Florida Family Pleads for Girl's Return

[mzmolly]

In this undated family photo provided by the Citrus County (Fla.) Sheriff's Department, Jessica Marie Lunsford is shown. The family of 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/Citrus County Sheriff's Dept, File)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/missing_girl


The father and grandparents of Jessica Marie Lunsford cried as they described a girl who they say would never run away.

"I want my daughter home," said Mark Lunsford, who discovered the third-grader missing Thursday morning. "If there is anything anybody knows, there are a lot of numbers you can call. Help me find my daughter and bring her home."

More than 100 police and volunteers, with help from bloodhounds and helicopters, searched the area about 60 miles north of Tampa, including numerous marshes and ponds. The physical search was suspended when darkness fell.

"It amazes me that we haven't uncovered anything to take us in a specific direction," Citrus County Sheriff Jeff Dawsy said at a news conference. "We are turning every rock we can turn and following every lead we can possibly follow."

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[MissB]

2. What a beautiful child

I hope they find her alive.

[mzmolly]

5. Me as well.

It's horrible.

[ashmanonar]

3. :(

best wishes to jess lunsford, hope they find her safe and sound. :hug:

[buff2]

4. God,this is so sad......

I hope they find that little girl alive and safe. It just breaks my heart for her and her family. I can only imagine what they are going through. :cry: Hugs to her and her family. :grouphug:

[katmondoo]

7. Unfortunately we do not have the greatest sheriff here

in Citrus county. We have some good police, they will do whatever they can to find this child.

[mcar]

13. Hey, I'm in Citrus County too!

But I think the sheriff is doing a great job.

This poor little girl going missing is a big tragedy. Hundreds of people are looking for her and I hope she's found alive and unharmed, but I don't feel optimistic.

[janx]

6. This is awful! What happened to her? n/t

[mzmolly]

12. She was missing from her bedroom early Friday.

Still no word. :(

[theHandpuppet]

8. Today's Cincy Enquirer interviewed girl's mother

http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050226/NEWS01/502260423

[bermudat]

9. There is still something I don't understand.

Was this child home alone for the night? People leave 9 year old children home alone overnight? Wuzzup with that?

[mzmolly]

11. No, see post #9

They lived with grandparents.

[DawgHouse]

10. Grandparents were home

and the father came in at 6:00 (confirmed alibi). He got in the shower and when he finished, he heard Jessie's alarm clock going off. So he went to her room and found her missing. Her clothes for school were still laid out on the bed so it is assumed she left in her nightgown.

[bluedog]

14. 4:57 am Thursday

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=519&ncid=718&e=7&u=/ap/20050227/ap_on_re_us/missing_girl



Search Resumes for Missing 9-Year-Old Homosassa Girl

By Mike Branom Associated Press Writer
Published: Feb 27, 2005

snip

The family of Jessica Marie Lunsford saw the surveillance tape and didn't think the girl in the picture looked like her, but the Citrus County sheriff's office wanted help from the public to follow up on the possible lead.

"They do not feel it's her, but investigators want to rule this out as an option," said sheriff's spokeswoman Ronda Hemminger Evan.

The girl in the store picture wore a pink shirt and jeans. Jessie 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 Circle K tape recorded a time of 4:57 a.m. Thursday. A girl and a boy were in the store with a man who looked like he was in his 20s wearing a white tank top and black sweat pants.

[bluedog]

15. Florida Residents............Do you know this man?

if you live in the area.and even think you know him call the local law agency..........

[neomonkey]

16. The father and grandparents would know better than anyone,

I suppose, but from the photos I've seen that girl sure resembles Jessica. The placement seems odd, generally my child is not out at 4:57 am, especially on a Friday morning, much less at a convenience store.

As usual, it seems there is an entirely mysterious, invisibly layer to this story which we won't know for a while...