Draft:Rowan Ford rape and murder
Rowan Ford | |
|---|---|
| Born | Rowan Damia Ford April 11, 1998 |
| Died | November 3, 2007 (aged 9) Barry County, Missouri, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Strangulation |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Student |
| Known for | Victim of a rape-murder case |
On November 3, 2007, in Stella, Missouri, nine-year-old Rowan Damia Ford (April 11, 1998 — November 3, 2007) went missing from her home, and her body was found in a cave at McDonald County, Missouri six days after her disappearance, and forensic reports showed that Ford was raped and strangled to death. Two suspects, Christopher Leroy Collings (a family friend of Ford) and David Spears (Ford's stepfather), were arrested and charged with raping and murdering Ford. Collings was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death in 2012 while Spears was sentenced to 11 years in prison for endangering the welfare of a child and covering up the crime. Collings is currently scheduled to be executed on December 3, 2024 for the crime.
Disappearance and death
[edit]On November 3, 2007, in Stella, Missouri, nine-year-old Rowan Ford, then a fourth-grade student, was last seen at her home before she disappeared. Her mother was unable to find her and hence, Ford was reported missing.
Six days after her disappearance, inside a rural part of McDonald County, Missouri, Ford's body was found inside a cave. At the time of the discovery, Ford, who was covered with leaves and debris, was nude from the waist down, wearing only one sock. Ford had a ligature mark around her neck and there were injuries on her vaginal area. An autopsy report found that Ford died due to strangulation, and the girl was raped prior to her death.
Following police investigations, the police managed to arrest two suspects. One of them was 25-year-old David Spears, who was Ford's stepfather, while the other was Spears's friend, 32-year-old Christopher Leroy Collings.
Criminal charges and trial
[edit]Christopher Leroy Collings | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 4, 1975 Missouri, U.S. |
| Conviction(s) | First degree murder |
| Criminal penalty | Death |
| Details | |
| Victims | Rowan Ford, 9 |
| Date | November 3, 2007 – November 9, 2007 |
| Location(s) | Missouri |
| Imprisoned at | Potosi Correctional Center |
David Spears | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1982 (age 41–42) Missouri, U.S. |
| Criminal status | Released |
| Conviction(s) | Endangering the welfare of a child Hindrance of prosecution |
| Criminal penalty | 11 years' imprisonment |
| Details | |
| Victims | Rowan Ford, 9 |
| Date | November 3, 2007 – November 9, 2007 |
| Location(s) | Missouri |
Appeal process
[edit]Scheduled execution of Collings
[edit]On April 5, 2024, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey applied to the Missouri Supreme Court for an approval to schedule an execution date for Christopher Collings, who had exhausted all his avenues of appeal at this point. Under Missouri state law, should the Missouri Supreme Court issued a death warrant, an execution date would be set between 90 and 120 days from the date of the court order.
On August 13, 2024, the Missouri Supreme Court approved the death warrant of Collings, scheduling his death sentence to be carried out on December 3, 2024.
See also
[edit]- Capital punishment in Missouri
- List of death row inmates in Missouri
- List of people scheduled to be executed in the United States
References
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