Missouri man convicted of raping and killing 9-year-old Rowan Ford, asks for conviction to be overturned | KSNF/KODE

NEWTON COUNTY, Missouri – The man convicted of raping and killing a 9-year-old girl in Newton County is seeking to have his conviction overturned.

Christopher Collings was sentenced to death in 2012 for the rape and murder of 9-year-old Rowan Ford in 2007. Collings, now 49, is making his final attempt to overturn his verdict and conviction.

In April, the Missouri Attorney General’s office filed a motion to set an execution date.

In June, Collings filed a petition for habeas corpus with the Missouri Supreme Court. If granted in this case, Collings could present evidence that the government withheld the criminal record of its key witness against him.

In this case, Collings argues that then-Wheaton Police Chief Clinton Clark had multiple criminal convictions and that his right to a fair trial was violated because that information was withheld from the defense. Clark’s convictions are related to his military service during the Vietnam War. His service record shows that he was considered a deserter four times between 1967 and 1969. Prosecutors say that even if Clark’s service record had been made available to the defense, it would not have changed the outcome of this case.

Rowan disappeared on November 3, 2007, when her mother returned home to Stella, Missouri, and could not find her. Six days later, her body was discovered in a cave in McDonald County. Authorities say she was found naked and wearing only one sock. An autopsy determined she died by strangulation.

Ford’s stepfather, David Spears, pleaded guilty to his role in the girl’s death. Spears, Collings and another man were drinking at the Spears’ home on the evening of November 3, then the three went to Collings’ residence in Wheaton. The three men continued drinking and smoking marijuana when they decided to return to Spears’ residence.

In Collings’ confession to authorities, he said he drove back to Spears’ house alone because he knew he could fight off the other men and arrest Rowan before they returned. He said he carried the sleeping child to his truck, drove her back to his house, and raped the little girl there. Collings told them that as he was returning the girl to his truck, he panicked when she recognized him, and then he strangled her.

Collings is 6’0″ tall. His last weight was 235 pounds, according to the Justice Department. Ford was just under 4’0″ tall and weighed just 60 pounds at the time of her rape and murder.

Spears confessed to being involved in the rape and murder of his stepdaughter. According to court documents, Spears told police he also raped the girl and was the one who strangled her.

Ultimately, Spears pleaded guilty to child endangerment and obstruction of justice. In 2012, he was sentenced to eleven years in prison. Spears has already been released from prison.

There is no indication when the Missouri Supreme Court will issue its ruling on the habeas corpus writ.