Execution date set for Rowan Ford killer
August 21, 2024
By Jason Wert, [email protected]
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Christopher Collings is scheduled to die for his crimes against nine-year-old Rowan Ford. Photo courtesy of Missouri Department of Corrections.
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A man who sexually assaulted and killed a nine-year-old girl in Barry County in 2007 has a date with death.
Christopher Collings is scheduled to be executed on December 3, 2024, within a 24-hour window starting at 6 p.m. The Missouri State Supreme Court issued the warrant of execution on Tuesday, August 13.
Rowan Ford went missing from her home in Stella, where she lived with her mother Colleen and stepfather David Spears, on November 2, 2007. Law enforcement agents and civilians from all over the region looked for the girl, whose remains were found in a cave in McDonald County about ten miles from her house.
Collings initially claimed to know nothing about the child’s death, but he later confessed to his part in the crime. Collings said in a confession logged in court he carried the sleeping girl from her bedroom to his truck, took her to his camper in Barry County, and sexually assaulted her. He then said as he was driving home, she looked at him and recognized him, at which point he “freaked out” and killed her.
After dumping the body inside a cave, he returned home and burned his clothes, her clothes, and the rope used in the crime in a wood stove and a burn barrel.
Collings was found guilty of first degree murder by a jury and a jury also recommended the death penalty for the crime.
On the day of execution, Collings will be strapped to a gurney, and medical personnel will place primary and secondary IV lines. Saline will be sent down the IV lines to confirm they are properly inserted and have no obstructions.
Collings will be positioned so medical personnel can see his face and monitor him during the execution.
When the order to commence the execution is given, two syringes with five grams of pentobarbital will be injected, followed by saline to clear the lines. If death has not taken place after a sufficient time for death from the initial injection, an additional five grams of pentobarbital will be injected into Collings.
Christopher Collings is scheduled to be executed on December 3, 2024, within a 24-hour window starting at 6 p.m. The Missouri State Supreme Court issued the warrant of execution on Tuesday, August 13.
Rowan Ford went missing from her home in Stella, where she lived with her mother Colleen and stepfather David Spears, on November 2, 2007. Law enforcement agents and civilians from all over the region looked for the girl, whose remains were found in a cave in McDonald County about ten miles from her house.
Collings initially claimed to know nothing about the child’s death, but he later confessed to his part in the crime. Collings said in a confession logged in court he carried the sleeping girl from her bedroom to his truck, took her to his camper in Barry County, and sexually assaulted her. He then said as he was driving home, she looked at him and recognized him, at which point he “freaked out” and killed her.
After dumping the body inside a cave, he returned home and burned his clothes, her clothes, and the rope used in the crime in a wood stove and a burn barrel.
Collings was found guilty of first degree murder by a jury and a jury also recommended the death penalty for the crime.
On the day of execution, Collings will be strapped to a gurney, and medical personnel will place primary and secondary IV lines. Saline will be sent down the IV lines to confirm they are properly inserted and have no obstructions.
Collings will be positioned so medical personnel can see his face and monitor him during the execution.
When the order to commence the execution is given, two syringes with five grams of pentobarbital will be injected, followed by saline to clear the lines. If death has not taken place after a sufficient time for death from the initial injection, an additional five grams of pentobarbital will be injected into Collings.
