John Evander Couey ( September 19 , 1958 â `` September 30 , 2009 ) is an American sex offender and murderer . He was convicted of kidnapping , raping , and murdering nine-year old Jessica Lunsford in February 2005 , in Florida . John Evander Couey ( September 19 , 1958 -- September 30 , 2009 ) was an American sex offender convicted of kidnapping , raping , and murdering nine-year old Jessica Lunsford in February 2005 , in Florida .