RSSMark Lunsford, the Father of Murdered Jessica Lunsford Reveals He is a Dad … Mark Has a Miracle Baby Boy
Mark Lunsford, who became a national spokesman and a true American hero to so many for his endless work 
with child safety after his 9 year old daughter Jessica was murdered by a convicted sex offender in 2005, is a father once again. Mark called the birth a “miracle” and a second chance.
Jessica Marie Lunsford was abducted from her Homosassa, FL home was raped and later murdered on February 27, 2005 by 47 year old, previously convicted sex offender John Couey. The case of 9 year old Jessica tugged at the hearts of America an in the process a father, Mark Lunsford, became the voice of children across the United States.
Mark Lunsford’s tireless work with Jessica’s Law was his gift back to his daughter. It also represented a parents fight to protect all children against child sex predators. Mark Lunsford, a self proclaimed redneck, was one of the most unlikely advocates for child safety against sexual predators. However, Mark Lunsford became part of a fraternity that no one wants membership to as a parent who lost a child at the hands of a predator. Mark Lunsford is a true American hero as he represents John Q. Public and what one person is capable of accomplishing. Mark is the embodiment of the common man and just how much change that anyone is capable of doing when they fight back against evil rather than let it consume them.
The law is named after Jessica Lunsford, a young Florida girl who was raped and murdered in February 2005 by John Couey, a previously convicted sex offender. Public outrage over this case spurred Florida officials to introduce this legislation. Among the key provisions of the law are a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison and lifetime electronic monitoring of adults convicted of lewd or lascivious acts against a victim less than 12 years old. In Florida, sexual battery or rape of a child less than twelve years old is punishable only by life imprisonment with no chance of parole.
I was surprised and beyond happy to hear the revelation out of the Ocala Star-Banner interview with Mark Lunsford that he has a child, a baby boy. Actually, it was a secret child that he has with his girlfriend. She gave birth to a boy on October 6, 2007 — 12 years to the day after Jessica’s birth. Think that is by mere chance?
Calling the birth a “miracle,” Lunsford said the fact that the child was born on Jessica’s birthday was a clear signal to him that God had given him a second chance at being a father.
“There’s a message [from God]: ‘Here’s another one, Mark. Don’t let anything happen to this one’,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a reward or anything. But it’s like God was saying, ‘OK, Mark, I hear you complain about how much you miss Jessie every day. So here’s another one. Take care of him.’ “
Kudos to Mark in that he is a dad again. However, I would say to Mark that not only is his new baby a blessing and a miracle … so is the work he has done to help save other children. God bless Jessica and God bless Mark for his fantastic work and the war he wages against child sex predators. For a dad who lost so much in such a terrible manner, Mark, God does bless those who protect his children and you have done a remarkable job.
Posted April 11, 2009 by Scared Monkeys Child Welfare, Facebook, Missing Persons, Murder, Sex Offender | 18 comments |
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18 Responses to “Mark Lunsford, the Father of Murdered Jessica Lunsford Reveals He is a Dad … Mark Has a Miracle Baby Boy”
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I have to agree with “MARK’S message from God” that he must take care of this new baby. I still wonder where Mark was on the night his precious daughter was abducted, why wasn’t he home with her?Why the door left open? Not blaming the Victims, but still saying security may come with maturity.
I would be very careful to judge any one, grandparents were in the home that lil Jessica was taken from. TAKEN no one gave that child to any one, she was STOLEN, sure I always want to know why parents aren’t watching their kids 24-7 I just assume some parents are not as terrified as I am.
People leave their doors unlocked all the time for years and get lulled into a false sense of security.
I WANT TO KNOW HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH MARK, I WAS LISTENING TO POLLY’S DAD AND HE WAS TALKING ABOUT THE WORK MARK IS DOING AND I WANT TO DO WHAT I CAN WITH OUR STATE ABOUT
KEEPING THESE PIGS LOCKED UP FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!
IF YOU KNOW PLEASE LEAVE IT HERE I WILL CHECK BACK
Bun — how can you judge? This man suffered enough. He does not need people like you judging him. I leave my children with their grandparents whenever opportunity strikes and I do whatever I feel up to during my free time. Parents deserve a break. AND every once in a while we all forget to lock a door in the house. No one is perfect and no one expects the worst to happen. The only person to blame is John Couey. Mark has accomplished miracles where most of us would have drowned in our sorrow. I just hope that you never have to know what it’s like to be in Marks shoes. And if you ever are you would be lucky to be even half the man he is.
Not all sex offenders are sex offenders. Some are 18-20 year old males having consented sex with their girlfriend who is 16-17 years old. Her parents know about their sexual relationship and get her on birth control. Then they break up and not she claims she did not want to have sex with him. The ex boyfreind is arrest. He now is labeled as a sex offneder for life. The Florida Romero and Juliet Law does not apply because she is claiming that she never wanted to have sex with him.
Mark I am the chapter leader for The Compassionate Friends (TCF)an international nonprofit self-help support organization offering friendship, understanding and hope to families after the death of a child of any age, from any cause.In the spirit of the TCF maxim,”We need not walk alone,” I would like to invite you, family and friends to our 2nd annual walk and balloon release on October 17, 2009 in Sarasota, Fl. I would also like very much for you to speak. Mark it would be an honor to have you at this special celebration to honor our children.You have accomplished so much in the community in honor of your daughter.
That’s right! Who has the right to judge this precious family! as for people wanting to know where Mark was the night Jessica disappered, how did he know that she would be taken by that monster!!!! I watch my grandsons a lot, when my daughter does things. This sweet, caring man has gone through way to much for anyone to ever judge him or to put him down! I pray that Mark will draw a lot of strength from God, and I am so happy that God has blessed him with another child. I know that the pain for Jessica will always be there but at least now he has a great blessing in his life which he greatly deserves!
My heart and prayers goes out to you and your precious family Mark!
To those who are judging Mark for not protecting his children enough. Believe it or not, there are still a few (very few) parts of this world where people feel as if it’s safe enough to keep their doors unlocked at night. Perhaps Homosassa Florida was one of those places until, unknown to it’s good citizens, John Couey slithered into the neighborhood, allowed to live in the home of his obviously just as evil sister and only a breath away from Jessie and her loving family. You can’t blame Mark. Why were the child preditor laws so lacking here? This was a failure of the system, not Mark Lunsford. I’m sure he locks his door at night now.
Still, I live in a suburban community near Reading Pennsylvania. Every summer afternoon on my way to work, I see a little boy around Jessica’s age (when she was abducted) outside in his open yard, happily playing with his dog. It’s the kind of touching scene from a Rockwell type painting, but I can’t help but wonder, with no less than 8 convicted and registered sex offenders in this area, what this little boy’s parents are thinking. I never see an adult around. I pray that he can stay safe. I’ve thought about knocking on the parents door and pointing out the risks, but haven’t been able to bring myself to do this as yet. Maybe by being “spineless”, I’m part of the problem too.
Congrats to Mark on his “little Miricle”.
John Bowen
Mark, I really feel for your loss and it made me cry watching the news but let me tell you what the Jessica Lunsford act has done to me. I am a country boy/redneck just like you, i am not a child molester or sex offender. I may loose my job in a construction consulting firm because I can not get a photo badge to access certain county school boards properties due to a simple drug possession charge in 1985 that was a misdemeanor in the state of Maryland but evidently a felony here. But I was not convicted of a felony and now I will loose my job, house,etc. for something stupid I did when I was a kid.People, especially politicians dont fully realize what thse bills do sometimes to good people. I hope you read this and understand where Im comming from because this just isnt right!!! PS: Congrats. on your little one!!!
MARK I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET IN TOUCH WITH YOU SINCE THE BEGING OF WHEN ALL THIS BEGAN. I WANTED TO TELL YOU AND THE GRANDPARENTS HOW SORRY I AM ABOUT LITTLE JESSICA. I KNOW THERE ARE NO WORDS THAT CAN BE SAID. I HAVE BEEN PRAYING FOR YOU AND THE GRANDPARENTS. MY TWO GRANDSONS HAVE BEEN MOLESTED AND THE OLDEST ONE HAS BEEN RAPED BY HIS STEP GRANDFATHER AT THE AGE OF TEN AND HE FINALLY HAD HIS DAY IN COURT THE FIRST PART OF THIS MONTH AFTER FOUR YEARS OF OF RAISING CANE TO GET HIM TO COURT. OUT OF EIGHT COUNTS OF RAPE AND CHILD MOLESTING, HE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF SEVEN CHARGERS AND TWO OF THEM HE CAN GET 60 YEARS TO LIFE. I PRAY TO THE GOOD LORD ABOVE THAT HE WILL NEVER GET OUT OF JAIL. THE SENTENCING WILL BE IN JANUARY OR FEBRUARY OF 2011AND I PRAY THAT THE JUDGE IN SOUTH WEST LOUISIANA WILL NEVER LET HIM SEE THE LIGHT DAY AGAIN . THE LAWS SHOULD BE THAT THEY NEVER GET OUT. YOU WILL GET MORE IF YOU SET A FIRE. GOD BLESS YOU ANDTHE NEW BABY SON,MOTHER,AND GRANDPARENTS. PLEASE PRAY THAT JUSTICE WILL PUT HIM AWAY FOR EVER. THANKS MARK FOR HEARING ME OUT.
[...] Father and Key Note Speaker, Mark Lunsford, is flying in from Florida for the weekend festivities. First let me say that there are [...]
I really dont know where to start, I was absolutley heartbroken when I heard and read about Little Jessica, I am from England and I have to grandchildren that I adore, I just cant imagine what you all must have gone through, and then to read exactly what this monster did is just beyond belief.
Children are a blessing to us all, dont blame Mark and the grandparents for something, that an evil hatred person did.
I often find myself thinking about her and knowing she will be looking down on her family and smiling for the time they gave her on this earth.
Mark you are an inspiration to all parents and grandparents, not wanting to curl up and die, but to make this world a safer place for all, Jessica would and will be so proud of you.
Bless you all
[...] father, Mark Lunsford, was at times thought to be guilty of his daughter’s disappearance – there was chat and [...]
BUN, for God’s sake, how can you come up with this crap? Mark Lunsford was a truck driver who worked nights, and I’m not saying I know where he was on that night, but how many times have you left your children with their grandparents? My mother watched my baby every day for 2 years while I worked and I would never feel anxious about my decision. As far as the doors, I grew up with leaving the doors open and know of many small communities here in Florida where there isn’t a lot of traffic that do the same thing. It doesn’t make them irresponsible – just too trusting. Hasn’t this man gone through enough hell and done enough for the rest of this country by getting “Jessica’s Law” in 44 states? I can’t believe people still want to point fingers. It makes me sick to my stomach. This man worked his butt off looking and pleading for his child only to find out later she could hear him calling for her. Couey told the police that. He also told them she suffered because he buried her alive and you want to inflict more guilt and point fingers at her loving father? My God, how heartless are you anyway? He has shown he is man of God and HE is the only one who can judge any of us. You better be real good because HE tells us over and over in the bible NOT TO JUDGE. Mark is an inspiration. Once he found his daughter was dead he could have gone into hiding and mourned her and gone on with his life but he worked tirelessly to get this law passed and in Florida and then kept going until 44 states passed it. He said “I am a redneck and don’t have the words God, but if you want me to fight this you will have to give me the words”. I guess God wanted him to do it as he gave him the words and he put his Harley clothes away and got a suit on and traveled to D.C. over and over and over and still travels around this country to this day trying to make sure your child or grandchild is safe. Yeah, you really should point fingers at this man!!! NOT!
I just want to say, I am so sorry for the loss of your angel Jesse. Thank the lord, for blessing you with another precious child. There is a special place in hell, for people who commit crimes against children. May God bless you Mr.Lunsford, and all of you and yours. God is holding your beautiful and precious Jesse,as we speak. May peace find you.
Thank you all so much ,I’m very touched by your story and by everyone’s comments .47 states have Jessie’s law . Hawaii , Illinois , Idaho do not have Jessie’s law . You can find me on fb if you like .
Scared monkey if there is ever anything I can do for you please contact me .
mrklnsfrd@yahoo.com
Mark could you PLEASE get a hold of me , 1-519-332-6761, Thank you kindly.
What is wrong with people Mark was a working man if he went out so what he left his daughter in good hands with the loving people that raised him My heart goes out to him and his family God gave him another child because he know what a great father he is