Two men arrested in Mo. girl's death

This is such a sad story as are any crimes against children (around the world). But I think it is important news and we need to be aware!

Two men arrested in Mo. girl's death

By MARCUS KABEL, Associated Press Writer
26 minutes ago

NEOSHO, Mo. - Two men have been arrested in the death of a 9-year-old
girl whose body was found Friday in a hillside cave in southwest
Missouri, authorities said. Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland
identified one as a 24-year-old male and the other as a man of about
the same age.

Their identities were not released because charges have not yet been filed, he said.

The body of Rowan Ford was found on private land about 10 miles
south of the girl's hometown of Stella, a village of about 200 people,
Copeland said.

Authorities believe she was killed in adjacent Barry County and her body was taken to nearby McDonald County, he said.

Copeland referred questions to the Barry County sheriff, who did not immediately return a phone call.

Copeland had said earlier that authorities were still determining how the girl died.

"We know we have a homicide," Copeland said, declining to elaborate.

The McDonald County deputy who found the body had searched the area
on his way to work after recalling that there was a cavern there,
Copeland said. The FBI was gathering the evidence at the scene.

Stella Mayor Bill Alsop, who answered the phone at the family's home
Friday, said the girl's mother was "pretty shook up" when Copeland came
to the home that morning and told her the body was very likely Rowan's.

"He told her they found the body of the little girl, and they were 99 percent sure it was her daughter," Alsop said.

Rowan was reported missing after her mother, Colleen Spears, returned home early Nov. 3 from a night shift at a Wal-Mart.

The girl's stepfather, David Spears, told investigators he and two
male friends were with Rowan the night before until they went out
around 10:45 p.m. He returned home around midnight but did not check on
the girl, Copeland said.

David Spears also later told authorities that he called his mother
sometime after 1 a.m. and asked to use her vehicle, Copeland has said.
She took it to him about half an hour later, then stayed at his house
while her son left in her vehicle for about 5 1/2 hours, Copeland has
said.

Copeland also has said that Spears has not been able to explain what
he did during that time. He has not been accused of a crime.

David Spears declined to comment. He has been staying at his mother's house outside Stella since Rowan's disappearance.

"He's pretty torn up. He's extremely distraught. He's been crying quite a bit," his mother, Myrna Spears, said.

His mother declined to answer any questions about what happened that
night. David Spears previously has said that it was wrong for him to
leave the girl alone.