Convicted child killer dies of natural causes while awaiting execution

Convicted sex offender, John Evander Couey, found guilty of the 2005 kidnapping, and sexual assault of 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford, has died of cancer, reports AOL News.

Couey, who was awaiting execution on Florida’s death row, had taken ill quite some time ago, according to Florida’s Department of Correction spokesperson, Gretl Plessinger.

The dissapearance of Jessica in 2005 sparked a massive search that later ended when her body was found buried in Couey’s yard, still holding onto her favorite stuffed animal. Investigators believe that she was buried alive. The case was covered heavily by the media and sparked outrage across the country.

Tweeters seemed largely angered by Couey’s natural death, and many expressed their discontent that the imposed death penalty would not be carried out.

DavidLBishop (Tallahassee, FL)Rumor has it that hell refused to accept John Couey, Jessica Lunsford’s killer, who died in prison today. Of course, that’s just a rumor. 30 Sep 2009 from web

roserandel (Undisclosed) John Couey, killer of 9 year old Jessica Lunsford, dies in prison. Shame he didn’t man up and wait for the needle. Hell is too good for him. 30 Sep 2009 from web

sullydude (Undisclosed) Total scumbag murderer dies in prison! AMEN! Rest in peace Jessica Lunsford. http://bit.ly/xtxnL 30 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

jojordan1 (Undisclosed) John Couey, who buried 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford alive, has died from cancer. This focker got off WAY too easy! http://twurl.nl/eirnkr 30 Sep 2009 from Tweetburner

RetroD65 (Great Falls, MT)Couey’s dead. Maybe now Jessica Lunsford and her family can have some peace. 30 Sep 2009 from Brizzly

clarlune (Undisclosed) RT @CNN: Child killer Couey dies in prison…2005 murderer of Jessica Lunsford, 9. http://bit.ly/2CaHnZ << didnt suffer long enuf IMHO 30 Sep 2009 from TweetDeck

adkhermit (Morehouse lake, NY) Hopefully the flames of Hell r surrounding John Couey who croaked 2day. He kidnapped, raped & buried alive 9 yr old Jessica Lunsford in 2005 30 Sep 2009 from web

KrystalOh (Undisclosed) Burn in hell RT @CNN: Convicted child killer Couey dies in prison; was on death row for murder of Jessica Lunsford, 9. http://bit.ly/2CaHnZ 01 Oct 2009 from Echofon

Couey, who had been convicted of a sex offense prior to the slaying, was deemed to have an IQ slightly above the level considered mentally disabled. This defense was to be argued before the Florida supreme Court next month at his automatic appeal according to the Associated Press.

The brutal slaying had led to many states passing laws named for Jessica, which imposed harsher restrictions on sex offenders.