john couey wants money for an interview

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:56 am

couey wrote to FOX news. here is the story. get your barf bag ready. further, there is a story circulating down here that poor little Jessica may have had cocaine in her system, toxicology still underway. ---------------

A draft of a letter John Couey appears to have sent Fox TV host Bill O'Reilly contradicts what Couey told investigators.

By ABBIE VANSICKLE

Published August 18, 2005

TV host Bill O'Reilly has repeatedly criticized the law enforcement investigation into Jessica Lunsford's slaying. He's questioned the prosecutors' decision not to charge John Couey's housemates with any crime. He has ridiculed State Attorney Brad King.

Now it's clear someone close to the case has been listening and wants to talk back: John Couey.

Couey, the 46-year-old sex offender accused of kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing Jessica, heard about O'Reilly and sent him a letter from his jail cell. Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti wouldn't discuss the letter's contents, but she confirmed O'Reilly had received mail from the inmate.

A letter found in Couey's trash can at the Citrus County jail might give a good indication of what O'Reilly received. This discarded letter was included in 109 pages of discovery documents released Wednesday afternoon by prosecutors.

The letter is addressed "Dear Mr. O'Reilly." After a couple of opening sentences, it gets to the point:

"I will say one thing for sure - that there were more than three people in the house at that time," the letter says. "I know one of them knows more than what he is saying."

In the months since Couey's arrest, O'Reilly has focused much of his coverage of the case on the four adults who shared a mobile home with Couey when Jessica vanished from her family's Homosassa home.

Three of Couey's housemates - his half sister, Dorothy Marie Dixon, 47; her daughter, Madie Catherine Secord, 27; and Matthew Oley Dittrich, 31 - were arrested shortly after Couey's March 17 arrest. They were accused of lying to investigators and getting in the way of the investigation, but prosecutors didn't file charges against them.

Couey's letter contradicts what he told investigators.

Couey told investigators he kept Jessica captive in his closet for days after snatching her from her home. He said he fed her before he got scared and buried her alive in his back yard. He insisted that no one in the house knew she was there or knew that he had anything to do with her disappearance.

Couey's letter also hints that he's been offered money to tell his story.

"But if you do not want to hear my case, I know people that will love to get hold of my story first hand. And they will pay for it," he wrote.

O'Reilly should write back to him if he's interested in the interview, Couey wrote.

Corrections officer R. Guarante discovered the letter on July 1 in the garbage in Couey's cell, according to a jail incident report. Couey was being moved to another cell to make room for another prisoner who was on suicide watch, and Guarante searched the trash when he was moved, according to the report. Guarante marked the letter as "maybe information for the sheriff's dept."

Assistant State Attorney Pete Magrino declined to say whether investigators believe Couey was truthful in the letter.

A toxicology report was also among the documents released Wednesday. The report details the chemical substances that medical examiners tested Jessica's body for after it was removed from its shallow grave.

Jessica's body tissues contained no illegal drugs, according to the report. But initial results on Jessica's body fluid didn't rule out cocaine. The report says there is a need for further testing of this fluid.

Initially, Couey told investigators he used cocaine the night he sneaked into Jessica's house and took her.

Couey has since pleaded not guilty. He's being held at the jail until trial, which is set for Feb. 6.

COUEY HEARING RESCHEDULED INVERNESS - A hearing for the man charged with the sexual assault on, abduction and murder of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford has been rescheduled for Monday. A hearing was scheduled for Friday in Circuit Judge Ric Howard's courtroom to discuss a defense request that Howard step down from John Couey's case. Couey, 46, has pleaded not guilty and is being held at the Citrus County jail. Court officials had not determined what time the hearing will be on Monday.

robinseggs · Post by **robinseggs** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:31 am

This story just seems to get more heartbreaking as the details keep coming out.....

ubetta · Post by **ubetta** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:48 am

A hearing was scheduled for Friday in Circuit Judge Ric Howard's courtroom to discuss a defense request that Howard step down from John Couey's case. Couey, 46, has pleaded not guilty and is being held at the Citrus County jail.
Hmmm. Why is that I wonder? I hadn't heard that. Unless he knew the family personally or something I don't see why that would be granted.

I had thought you can't make money off the crime you committed, but in looking it up, you can.

lady cop · Post by **lady cop** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 10:51 am

evidently couey thinks the judge is prejudiced against him. ...and the son of sam laws in re: profit have been declared unconstitutional. not sure if that is every state.

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 1:35 pm

Anyone who would give this maggot money for his story should get the needle just like Couey should. Sick F***s.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Sat Aug 20, 2005 1:39 pm

LC, Son of Sam laws vary from state to state

http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/main.aspx?dbNa ... ntID=32469

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Sun Aug 21, 2005 11:32 am

:-5 The is truly a evil person.. I hope he get buried alive.. this is someone I hope gets taken care of in Jail by his peers..!!

Nomad · Post by **Nomad** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 2:33 am

I wrote the father of this girl a letter after hearing of this. Im sure he recieved many. Until this I didnt believe in the death penalty.

Thats changed now.

kmhowe72 · Post by **kmhowe72** » Mon Aug 22, 2005 3:00 pm

yek thats just sick.

DesignerGal · Post by **DesignerGal** » Wed Aug 31, 2005 10:10 am

This is unbelievable. Whats more heartbreaking and depressing is that Jessica's family has to hear all of this nonsense. If my sisters were murdered and their murderer was caught and offered his story for money I would feel ANGER! This is so hurtful...the pain for her family is contstantly coming long after the "closure" (for lack of a better word) of "where is she" and the "closure" of her family giving her a proper burial after discovering her death.

I hope he gets nothing, except, of course, a sentence that fits his nasty crime!

*Prayer for her family: Lord please hold Jessica's family in your hands right now, be with them and give them strength to get through this. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.