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Murder of Rowan Ford

SOLVED2007Stella, Missouri, United States3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

On November 3, 2007, nine-year-old Rowan Damia Ford went missing from her home in Stella, Missouri, while sleeping in her bedroom. Her mother, Colleen Munson, reported her missing, prompting a large-scale search involving local police and the FBI. Six days later, Ford's body was discovered inside a cave in a rural part of McDonald County, Missouri. She was found nude from the waist down, wearing only one sock, covered with leaves and debris, and in an advanced state of decomposition. An autopsy determined she had been raped and died of strangulation, with a ligature mark visible around her neck.

Police investigations led to the arrest of two men: Christopher Leroy Collings, a family friend who had lived with Ford's family earlier that year and whom Ford called "Uncle Chris," and David Wesley Spears, Ford's stepfather. Both men confessed to roles in the crime. According to those confessions, Collings abducted Ford, took her to his trailer, raped her, and then strangled her with rope after she saw his face. Spears admitted to helping dispose of the body and had reported Ford missing while suggesting she might be at a friend's house; his behavior during the search led investigators to name him as a suspect, and he later led authorities to where the body was found.

Both men were charged with first-degree murder, forcible rape, and statutory rape, and prosecutors initially sought the death penalty against both. The cases were tried separately due to publicity, with Collings tried in Phelps County and Spears in Barry County. On March 20, 2012, a jury found Collings guilty of first-degree murder, and on March 23, 2012, sentenced him to death after finding the murder was committed to prevent Ford from serving as a witness. In September 2012, prosecutors withdrew the murder charge against Spears after determining his role was minor compared to Collings; Spears pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and covering up the crime, receiving an 11-year sentence. He was released in 2015 and later worked for the state's public defender office.

Collings pursued appeals through the Missouri Supreme Court, federal district court, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court, all of which were rejected between 2014 and 2024. In April 2024, Missouri's Attorney General sought a death warrant, which the Missouri Supreme Court approved in August 2024, scheduling execution for December 3, 2024. Clemency requests, including from the Missouri Catholic Conference, were denied by Governor Mike Parson, and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a final appeal on December 2, 2024. Collings was executed by lethal injection the following day, expressing remorse in his final statement.

Key facts

Victims
Rowan Damia Ford
Date
2007
Location
Stella, Missouri, United States
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 2007-11-03

    Rowan Ford is reported missing from her home in Stella, Missouri.

  2. 2007-11-09

    Ford's body is found in a cave in McDonald County, Missouri.

  3. 2008-05

    Prosecutors announce intent to seek the death penalty against both Christopher Collings and David Spears.

  4. 2012-03-12

    Collings' murder trial begins in Phelps County.

  5. 2012-03-20

    Collings is found guilty of first-degree murder.

  6. 2012-03-23

    Jury sentences Collings to death.

  7. 2012-09-26

    Prosecution withdraws murder charge against Spears; he pleads guilty to child endangerment and cover-up, receiving an 11-year sentence.

  8. 2014-01

    Collings files first appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.

  9. 2014-08-19

    Missouri Supreme Court rejects Collings' first appeal.

  10. 2015

    David Spears is released from prison.

  11. 2018-03-06

    Missouri Supreme Court rejects Collings' second appeal.

  12. 2022-09-30

    U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri dismisses Collings' appeal.

  13. 2023-01-12

    8th Circuit Court of Appeals rejects Collings' follow-up appeal.

  14. 2024-04-01

    U.S. Supreme Court rejects Collings' appeal.

  15. 2024-04-05

    Missouri Attorney General applies for a death warrant for Collings.

  16. 2024-08-13

    Missouri Supreme Court approves death warrant, scheduling execution for December 3, 2024.

  17. 2024-11-12

    U.S. Supreme Court rejects Collings' appeal to postpone execution.

  18. 2024-12-02

    U.S. Supreme Court rejects Collings' final appeal; Governor Parson declines clemency.

  19. 2024-12-03

    Christopher Collings is executed by lethal injection at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center.

Best coverage

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People

  • Rowan Damia Ford

    VICTIM

    Nine-year-old girl who was abducted, raped, and strangled to death in November 2007.

  • Christopher Leroy Collings

    CONVICTED

    Convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to death; executed by lethal injection on December 3, 2024.

  • David Wesley Spears

    CONVICTED

    Ford's stepfather; pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and covering up the crime, sentenced to 11 years in prison; murder charge was withdrawn.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Stella, Missouri, United States

36.6942, -94.3502

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
Nine-year-old Rowan Ford disappeared from her home in Stella, Missouri, in November 2007 and was found dead six days later in a cave, having been raped and strangled. Christopher Collings was convicted of murder and executed in December 2024; her stepfather David Spears was sentenced to 11 years for child endangerment and covering up the crime.
Where did the murder happen?
Stella, Missouri, United States.
Who was convicted?
Christopher Leroy Collings (Convicted of first-degree murder in 2012 and sentenced to death; executed by lethal injection on December 3, 2024.) and David Wesley Spears (Ford's stepfather; pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and covering up the crime, sentenced to 11 years in prison; murder charge was withdrawn.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Missouri

Sources

  1. ENCYCLOPEDICMurder of Rowan FordWikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — Associated PressAssociated Press · 2026-07-07
  3. PRESSContemporaneous coverage — The IndependentThe Independent · 2026-07-07

Record history

First published
JUL 07, 2026