SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) – The latest on the trial of a former middle school coach accused of kidnapping, raping and killing a 10-year-old Missouri girl.
On Thursday, a jury found a former middle school football coach guilty of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl from a Missouri neighborhood in front of horrified witnesses before raping and killing her.
Jurors convicted 49-year-old Craig Wood of first-degree murder in the 2014 death of Hailey Owens.
Jurors will hear more arguments before deciding whether to recommend the death sentence. The defense didn’t dispute that Wood killed the girl, but contended that Wood didn’t deliberate first, as prosecutors allege.
RIP Hailey It’s been years from the day I received your amber alert Today a guilty verdict May peace be with your family#CraigWoodTrial pic.twitter.com/YXobezYFeJ
— Trooper Ben (@TrooperBenKHP) November 2, 2017
During the trial, a witness testified that he was raking leaves when he saw Wood pull Hailey into a pickup truck. The man was unable to get to the girl. His wife called 911 and reported the truck’s license plate, which led police to Wood’s home. Hailey’s body was in the basement. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.