John Couey. That's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time. I lived in Ocala at the time, but lived in Homosassa during my middle and high school years (89 to 96), and lived in surrounding areas after (Beverly Hills, Ocala).
So you didn't hear about any of the irregularities in the case when you lived there? I know Mark Lunsford getting caught with child porn on his computer has become a fairly big deal in some online circles, but the local media tried to suppress it and even pulled the original stories about it. Also, someone else from the area has told me that even back in 2005, there were initially whispers of an organized ring of pedophiles, not just Couey acting alone.
I didn't, but this was probably before I knew about Franklin and the rest.
I did hear that he'd allegedly been caught with child porn, but the issue was quickly dropped and I never heard about it again.
I did hear rumours that Couey had "friends," but never anything big.
There were apparently areas in Homosassa where the cops feared to go, and constant talk about incestuous families, kidnapping of the occasional black person, and guys openly wore Klan affiliated attire in the local Wal Mart. One I remember was in the wake of the Malcolm X movie, with the slogan, "You wear your X, I'll wear mine" featuring a rebel flag turned on its side to look like an X.
I didn't know Lunsford or anyone associated with him, but I did drop a dime or two on some former classmates of mine when the case happened, given the behaviour they exhibited.
Thanks for offering your perspective on this case and the Homosassa area. Do you remember where those rumors of Couey having "friends" originated from? Were they based on anything solid, or did people just speculate that to be the case? Also, did those rumors include Couey and Lunsford knowing each other? (Sorry for peppering you with so many questions, but I've been trying to get proof of the early suspicions locals had about the case, so I'm glad to have a chance to talk to someone like you who was there.)
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mrohm ago
John Couey. That's a name I haven't heard in a long, long time. I lived in Ocala at the time, but lived in Homosassa during my middle and high school years (89 to 96), and lived in surrounding areas after (Beverly Hills, Ocala).
I didn't know any of this before. Good God.
votesarestolen ago
So you didn't hear about any of the irregularities in the case when you lived there? I know Mark Lunsford getting caught with child porn on his computer has become a fairly big deal in some online circles, but the local media tried to suppress it and even pulled the original stories about it. Also, someone else from the area has told me that even back in 2005, there were initially whispers of an organized ring of pedophiles, not just Couey acting alone.
mrohm ago
I didn't, but this was probably before I knew about Franklin and the rest.
I did hear that he'd allegedly been caught with child porn, but the issue was quickly dropped and I never heard about it again.
I did hear rumours that Couey had "friends," but never anything big.
There were apparently areas in Homosassa where the cops feared to go, and constant talk about incestuous families, kidnapping of the occasional black person, and guys openly wore Klan affiliated attire in the local Wal Mart. One I remember was in the wake of the Malcolm X movie, with the slogan, "You wear your X, I'll wear mine" featuring a rebel flag turned on its side to look like an X.
I didn't know Lunsford or anyone associated with him, but I did drop a dime or two on some former classmates of mine when the case happened, given the behaviour they exhibited.
votesarestolen ago
Thanks for offering your perspective on this case and the Homosassa area. Do you remember where those rumors of Couey having "friends" originated from? Were they based on anything solid, or did people just speculate that to be the case? Also, did those rumors include Couey and Lunsford knowing each other? (Sorry for peppering you with so many questions, but I've been trying to get proof of the early suspicions locals had about the case, so I'm glad to have a chance to talk to someone like you who was there.)
Joe10jo ago
@votesarestolen, speaking of what the locals know I'd love to know what the people in and around the Gosch's suspected about Johnnys disappearance.