Missouri 2012

Sentenced to death in Platte County, Missouri

By: a jury

Date of crime: November 3, 2007

Prosecution’s case/defense response: Collings and David Spears (age 24) were convicted of abducting Rowan Ford (age 9) from her home, and raping and strangling her before dumping her body in a mineshaft. Prosecutors alleged that Ford was not Collings’ only victim and that he had killed Ford because she had seen his face. Spears was Ford’s stepfather. Moreover, defense attorneys discussed how Collings was neglected and sexually abused as a child, which contributed to an attachment disorder he developed.

Sources: Joplin Globe (MO) 1/20/10 (2010 WLNR 1234969), Joplin Globe (MO) 3/20/12 (2012 WLNR 5969137), Daily Guide (MO) 9/27/12 (2012 WLNR 21345395).