A Missouri man, Christopher Collings, is facing the death penalty for the sexual assault and murder of a 9-year-old child in 2007. Collings, who confessed to the crimes, is scheduled for execution by lethal injection on Tuesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre.
Collings' attorney has filed a clemency petition on his behalf, citing his history of physical and sexual abuse as a child and a 'structurally abnormal' brain that impairs his judgment. The petition argues that Collings' brain abnormality results in functional deficits affecting his awareness, judgment, and emotional regulation.
The petition also raises concerns about the fairness of Collings' case compared to that of another man involved in the crime, Rowan's stepfather, David Spears. Spears, who also confessed to the crimes, was allowed to plead to lesser charges and served a shorter prison sentence.
Collings admitted to drinking heavily and smoking marijuana with Spears and another man before the attack on Rowan. He detailed how he assaulted and strangled the child before disposing of her body in a sinkhole. Spears also confessed to his involvement in the crimes, leading authorities to the location where Rowan's body was found.
The clemency petition challenges the reliability of a key law enforcement witness at Collings' trial, highlighting the witness's criminal history that was not disclosed during the proceedings. Collings' attorney argues that this failure to disclose crucial information violated his client's right to due process.
Despite the pending Supreme Court appeal and the clemency petition, Governor Mike Parson, who has overseen numerous executions during his tenure, has not granted clemency in the past. Collings' case is one of several high-profile executions in Missouri this year, with three men already put to death in 2024.
