Three factors noted in seeking death penalty for accused Rowan Ford killers

Barry County Prosecuting Attorney Johnnie Cox listed three "aggravating reasons" for seeking the death penalty for David Wesley Spears and Chris Collings, who are charged with murdering nine-year-old Rowan Ford of Stella:

In his notice of intent to seek death penalties against Spears and Collings, Cox cited three aggravating factors in the murder, any one of which a jury and judge could use to impose a death penalty. The factors, listed in state law, are:
-- "The murder in the first degree was outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman in that it involved torture, or depravity of mind;"
--"The murder in the first degree was committed while the defendant was engaged in the perpetration or was aiding or encouraging another person to perpetrate or attempt to perpetrate a felony of any degree of rape . . . "
-- "The murdered individual was a witness or potential witness in any past or pending investigation or past or pending prosecution, and was killed as a result of his status as a witness or potential witness."

(KY3 photo)