Father of missing girl pleads: "I need your help"

an ABC Action News report 02/25/05 - updated 7:40 p.m.

previous story: Homosassa 9-year-old disappears overnight; massive search launched (2/24/05)

 

 

HOMOSASSA - The family of a missing Citrus County girl made an emotional plea before cameras Friday morning for the safe return of their "little princess," while investigators admitted they were growing frustrated at the lack of progress in the case.

 

"I need everyone that's listening or who sees this, I need your help," Mark Lunsford said tearfully. "I just plead with you to please help me find my daughter."

 

Jessica Lunsford was last seen Wednesday night when she was tucked into bed by her live-in grandparents. Her father explained that he spent that night at a friend's and returned home early the next morning to find the front door unlocked and his daughter missing.

 

"I came in the door and her alarm clock was going off," Lunsford continued. "When I opened the door to her room, she wasn't there. I just don't know where she's at."

 

While there was no sign of forced entry or foul play at the mobile home, neither family members nor investigators believe the 9-year-old wandered off on her own.

 

"She wouldn't go nowhere without consulting us," Jessica's grandmother Ruth Lunsford explained. "She just doesn't go off ever, doesn't roam."

 

Jessica has been in her father's custody since she was a year old, Lunsford explained, calling it a "long, drawn-out story." She has, through the years, had only had limited contact with her estranged mother.

 

The FBI tracked down Angie Lunsford, now Angie Bryant, at her home in Ohio, and ruled her out as a suspect on Friday after questioning her.

 

"It's the most awful feeling you could ever feel. That's my child; she'll always be my baby," she tearfully told reporters in Cincinnati. "I really can't explain how I feel. It's awful."

 

Volunteers pitched in to help search land around Jessica's mobile home.

The mother's possible role in Jessica's disappearance was one of the biggest questions in the case, and with that seemingly settled, investigators were left with no suspects and no apparent leads.

 

"We want to find this little girl. We consider this our girl, and we want to make sure we bring her home," Sheriff Dawsy observed. "It's very frustrating. I don't know how else to say it."

 

Law enforcement personnel from several different agencies began searching the rural Homosassa neighborhood Thursday morning using dogs, helicopters, and mounted agents. That search continued through the night, but rain and fog prevented the use of helicopters equipped with infrared detecting equipment.

 

The addition of a specialized multi-agency team from Tampa Friday morning brought the number of personnel on the ground to over 100.

 

Among the few pieces of evidence investigators have to analyze is the family's computer. Dawsy said that Jessica had recently graduated from a cyber-safety course, but detectives were analyzing the computer's recent usage out of concern that an online predator may have been in contact with her.

 

The family received potentially devastating news Friday afternoon when a female body was discovered in neighboring Hillsborough County's Lake Thonotosassa, but they were elated to soon after learn that the body, while not identified, was definitely not Jessica.

 

Jessica is described as having brown hair and brown eyes, measuring 4-feet 10-inches tall, and weighing 70 pounds.

 

Anyone with information about her location is asked to call the Citrus County Sheriff's Office at (352) 726-1121.

 

WFTS-TV ABC Action News Tampa

theres so much crap going on in the world. and it just gets worse every generation. i really hope they find this kid. Ifeel so sorry for the parents.

apparently pitcher Mike Hampton is from the same small town & has offered 25K for any information regarding her whereabouts.