In his own words

John Couey said in his confession he couldn't understand why Jessica Lunsford didn't try to attract attention while kidnapped.

An audio recording of John Couey talking to detectives about Jessica Lunsford was released Wednesday by the state's attorney office.

Lunsford disappeared from her Citrus County home February 24. Couey, a convicted child molester, lived nearby.

On the tape, Couey explained to investigators how he took Lunsford from her bedroom and imprisoned her in his closet.

Much of the audiotape is disturbing to listen to.

Throughout much of his confession, he wondered why Lunsford didn't try to attract the attention of his roommates.

"I can't figure out why she didn't say nothing," Couey said. "Why didn't

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she beat on the walls? Why didn't she yell? She knew I was the only one in the room with her. It don't make no sense."

At one point Couey told investigators he kept Lunsford alive nearly three days before burying her behind his trailer home.

In the interview, Couey marveled at how he said Lunsford reacted as he forced her into her grave, alive.

When detectives asked Couey how she reacted when he threw the dirt on her, he said, "Even when I did that, she didn't say a word. Why? I don't know. I swear to God, it don't make no sense why she didn't try to get away."

Throughout the interview, Couey is calm, but becomes emotional when he talks about his guilt.

"I swear to God if I could go back and change it, that little girl would still be right where she is," Couey said. "I'm talking about home."

Because of Couey's drug use around the time of the murder, it may never be known the exact day of Lunsford's death.

During his confession, Couey mentioned he wanted an attorney. But before he was appointed one, he described Lunsford's murder in detail.

That situation is prompting many legal concerns. Some legal experts said a judge may never allow Couey's confession to be used as evidence.

They claim Couey may never have made a confession if a lawyer was present to give him advice.









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