Police Search For Missing 9-Year-Old

STELLA, Mo. -- Investigators suspect foul play was involved in the disappearance of a 9-year-old girl from her southwest Missouri home late Friday or early Saturday.

Rowan Ford, of Stella, was getting ready for bed around 8:30 p.m. Friday when her mother, Colleen Spears, left for work at a nearby Wal-Mart, authorities said.

The girl's stepfather, David Spears, told investigators that she was asleep when he looked in on her before going out with friends around 10:45 p.m., said Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland.

The girl was discovered missing when her mother returned home from work about 9 a.m. on Saturday, The Joplin Globe reported on its Web site.

http://www.kctv5.com/news/14511488/detail.html

And just why would he go with friends and leave her alone? I'd sure keep my eye on him and besides he should be charged with child endangerment.

Hmmmmmmmm.

you don't leave a 9-yr-old alone even if they're asleep. great choice in a stepfather there Colleen I hope your daughter doesn't pay the price. Is that cruel of me? This idiot is completely responsible for whatever has happened to poor Rowan. ;(

...just the straight truth.

She probably coulda made a better choice than this asshole, but this is a tragic thing, and I still feel very sorry for the mother, who was at work supporting the deadbeat while he was out... probably partying with some of his buddies, or hanging out down at Club Hotts (a local "gentlemans" club)... when he shoulda had his ass at home. BTW, this is just down the road from me. Now these folks are not in my county... they are in Newton county, right next door. But they are only about 5 miles from here. Unfortunately, we have too many families like this around.

Damn, and to think that just ten years ago, this was the sort of place that nobody EVER locked their doors or took the keys outta their car. Since then, we have seen a weekly sheriffs report in our newspaper go from 3 paragraphs, to three full page columns.. usually with a name like Gonzales or Hernandez. 15 years ago, we had a sheriff and 3 deputies. Now we have over 35 county officers. Things are even worse in Newton county.

His story is fishy.

The stepfather later told his wife that the girl might have half-awakened him and said something about going to visit a friend, the sheriff told The Joplin Globe.

The house at 777 Grove St. was left unlocked throughout the night, the sheriff told the newspaper.

Copeland told the newspaper that the Spearses looked for the girl before reporting her missing shortly before 7 p.m. Saturday.

If it's true. It's probably just an excuse though.