Jessie's mom

Angie Bryant isn't used to the spotlight.

While Mark Lunsford has spent the last two years advocating for child safety, meeting with VIPs like John Travolta and Charlie Crist, the mother of slain Jessica Lunsford has kept a low profile. She works as a nurse's aide in Waynesville, Ohio and takes care of her two boys, a seven-year-old and eight-month-old.

But when she appeared in the courtroom Monday, she caused a stir. And after Couey was convicted today, the tearful and somewhat dazed mother was whisked from news camera to news camera, giving her reaction to the verdict.

Everyone already knows Jessica's father. Now they want to know her mom.

Even though Angie and Mark split when Jessica was an infant (Mark received custody), the resemblance between mother and daughter is striking. Bryant has the same youthful, round face and wide set eyes that so captured America once Jessica went missing.

Angie admits that she wasn't always there for Jessica. But she said she shared regular phone conversations and visits with her daughter.

"That's all in the past," Angie said. "I was always her mother, and she'll always be my baby."

Jessica particularly liked to play dress-up, Angie recalled, and loved McDonald's. She joked that one time, when there was no McDonald's nearby, she took Jessica to Long John Silver's instead and tried to convince her it was her favorite fast-food chain.

"I think she knew it wasn't really McDonald's," Angie said, smiling a little. But she went along with it anyway.

That was just Jessica's personality. Agreeable. Happy. "She was always smiling, even when she was younger," Angie said. "She never got grumpy."

Ever since Jessica went missing, life has been tough.

"Hell," Angie said plainly.

If she didn't have her two boys to care for, she doesn't know how she'd cope.

Sitting in court, listening to the gruesome details of Jessica's rape and slaying, has been an ordeal. Angie's sister came down with her from Ohio to offer support.

"I can't sleep. I can't eat," Angie said. "I've been so nervous about what (the jurors) are going to do."

Now she knows. A conviction gives her some peace, because it means justice for Jessica. But, like Mark, Angie doubts she'll ever understand "closure."

"I don't think it's ever going to get any easier," she said.

-- Elena Lesley

Comments

[Brenda]

Angie, you did the only right thing by attending the hearings for your daughter's sake. I saw the pain in your face, I cried with you and Mark. Justice will be done for Jessica.

I have a granddaughter that is 9 named Jessica, and I could not imagine losing her to a sicko child molester.

[L. A. Borguss]

So sorry about Jessica. I have a daughter named Jessica and she is 27 years old now,...I can remember warning her of strangers and praying to God no one would ever do harm to her. Now I watch the trail for Jessica Lunsford and I can not imagine what her mother went through. I could not imagine a life without my Jesssica. I am not sure why Jessie's mother lays so low about what happened to her daughter, but I am sure she has her good reasons. My condolences to Jessie's family and friends as I know how I would have fallen apart at the loss of my little girl. I am also glad Jessie's parents have been brave and strong throughout this entire ordeal, they give hope to others that are not as strong to move on. God bless Jessica Lunsford, and may she rest in peace. - L.A.Borguss