Rowan Ford murder trial - KOAM TV 7

Updated May 11, 2012:  A Phelps County judge signs execution papers for convicted killer Christopher Collings.

In March Collings was convicted for the rape and murder of nine year old Rowan Ford in 2007, recommending the death penalty.

Updated March 23, 2012:  Jurors recommend the death penalty for child killer Christopher Collings.

Testimony wrapped up in the sentencing phase of the trial today for the man who raped and murdered nine year old Rowan Ford in 2007.

Today, jurors heard testimony from a child psychology expert as the defense tried to convince jurors to recommend a sentence of life in prison without parole rather than the death penalty.

It's the same jury that found Collings guilty of the crime earlier this week.

Attorneys finished their closing arguments in the penalty phase this afternoon.

Updated March 22, 2012 at 4:10 PM CST:  The defense tries to save the life of the southwest Missouri man who confessed to raping and killing a child.

It's day two in the sentencing phase of Christopher Collings, who was convicted this week in the 2007 rape and murder of nine year old Rowan Ford.

Jurors must decide whether to recommend a sentence of death or life in prison.

Yesterday, jurors heard from Rowan's family and teachers.

Today, the defense called Collings' biological father and brother to the stand.  The defense is trying to paint the picture of a dysfunctional family, claiming Collings' biological mother was an alcoholic and abusive.

The biological father testified that he spent several years in prison himself for shooting a man and was not around for much of Collings childhood.  Jurors also heard testimony that Collings was molested by his adoptive father.

Collings' adoptive brother and adoptive sister were also questioned today.

A developmental specialist is being questioned at this time.

Updated March 21, 2012 at 3:00 PM CST:  After yesterday's guilty verdict, the penalty phase is underway in the case of Christopher Collings.

Collings was convicted of first degree murder in the death of nine year old Rowan Ford in 2007.

The jury must now decide if Collings will receive the death penalty or life in prison without eligibility for parole.

The state called six people to the stand today:  Ford's mother and a sister, two of her teachers, as well as the mother and grandmother of Ford's best friend.

The court is now in recess until Thursday morning when the defense will begin calling its witnesses.

Updated March 20, 2012 at 10:05 PM CST:  The verdict is in from a 2007 child murder case that stunned the Four States.  Jurors tonight found Christopher Collings guilty of first degree murder for the death of nine year old Rowan Ford.

Tonight's conviction for first degree murder means Collings is eligible for the death penalty.  The sentencing phase of the trial is to begin tomorrow.

After the verdict was read tonight Rowan Ford's mother was hugged and comforted by a friend.

Ford, of Stella, Missouri, became the focus of a massive search and media appeal when she disappeared in November 2007.  Her body was later found in a McDonald County cave.

Collings was a friend of the child's step-father, David Spears, who is scheduled to stand trial for capital murder in the case this coming fall.

Earlier this week, jurors heard Collings' videotaped confession in which he admitted abducting the sleeping girl from her bedroom, then taking her to his home, raping her and strangling her with a cord.

The defense never presented evidence in the case.

But the defense argued the killing amounted to second-degree murder because Collings had been drinking and smoking marijuana.

Updated March 20, 2012 at 9:30 PM CST:  A jury has found Christopher Collings guilty of first degree murder in the death of nine year old Rowan Ford.

Collings is eligible for the death penalty.

Updated March 20, 2012 at 5:10 PM CST:  The state and defense have rested.  The jurors are now deliberating.

Updated March 20, 2012 at 1:45 PM CST:  Closing arguments in the murder trial of Christopher Collings are scheduled for 3pm today.  Prosecutors and the defense will each have one hour for arguments.

Collings is on trial in Rolla for the rape and murder of nine year old Rowan Ford in Stella, Missouri in 2007.

Updated March 19, 2012:  The murder trial of Christopher Collings begins its second week today.

Collings is on trial in Rolla for the rape and murder of nine year old Rowan Ford in Stella, Missouri in 2007.

Today the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy on Ford after her body was found in a cave in McConald County took the stand.

There was a motion hearing to determine whether two autopsy photos of Ford would be admissible in court.

Some of the photos were described as "horrifying" and "gruesome".

The prosecution said the photos are relevant because that is the exact nature of the crime.

Updated March 16, 2012:  As photos of her daughter's dead body were shown to jurors via a projector, Colleen Munson left the courtroom this afternoon.

Jurors were shown photos of the body of nine year old Rowan Ford in the murder trial of Christopher Collings.

Earlier, jurors were shown two taped interviews with Collings.  He confesses to the 2007 rape and murder of Ford in the videos.  He admits to abducting the sleeping child from her bedroom then taking her to his home where he raped and strangled her.

In the interviews Collings says he alone committed the acts.  In the second interview Collings continued to say he acted alone even after he's told Ford's step-father, David Spears, has also confessed.

"I don't know how he got that information because he did not participate," says Collings.

Spears too is charged with Ford's rape and murder.

Updated March 15, 2012:  This is day four in the trial of Christopher Collings, charged with the 2007 rape and murder of his friend's step-daughter, nine year old Rowan Ford.

The defense today has been cross-examining an officer who was present during Collings' confession.

In that confession Collings said he abducted Ford while the girl slept, took her to his home, raped her, strangled her, then hid the body.

The defense concedes Collings admitted the crimes but is arguing for second-degree capital murder because he had been drinking and smoking marijuana.

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty.

Updated March 12, 2012 by Jordan Aubey:  A murder trial gets underway for a Four State man accused of killing a nine year-old girl.

The defense for Christopher Collings, 37, does not deny he murdered nine year old Rowan Ford.

They are raising questions about whether the murder was premeditated.

That could determine if Collings will live or die since he faces the death penalty if convicted of first degree murder.  His attorneys hope to get a conviction of second degree murder which would bring 10 to 30 years in prison.

Sheriff's deputies in Barry County, Missouri say in November 2007 Collings went to Ford's home in Newton County, Missouri.

Court documents say Ford was inside, asleep, alone, and Collings broke into the home, then took Ford to his home in nearby Barry County.

Police say Collings then took Ford into his trailer, raped her, then took her outside and wrapped a cord around her neck and pulled, until she died.

According to investigators Collings put the body into his pickup truck, went to McDonald County and dumped the body in a cave.

From the day after Ford went missing police suspected foul play.

Police say Ford's stepfather, David Spears, denied knowing of any wrongdoing at first.  But investigators say both he and Collings are on tape confessing to the rape and murder.

The defense claims Collings drank 30 wine coolers and had also smoked marijuana the night Ford was taken from her home.

Colling's case was moved out of Barry County to ensure a fair trial.  It is being heard in Phelps County by jurors from Platte County.

Updated March 7, 2012:  Jury selection is expected to finish today for the trial of a man accused of raping and killing a southwest Missouri girl.

In November 2007, the body of nine year old Rowan Ford of Stella was found in a cave in McDonald County a week after she disappeared.

Christopher Collings is one of two men charged in the case.

Last May a judge granted a mistrial and a change of venue.

For more than a week now lawyers for both sides have been deciding on a Jury in Platte County, Missouri.

Opening statements for the trial are set to begin on Monday in Rolla.

Prosecutors say they will seek the death penalty.

The second suspect in the trial is Rowan Ford's step-father, David Spears.

His trial is scheduled for this Fall.

Posted February 27, 2012:  Jury selection is underway today for the trial of one of two men charged with the rape and murder of nine year old Rowan Ford of Stella, Missouri.

It's a murder trial that's been delayed for more than four years.  Christopher Collings is charged in the rape and murder of Ford, whose body was found in a cave in McConald County in 2007.

Last May a judge in Phelps County ordered a mistrial because a jury could not be agreed upon.

Today jury selection is underway in Platt County near Kansas City.

Once selected the jury members will be transported to Phelps County for the trial.

The child's stepfather, David Spears, is also charged in the case.  He was schedule to go to trial last August but was delayed more than a year.  Spears should stand before a judge in October 2012.