Local News
Child-welfare records draw interest in Rowan Ford case
By Derek Spellman and Jeff Lehr
news@joplinglobe.com
NEOSHO, Mo. — The Newton County prosecutor has subpoenaed Missouri Department of Social Services records for 9-year-old rape and murder victim Rowan Ford.
Prosecutor Scott Watson said Wednesday that he subpoenaed what records the state’s child-welfare system may have on the girl in light of information he received that child-abuse hot-line calls had been placed to the state regarding the girl before her murder.
“I had three independent sources who indicated there had been prior hot-line calls made,” Watson said.
He said two of the sources said they placed hot-line calls themselves, and the third told of knowledge that the East Newton School District had made such a call. He said none of his sources were school district personnel.
East Newton administrators confirmed this week that the district placed a call concerning the girl. It is not known what the call concerned or what action the state took in response. Rowan attended Triway Elementary School in Stella and was in the fourth grade.
Lyle Sparkman, assistant superintendent, told the Globe on Wednesday that a school district employee placed a call to the state child-abuse hot line regarding the girl before her murder. He said the name of the employee who placed the call and precisely when the call was made are confidential under state law.
“We did fulfill our obligations as mandatory reporters,” Sparkman said.
The Globe made a request Tuesday under the state’s Sunshine Law for all records the Department of Social Services may have on the girl. Most of the department’s records are confidential and not open to the public, but the director of the department can waive confidentiality in cases involving child fatalities or near fatalities.
Watson said he subpoenaed the records Tuesday morning, before the school district had confirmed that a call was placed. He said he had not heard back from the department or received any records by Wednesday afternoon.
“I do not know that anything illegal happened,” Watson told the Globe. “But, I do know people in this area are very concerned with what happened to Rowan Ford. I knew that the rumors and innuendoes would continue until it is known if hot-line calls were made and if appropriate actions were taken.”
Newton County has yet to file criminal charges in the alleged abduction of the girl from her home in Stella. Her rape and murder are being prosecuted in Barry County, where those acts allegedly took place.
Rowan’s stepfather, David Spears, 25, and Chris Collings, 32, of Wheaton, are charged in Barry County with first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape.
Watson said charges remain likely to be filed in Newton County as well. He said he is waiting to receive reports from investigators. He said he is reluctant to file charges too quickly in Newton County because that could result in a lot of transporting of both defendants back and forth between Barry and Newton counties for hearings.
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