I watched with interest Kathy Fountain's Mar 10th noontime panel concerning Mark Lundsford's proposed lawsuit against the Citrus County Sheriff. I offer kudos to Kathy for an unbiased and informative panel discussion of this controversial subject. I do however, offer an observation which the attorney on the panel repeatedly danced around. He stated that it was his opinion that the suit would change nothing, regardless of the outcome. He is completely missing the goal of the suit, as I shall proceed to demonstrate. Lundsford strongly believes his assertions that had the investigation proceded differently, his daughter might have been rescued alive . He wants the Sheriff's Dept. to to admit the possibility that errors occured and amend their investigatitive protocol so as to prevent a repeat of the situation which resulted in his daughter's murder. And here is the main intent of Lundsford's suit: HIS REQUESTS TO THE SHERIFF"S DEPT WERE FALLING ON DEAF EARS ! THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED WITH THE PRIMARY, IF NOT SOLE INTENT TO GET THEIR SERIOUS ATTENTION ! WHEN THAT IS ACCOMPLISHED, HE WILL DROP THE SUIT-BECAUSE THE ALLEGED ERRORS HAVE BEEN EITHER ACKNOWLEDGED OR DISPROVEN ! THAT IS THE WAY THE PROTOCOL COULD BE CHANGED, AS A CONDITION OF THE DISMISSAL OF THE SUIT ! Lundsford obviously believes strongly in his allegations. The resolve will become self evident when the authorities release the forensic evidence establishing the time and date of his daughter's death. The fact that the Sheriff's Dept has not yet released that information in it's own defense lends credibility to Lundsford's assertions, and suggests a "circle the wagons" CYA posture by the Citrus Sheriff PR staff. If indeed, the evidence shows that Jessica was alive when law enforcement personel went to the trailer where she was killed 6 (SIX) times, two of which were prompted by search dogs, then the Sheriff's protocol is seriously flawed, and the changes sought by Lundsford will likely be implemented.
Public opinion should remain neutral pending the disclosure of ALL the evidence.
Whatever happens, it is wrong to allow the media or others to define this situation as "Good Guy Sheriff v. Ingrate Victim" or "Incompetent Sheriff v. Aggrieved Victim" until all the evidence is in. Court proceedings will reveal the truth.
