Convicted killer of Jessica Lunsford dies on death row

John Evander Couey, 51, died in prison today, reportedly of anal cancer.

Couey was convicted in 2007 of the 2005 abduction, captivity, rape and murder of nine year old Jessica Lunsford. Couey confessed to keeping the girl alive for three days before binding her wrists with wire and burying her alive, suffocating her. Lunsford’s body was located under Couey’s porch in March of 2007, and two years later, Couey was convicted of first degree murder, kidnapping, burglary, and sexual battery. A jury recommended a sentence of death.

While Couey’s body is currently unclaimed, Lunsford’s family is pleased that their daughter and grandaughter’s killer has died. Her father Mark didn’t comment on the death, but his mother Ruthie had this to say:

“Everybody from the family is calling, here and in North Carolina,” she said. “God done this in his own time.”

Mark Lunsford, she said, “is ecstatic, just like his mother.”

Though the family knew Couey had cancer, they did not know he would die so soon, said Ruthie.

“We was looking for him to be injected and die,” she said.

“This won’t bring Jessie back, but Couey had to suffer. He suffered greatly. Anal cancer is very painful. I don’t feel sorry for him. I am glad he had to suffer. He let my granddaughter suffer.”

[Source: TBO]