Rowan Ford's stepfather launches Go Fund Me page

Rowan Ford's stepfather has a Go Fund Me page.

David Spears, who initially confessed to the murder of 9-year-old Rowan Ford, a fourth grader at Triway Elementary School in Stella, before he was eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, launched the fundraiser over the weekend with the headline "Help My Family Rebuild After Unjust Job Loss."

KSNF/KODE News Director Bobbie Pottorff, who broke the story that Spears had a $42,000 a year taxpayer-funded job with the Missouri State Public Defender's Office, posted a story about the Go Fund Me page earlier this evening.

Pottorff's reporting led Rep. Lane Roberts, R-Joplin, to demand that Spears be fired and members of the House Budget Committee threatened to withhold the Public Defender's Office budget unless Spears was fired.

As of this writing, Spears, who set a goal of $5,500, has raised $4,300, with $3,000 of that total coming from one anonymous donor.

This is his pitch:

My name is David Spears. I am a husband and father, and I’m reaching out for help after losing my job with the Missouri State Public Defender’s Office under circumstances beyond my control. For nearly eight years, I worked hard to build a stable life for my family, earning the trust of my supervisors and colleagues, even with my past. 

Everything changed in late 2024, when political pressure—led by Missouri State Representative Lane Roberts, who stated false facts about my past—and public attention led to my termination, when the Missouri State Public Defenders Office was told by legislators that they would not be allowed to present a budget proposal for the new fiscal year until I was terminated, despite my strong work record and support from those who knew me best. 

Since losing my job, I have burned through my retirement savings and sold what we could, including my son’s classic car. I’ve applied to over 100 jobs and started a cleaning business, but the media’s attention to my past has made it nearly impossible to find steady work. My wife’s income is the only thing keeping a roof over our heads, and with bills piling up, we are dangerously close to losing our stability.

We are asking for support to help us keep up with our mortgage and basic living expenses, catch up on overdue bills, and give us time to rebuild and find stable income. If possible, we hope to relocate to a state where we feel safer and less likely to be targeted for my past. I know my history raises questions, but I’ve taken responsibility and worked hard to rebuild. If you’re able to help by donating or sharing, my family and I are deeply grateful for your support.