SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A former middle school football coach convicted of abducting and killing a 10-year-old Missouri girl has been sentenced to death.
Circuit Judge Thomas Mountjoy sentenced 49-year-old Craig Wood on Thursday for the February 2014 death of Hailey Owens. Wood was convicted of first-degree murder in November but the jury couldn’t decide whether to sentence him to death or life in prison without parole.
Before Wood learned his punishment, Mountjoy denied motions from Wood’s attorneys that sought a new trial and called judge-imposed death sentences unconstitutional.
Wood snatched Hailey off a Springfield, Missouri, street in daylight in front of horrified witnesses. He took her to his home, where he raped her and shot her in the head. Her body was found in his basement.
Here were some of the stories Fox 4 posted following Hailey’s disappearance:
Man who chased kidnapper remembers little girl’s smile
Best friend remembers Hailey Owens for her humor and energy
Three years, three girls abducted, killed in southwest Missouri