Posted on 02/27/2005 11:52:03 PM PST by Former Military Chick
In this undated photo provided by the Lunsford Family, Jessica Marie Lunsford is shown. The family of Jessica Marie Lunsford, a missing 9-year-old girl who disappeared from her bedroom, pleaded for her return Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, calling her an ``angel'' who needs to be home. The father and grandparents of the missing 9-year-old cried as they described a girl who they say would never run away. (AP Photo/Lunsford Family, File)
Feb. 27, 2005 - Investigators on Sunday released a surveillance camera picture showing a man with two children at a convenience store hours after a missing 9-year-old girl was last seen in her bedroom about a half-mile away.
Relatives of Jessica Marie Lunsford saw the videotape and didn't think the girl in the picture looked like Jessica, but the Citrus County sheriff's office asked for the public's help in following it up.
"They do not feel it's her, but investigators want to rule this out as an option," sheriff's spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan said.
The girl in the store videotape wore a pink shirt and jeans. Jessica went to bed Wednesday night in a pink shirt and white shorts, and her father and grandparents told authorities that none of her jeans were missing.
The tape from a Circle K store recorded a time of 4:57 a.m. Thursday. Jessica, who lived with her father and grandparents, was last seen when her grandmother tucked her into bed Wednesday night; her father discovered she was missing the next morning.
More than 250 police officers and volunteers turned out Sunday to search for Jessica amid torrential rainfall and a tornado watch.
"If we all pray real hard ... then God will tell us" where she is, her father, Mark Lunsford, said Sunday.
Authorities have few clues. Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy has said a door at the home was unlocked and one of Jessica's dolls was gone.
Despite Sunday's soaking weather, searchers combed the rural county, about 60 miles north of Tampa. Fanning out on foot, horseback and all-terrain vehicles, they searched residential areas, the shoulders of a four-lane highway about a half-mile from the girl's house and the 3,000-acre Withlacoochee State Forest about four miles away.
"It makes me feel real good to know everyone's trying to help me out," Mark Lunsford said.
Dawsy had called off Friday's search two hours before nightfall because teams were exhausted from struggling through pine thickets and palmetto scrub. The coastal region also is riddled with marshes, ponds, springs and caves.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Hampton, a Homosassa native, and his wife put up a $25,000 reward for Jessica's return.
On the Net:
http://www.sheriffcitrus.org/ Citrus County Sheriff:
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The internet can do a lot of good and we should make sure we get the most out of it.
This article says it is an updated photo. If you haven't already perhaps when you send out emails later today you can add the photo with descriptino asking them to look for her and to pass the message along to others.
It is just a suggestion, I know folks are busy. But it only takes one person to make the difference.
God Bless this family and all those helping to find her.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Brotherhood of Teamsters will pay a reward of $25,000 to any private person who provides information to federal, state or local law enforcement authorities that leads to the safe return of Jessica Marie Lunsford who has been missing from her home in Homosassa, Florida, since February 23.
"We were saddened to hear of Jessica Marie Lunsford's disappearance," said Jim Hoffa, General President of the Teamsters Union. "Our hearts go out to Mark Lunsford and his family. Our entire union is prepared to offer whatever support we can to help bring Jessica Marie home safely."
Ken Wood, President of Local 79 in Tampa and International Vice President has pledged the support of his local and its members to the Lunsford family and law enforcement agencies in their efforts to find Jessica Marie. Jessica Marie's grandfather is a longtime Teamster.
"Our members and their families live and work in this area and when something like this happens it really has an impact on a personal level," said Wood. "We will work tirelessly to assist in the search for Jessica Marie."
[Any claim for the reward, with proof that the claimant qualifies for the reward, must be submitted to C. Thomas Keegel, General Secretary-Treasurer, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, 25 Louisiana Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20001, 202-624-6800. Claimant must provide information sufficient to establish entitlement to the reward, and reward will paid only if the law enforcement authorities involved verify to the satisfaction of the IBT that the claimant in fact provided information leading to the safe return of Miss Lunsford. Reward will not be paid to law enforcement personnel engaged in the search for Miss Lunsford or to any person guilty of any violation of the law with respect to the disappearance of Miss Lunsford.]
Thank you for keeping this story alive. I join you in prayer, that this child may feel God's arms around her, even in the dark and evil places.
There is a place of light and hope, in God's love; may she feel the warmth of that place, in this dark night...
I still think the little girl on the videocam is Jessica. I understand the grandma says it's not her (because the clothes are not the same), but I wouldn't expect her to stay in her nightgown if she was leaving the house.
This case is very weird.
I read she lived with her father and grandparents.
I've never seen the mom mentioned, is she living?
Thanks for the info.
FMC I think it said it was an undated photo.
There have been other posts on this sad situation. One Freeper did a lot of research - 200 registered sex offenders in Citrus County and 50 in Homassassa. One lives right behind the Lunsfords.
Wonder if they have all been questioned. But remembering how Dennis Rader evaded detection, perhaps this abductor is one of those "blended in" neighbors.
I hope she is found soon. Her family members seem genuinely devastated and just regular folks.
sp
You didn't say why you think it is Jessica on the videocam. I haven't seen the tape. If you have, did the girl look a lot like Jessica? I mean A LOT? Just asking for information. The story says none of her jeans are missing from the house. But it is hard to know how certain that is. Or she could be wearing jeans she got after leaving the house.
UPDATE ON SURVEILLANCE PHOTO: The subjects in the Circle K surveillance photo have been identified and cleared. The girl in the photo is not Jessica Lunsford.
One door unlocked? Dad went to spend the night with the girlfriend? The dog didn't bark?
This is looking very much like dad ought to be the main suspect.
I saw this story on Dateline (?) last night. I agree--something isn't quite right about this. I saw in the photos that the family has a dachsund; I have two of them and they make excellent watchdogs. They're aggressive against strangers and will bark at anything that goes bump in the night. The girl either left on her own or the person that she left with is well acquainted with the dog. Silly as it sounds, it's time to find out who the dog knows.
you just expressed what I was thinking
not only that, but the comments he made- "God will tell us..."
If one of my children were missing I would be FREAKING OUT
Please take some time to scan the other posts and links, and comments, in case something "pops out" at you that has not been noted before. It could mean a great difference to Jessica. FReepers often see things that others have missed.
First post -A.M - 2/24 – from Team Amber Alert (with original photo released, which is the same as updated photo of above article)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1350114/posts
Second post P.M. 2/24 – From the Citrus County Chronical (newspaper in area of Jessica’s home)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1350612/posts
All child kidnappings and disappearances cause grief to every parent, grandparent; those with and those without children. We are all moved when we hear of one happening. But for some reason, this particular case has made me much more upset than other times. Maybe because there have been so many lately, maybe because I am getting older and life seems more precious every day, or maybe because there is such a mystery about Jessica’s disappearance with no breaks for the police.
My constant prayers that this precious child is located soon, and until that time that God is keeping her in his hands.
I do pray that this girl if found alive and can be safely returned to her home.
I wonder if this would have happened if her parents had given her a stable, loving, two-parent home.......I have very little sympathy for the mother or father of this little girl....I am sure they are now saying, "If only........" well, it is probably too late for that. My sympathy lays with the little girl and the grandparents.
Flamesuit is on......
I heard the Gpa bought her a stuffed animal at the carnival or fair week before & stuffed animal also missing- I'm curious if they checked out fair or carny people?
Yes, I heard the same thing. Very interesting. I hope and presume they are checking that angle.
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