Stepfather Says He Took Part In Raping, Killing 9-Year-Old Stepdaughter

Monday, November 12th 2007, 1:51 pm

By: News On 6

JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) - A man charged in the rape and murder of his 9-year-old stepdaughter told investigators he took part in the crimes, according to court filings. Barry County prosecutor Johnnie Cox declined Monday to call David Spears' statement a confession, saying that the term can be vague and misleading.

David Spears, 25, and his friend Chris Collings, 32, are charged with first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in the death of Rowan Ford. The nine-year-oldâ€™s body was found Friday in a southwestern Missouri cave about 10 miles south of her home in the village of Stella.

After Rowan Ford disappeared November 2, David Spears said he had gone out with friends and left the girl alone that night while her mother worked. Spears was arrested Friday after Chris Collings turned himself in earlier that day and confessed, authorities said.

The men were interviewed separately, and each said he was the one who strangled the girl. Johnnie Cox declined to comment on inconsistencies in the suspects' stories, saying he could refer only to what has been made public in court filings.

David Spears and Chris Collings are due to have a first court appearance Tuesday, Johnnie Cox said.

Neither man apparently has a lawyer yet, Barry County Sheriff Mick Epperly said. David Spears' mother said Saturday that she expects her son to ask for a public defender. She could not immediately be reached Monday.

David Spears' mother told The Associated Press on Saturday her son had told her from jail that he took part in the crime, although she was unclear on the details. Chris Collings' brother, Greg Horton, said Saturday that he could not believe his brother was involved.