From staff reports
news@joplinglobe.com
One man has been arrested in Barry County and another is in custody at the Newton County Sheriff’s Department — both expected to be charged in Barry County with the murder of 9-year-old Rowan Ford, of Stella.
Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland said the investigation into Ford’s abduction and slaying took “total change in direction” about 6 p.m. on Friday, 10 hours after the girl’s body was found in a sinkhole in McDonald County.
During a press conference at the Newton County Sheriff’s Department, Copeland said the change in direction came about as a result of an interview of a Barry County man. He said that interview lead investigators to a murder scene in Barry County where they believe the girl was killed. The sheriff said it now appears Rowan was abducted from her home in Newton County, murdered in Barry County and her body disposed of in McDonald County.
The FBI and Newton County Sheriff’s Department were not releasing the names of the men arrested in Barry County pending the filing of formal charges.
Copeland said kidnapping charges are likely to be filed in Newton County but the murder charges will be filed in Barry County.
He would not discuss whether either of the men under arrest is David Spears, Rowan Ford’s stepfather.
