spent some time on the phone yesterday with Jessica Lunsford's father Mark, as well as other parent's who have lost children to abduction and or murder. First of all I must say that I just want to give Mark a hug. I can tell you from personal experience what he is going through is something a parent should NEVER have to endure. To sit in an open courtroom and hear all the things a predatory monster did to your child is torture. So, if you want to send an email or some encouragement to Mark please visit The Jessica Lunsford Foundation website and send your thoughts and prayers his way. Trust me...he needs it.

To the other parent's I visited with yesterday. I am so proud of all of you. Together with our War Against Predators we will change this nation. I am so happy that we are uniting with one voice. There is strength in numbers and each and every one of us have a powerful story and message to share. Let's do this thing.

And just a personal message to my daughter, Andi (don't mean to sound weird here):

Andi...I will never give up. I will fight for your memory and legacy forever. I love you.

About Rebecca

After the 1999 abduction, rape, and murder of her 12-year-old daughter Andria, Rebecca Petty chose to fight for the rights of crime victims and focus her anguish on keeping the children of America safe from predatory crime and abduction. Rebecca has worked closely with law enforcement, crime victims, children, parents, law makers and her community.
She is frequently called upon by regional media in the event of a child abduction or any issue involving child safety to offer her advice and insight on the issue. In her efforts to create a legacy for her daughter, Andi, Rebecca has worked in her community to fingerprint and photograph over 20,000 children and has handed out over 10,000 home DNA kits. She has appeared on national and local television shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show and Phil Donahue show as well as written articles for her local newspaper and periodicals. She is also a member of Team HOPE, a support network for families of missing children. Runner Up for the 2007 Jefferson Award. She is also a founding member of the Surviving Parent’s Coalition, a group formed to empower surviving parents of children who were abducted and sexually assaulted, or are still missing, to work together and present a unified voice for legislation and prevention education that will maximize efforts to stop child sexual abuse, exploitation and abduction. Rebecca was part of a private round-table discussion with President George W. Bush and lobbied for the Child Safety Act that created the National Amber Alert system.