subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Fri, Nov 20 2009 

Published December 22, 2007 01:12 am - CASSVILLE, Mo. — A Wheaton man accused of raping and killing a 9-year-old Stella girl was bound over to circuit court Friday after waiving his preliminary hearing.
Chris Collings, 32, will stand trial for one count of first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in connection with the abduction, alleged sexual assault and murder of Rowan Ford last month.


Man bound over for trial



By Derek Spellman

dspellman@joplinglobe.com

CASSVILLE, Mo. — A Wheaton man accused of raping and killing a 9-year-old Stella girl was bound over to circuit court Friday after waiving his preliminary hearing.

Chris Collings, 32, will stand trial for one count of first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in connection with the abduction, alleged sexual assault and murder of Rowan Ford last month.

Collings waived his preliminary hearing after appearing before Judge Victor Head with his public defender, Clate Baker, said Barry County Prosecutor Johnnie Cox. Collings’ court appearance on Friday was his first since his initial arraignment on Nov. 13.

Ford’s stepfather, David W. Spears, 25, is also charged with one count of first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in connection with the Ford case.

Spears’ case remains in Barry County Associate Court, and his next hearing date is still to be set, Cox said.

Investigators believe Rowan Ford was abducted early Nov. 3 from her home in Stella in Newton County, murdered in Barry County, and her body disposed of in McDonald County.

Ford’s body was found in a sinkhole after a nearly weeklong search that involved the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, the McDonald County Sheriff’s Department, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the FBI.

Authorities still are trying to reconcile discrepancies between the two defendants’ accounts of the events leading to Rowan’s death. Both David Spears and Collings reportedly have confessed to rape and murder.

Colleen Spears, David Spears’ wife and Rowan Ford’s mother, filed for divorce on Nov. 27. That case, too, is pending.

Up next

Chris Collings will appear for his arraignment in Barry County Circuit Court at 10 a.m. on Jan. 22.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide

Announcements



Click here to VOTE!!

Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!




Featured Jobs

BODY TECHNICIAN
Carthage AUTO PLAZA is looking for a body technician/painter. I-Car certification is required. Come by and fill out an a...>MORE

OWNER OPERATORS
with equipment for truck and trailer, drive in or reefer. 624-2755...>MORE

DRIVER LONG HAUL
Driver, long haul or regional, for small Joplin company, home weekly, good pay and benefits, must have 3 years verifiabl...>MORE

CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS
CLASS A OVER THE ROAD DRIVERS for team operations. Kansas City based, home weekly, all drop and hook. $.46/mile to the t...>MORE

CMA
cma with insulin certification. Whispering Pines, (417)781-0099....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

1993 120FL FREIGHTLINER
1993 120FL Freightliner, day cab, 572,541 miles, twin screw, 60 series Detroit, 9 speed Fuller, air ride and 2000 step d...>MORE

PONTIAC, 2005 AZTEK
Pontiac, 2005 Aztek, all wheel drive, V-6, 65,000 miles, DVD, great mpg, loaded, excellent condition. $9800/trade. 624-3...>MORE

CHEVROLET 2002 EXTENDED CAB
CHEVROLET, 2002 Extended cab, lots of options, work truck, $5900 (417)483-1386....>MORE

CHRYSLER, 2001 TOWN
and Country Limited, excellent condition, power everything. $1000 below book, $3925. (417)623-2212 ...>MORE

MERCUR 2001 GRAND MARQUIS LS
mercury, 2001 Grand Marquis LS, 69,500 miles, $6800/offer. (417)214-3265....>MORE

MAZDA 2000 B4000
Mazda, 2000 B4000 extended cab, V6, automatic, loaded-nice, $3450. 434-5503....>MORE

FORD 2006 RANGER XLT
FORD, 2006 Ranger XLT, 50,000 miles, power windows/locks, bed liner, tool box, etc. $12,500 or best offer (417)499-4345...>MORE

FORD, 1993 TAURUS
ford, 1993 Taurus, cruise, tilt, air, nice, $1250. (417)434-7382....>MORE

FORD 2003 TAURUS
FORD, 2003 Taurus, silver, 95,000 miles, premium sound, leather, sunroof, 6 CD. $3,600. 417-438-4252....>MORE

VOLKSWAGEN 2006 CONVERTIBLE
Volkswagen 2006 convertible, 13,000 miles, perfect condition $15,500 206-6809...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 P.M.
OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY 1-5 p.m. New construction, 3 BR, 2 BA, 3 car garage, newer neighborhood, mature trees, 3 minutes from...>MORE

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

3BR, ALBA
3 BR, 1 ba, 1 car gar, large fenced yard, Alba $550+ deposit. Hud ok 417-540-4674...>MORE

ATTRACTIVE 4 BR ORONOGO
attractive, comfortable 4 br, 3 ba, 2-level, 2600 sq. ft. home. Greystone Subdivision, $194,900. 103 Jason Blvd., Oronog...>MORE

525 E 41ST FOR SALE AT AUCTION
525 E. 41ST, Joplin, MO will be offered for sale at Auction
Saturday, December 5th 9:30 AM AAA Auctions Bob 417-
...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

ROTTWEILERS
ROTTWEILERS,champion bloodlines. Dachshunds and Boxers. All AKC 918-784-2652, 918-541-8800...>MORE

YORKIES AKC
Yorkie, AKC, 2 adorable males, 3 1/2 months, current shots. 620-762-0445...>MORE

WHITE WICKER HENRY LINK SOFA
White wicker Henry Link sofa, Pier 1 wicker love seat and chair, Singer sewing machine in cabinet, large picture, floor ...>MORE

YORKIE WORLD HOLIDAY SALE
Yorkie WORLD. HOLIDAY SALE Males $150-$250; females, $350 and up. 417-258-7171....>MORE

12 GUN CABINET
12 GUN CABINET, 10 gun cabinet, new 10” miter saw; new 12” drill press. (417)359-5819....>MORE

PLASTIC LIGHT UP YARD
plastic light up yard decorations for all holidays! 620-362-3020 leave message....>MORE

CLOSE OUT PRICES
close OUT prices on beads, jewelry, and Longaberger products. Bring this ad for 10% off beads and jewelry. Saturday, Nov...>MORE

SIBERIAN HUSKY
Siberian Husky - female, 2 years old; Husky mix - female, 2 years old. Both spayed, housebroken, and vaccinated. Very en...>MORE

BOXER PUPPIES
BOXERS PUPPIES, registered, parents on site, $200. 918)257-4153....>MORE

BULLDOGS-ADULT
Bulldogs- ADULT 4 female, 1 male, adult English Bulldog; 6 females adult French Bulldogs; ages 1-4; Cream/Brindle. 417-...>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition