Couey expects death penalty in new tape

INVERNESS -- A judge will decide whether Jessica Lunsford's killer will get the death penalty Friday, exactly 2 1/2 years from the day she disappeared from her Homosassa home.

But John Couey, the 49-year-old sex offender convicted by a Miami jury of kidnapping, raping and killing the 9-year-old girl earlier this year, already knows the outcome:

Death.

He said so himself in a jail house conversation with his aunt (click here to hear recorded conversation), Virginia Kloetzer, according to a copy obtained by the St. Petersburg Times.

"We all know what he's going to do," he said during the August 3 visit.

"Well, me too," his aunt replied. "But you know God's in control of everything."

"At this point," Couey said, "I don't worry about it because it's in his hands. ... I don't let it bother me."

It's unclear whether Couey was referring to the judge's hands or those of God. But to him, the end is real. He decided he wants to be cremated "when they finally do my execution."

The recording provides a unique insight into the mind of a notorious killer on the eve of his most important court appearance. The tone of his rough voice is calm, like a man resigned to the state of things, though he allows himself a laugh at times.

For the most part, Couey has kept silent — refusing interview requests and contact with family — aside from veiled confessions of remorse to jail guards earlier this year.

Those statements to guards were key to his conviction. And these new comments wouldn't help his case.

At another point in the conversation, his aunt talked about the impact of the case on the family, and Couey expressed regret.

"It was stupid of me," Couey said.

"Well it was," his aunt replied. "But one person doing something they shouldn't do doesn't mean the whole family's that way."

Later, Couey commented about how his attorneys performed at trial. His aunt said that they "did the best they could with nothing to work with."

But he was upset and felt "they could do a little better."

Then he allowed, "I didn't help them out much by running my mouth." They both laughed. "But you know me, I couldn't keep quiet."

--John Frank, Times staff writer

Comments

[David]

Mr. Lunsford. I made my 14 year old daughter watch the sentencing portion of your ordeal. I made sure she understood what this man did to you.

Thank you for taking your terrible pain and trying to do something good for the world: Making it a better place.

David. Canada.

[Sherri]

I meant my ex-husband got 9 years and has 5 years left sorry for the typo.

[Sherri]

My ex husband brutually raped my daughter and left her for dead on May 1, 2003. Since she was 15 at the time he only had to do 5 years. My son was diagnosed with autism before that and found out later he messed with my son. This individual came from a well-to-do family and prior military, never a criminal record. Today is my son's birthday and I hope this marks a day for justice for all of those children whose innocence has been stolen. Well my ex gets out in 5 years to hit the streets again and then they are going to review if he gets visitation with my son..HELLO GOVERNMENT WAKE UP CALL. Why are they letting these mentally disturbed individuals out? They shouldn't..BOTTOM LINE>child rapists and molestors dont change overnight.

[Betty Schneider]

What Couey did was beyond horrific. But how many people know that he was pleading for a psychiatrist as far back as '78? In letters to his attorneys in his court files he writes that he has a "disease of the mind." He NEVER ONCE got the help he so urgently wanted and needed. If he had, Jessica might be
with us yet. Therapy works for many sex offenders, esp. if they desperately want it.

Please go to our website listed above, www.therapy-key.com, and send in your petition if you wish. You might be saving another child. And every
signature counts.

Thank you!
Betty Schneider
Director, Therapy Key

[LEROY]

WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE COUEY GET RELIGION IN THEIR LIFE AFTER THEY KILL SOMEONE! DO YOU THINK HE WAS THINKING ABOUT GOD, WHEN HE KILLED THAT CHILD? I THINK NOT!

[lew]

odds say he will probably die by way of other imates or offs himself

[Al]

As a good Christian I believe that Mr. Couey will be forgiven, and that one day we can walk together, hand in hand, in the Kingdom of Heaven.

[Aiikon]

I've always said we should do away with these silly punishments and start using "eye for an eye" type punishments. We should let him die by being buried alive in a bag. I don't care about the "cruel and unusual" aspect because what he did to that poor little innocent child was WAY more then just "cruel and unusual" for a child to have to endure. I bet our crime rate would go down in an instant if we used that technique.

[Giselle]

I have always thought I was against the death penalty. It is filled with mistakes and people being wrongfully convicted. In this case, I think it is very clear. If there is a death penalty this guy clearly desserves it. I hate to judge, but his crime truely sickens me. He is too evil to stay on this planet. My prayers to little Jessie's family.

[dora]

true no one can blame the family for how or what he did but they knew he was a child molester and never said anything to their neighbors so that does give them some responsiblity. god bless the little girls family and keep them.

[Jim]

Ms. May Hemm has NO CLUE who God is.
May God have mercy on HER SOUL and those of her loved ones..should they ever..GOD FORBID...SIN. "He who says he is without sin is a liar."

[May Hemm]

May God have no mercy on his soul when he is put to death. Let us all hope his death is at the hands of a killer even more sadistic than he, and that he suffers an agonizing and brutal end.

[kerry]

never in my life have i ever supported the death penalty... but i have a little girl, and i cried when all of that happened to that little girl. i think, "that could have been my daughter." i hope he gets the death penalty and its long and horribly painful.

[Tim]

In God's hands? Was it in God's hands when this piece of garbage buried that poor little girl alive? Lethal injection is too good for him. I say we bury him alive and put it on pay-per-view with the proceeds going to crime victims ... I'd pay to see it.

[Angela]

Mentally ill huh? Seems like he's carrying on an intelligent conversation with his aunt. Too bad they don't use old sparky anymore.