Missouri Killer Grabbed Hailey Owens ‘Like a Rag Doll,’ Witnesses Tell Police

Posted on | February 19, 2014 | 83 Comments

Craig Michael Wood, 45, has been charged with first-degree murder and kidnapping in the death of 10-year-old Hailey Owens, whose abduction Tuesday led to an “Amber Alert” that rallied the community of Springfield, Missouri:

According to the probable cause statement in the case, Carlos and Michelle Edwards were in the open garage of their home Tuesday afternoon about 4:45 when they saw a young girl with a cellphone in her hand walk by, westbound on Lombard.
The couple witnessed a tan Ford Ranger driving eastbound stop near the girl, and heard the driver ask where “Springfield Street” was.
Michelle Edwards said the girl . . . turned to walk away from the vehicle before the driver opened the door to the vehicle and said, “Hey come here a minute.”
Owens took a step or two toward the truck before “the male then lunged out of the vehicle, grabbed the girl with his left hand and threw her into the truck ‘like a rag doll,’” the probable cause statement said.
The suspect then fled the scene quickly.

With a description of the vehicle and a tag number, police moved quickly, but not quickly enough to save Hailey:

Authorities believe Wood . . . abducted her from a Springfield street in the daylight hours Tuesday, took her to the basement of his home and shot her in the back of her head.
There was also evidence that her wrists had been tied, according to the probable cause statement used to file charges. . . .
Authorities said Owens, 10, was found in two garbage bags inside a plastic storage tote. The entire basement allegedly smelled of bleach.
Also found in the basement, the statement says, was a spent .22 caliber shell casing.

The scariest part of the story? The girl’s killer had been employed by the Springfield public school system since 1998.

Category: Crime, Missouri

Comments

83 Responses to “Missouri Killer Grabbed Hailey Owens ‘Like a Rag Doll,’ Witnesses Tell Police”

Socialism: Organized Evil
February 19th, 2014 @ 9:25 pm

Hang him in the street.
ChrisDavis2011
February 19th, 2014 @ 9:43 pm

Exodus 21:22 – 25

22 “If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that [u]she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband [v]may demand of him, and he shall pay [w]as the judges decide. 23 But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.

But sadly, most everyone will merely comment about the horrific nature of this heinous crime, post it to their facebook page, and send an email to their list.
MrPaulRevere
February 19th, 2014 @ 9:44 pm

Absolutely correct, string him up in the town square. I type this comment with a heavy heart as I work in building services for a local school district and this is devastating, absolutely devastating. Working around children is a sacred trust and this piece of filth has made us all look bad. I really don’t know what else to say…(meant as a reply to SOE)
charles w
February 19th, 2014 @ 9:52 pm

He needs a most painful death. He should also be as frightened when his time comes as that little girl was. We need to get medieval with animals like this.
M. Thompson
February 19th, 2014 @ 10:09 pm

My god…

The depeived nature of the man shows through.
Zohydro
February 19th, 2014 @ 10:10 pm

What/where/how are we protesting this time, Your Holiness?
RS
February 19th, 2014 @ 10:11 pm

Ah, yes. You appear again to:

1) Accuse others of not doing enough without knowing what other people may or may not be doing; and

2) Bathe in your own sanctimony and self-declared status as an “activist,” while posting vague exhortations about “joining the fight” where only you know how that’s done.

Since you opened the door to Biblical quotes let me suggest Matthew 6:1-6:

6 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.

2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:

4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

5 And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.

6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (KJV)
Mike G.
February 19th, 2014 @ 10:13 pm

Worse than medieval if indeed there is such a thing. Tie the son of a bitch down over a red ant hill and slather his body with honey and syrup.
museisluse
February 19th, 2014 @ 11:23 pm

RT @smitty_one_each: TOM Missouri Killer Grabbed Hailey Owens ‘Like a Rag Doll,’ Witnesses Tell Police http://t.co/v59hXwYU88 #TCOT
robertstacymccain
February 19th, 2014 @ 10:43 pm

Y’know, I’m just reporting the news here, and consider that my job. What anyone can or should do about the news, well, that’s not always so clear. But I report it, and comment on it, and leave it to the reader. The world is full of too much evil for me to think I can make much difference beyond that.
Kirby McCain
February 19th, 2014 @ 11:01 pm

This sounds like meth.
ChrisDavis2011
February 19th, 2014 @ 11:48 pm

RSM- As I have said in multiple posts, you are doing the Lord’s work.

You commit your time, talent, and treasure to exposing the evil that truly exists in this once great nation.

You, Smitty, Wombat, and several others serve as a shining example of how to make a difference in society.

My posts are blunt no doubt, and for good reason.

The victories that have been made over the past 25 years are not attributable to me and my compatriots, but to divine intervention where God decided to smash evil.

My qualm is that 98% of people think talking about an issue, posting a comment on a blog, or pushing like on Facebook actually makes a difference.

You my friend, make a difference daily through your continual courage to fight evil head on without fear of your adversaries.

That is to be respected and commended!

Perhaps, just perhaps, we can find another 2% of your readers who are actually willing to join the culture war rather than smugly sitting behind their computers typing snarky comments hoping for likes on their disqus account.

I am but a fallen sinner who solely relies on the Blood of Christ for my salvation. But I do wear His armor and try to fight the good fight.

The word Holy can never be applied to me as Holiness is only a divine characteristic. As Christians we are called to be messengers of the faith, and praise be to God, I do get the occasional opportunity to be a messenger of righteousness for the Lord. Glory only to the Father, for no man can claim earthly credit for Heavenly intervention and victories.
ChrisDavis2011
February 19th, 2014 @ 11:53 pm

Others say it much better than I…….
jakee308
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:18 am

Why? Why does anyone do this?
kahall
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:20 am

I live in Springfield, attended the school the guy was supposedly teaching at (35 or so years ago) and almost sent this story to you since you do cover these frequently. For some reason I changed my mind but I see you found it anyway.
The police had the guys license number in a short amount of time but no current address or they would have been able to stop him from even getting her in his house. She was kidnapped around 4.45 pm and I received the phone amber alert about 7:30pm. I’m not sure why there was such a delay but there must be a reason. As you can see from all the comments at the News Leader link the whole town is just, well sad and broken hearted.
Adjoran
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:23 am

Pretty brazen to grab a girl off the street in the afternoon with neighbors about on the street. He can forget any insanity defense, though – putting the body in garbage bags and using bleach to clean up demonstrate a consciousness of guilt.

A terrible crime. My thoughts and prayers for her family and friends.
Funeral guy
February 20th, 2014 @ 1:11 am

Well said.
Jeff Edelman
February 20th, 2014 @ 2:02 am

The scariest thing to me is this crime was immediately reported. License plate and description of vehicle given. Yet, the state couldn’t save the life of this child. Amber Alert in Oklahoma was issued almost four hours after the abduction. Massive fail by the state. Take care. Beware.
ChrisDavis2011
February 20th, 2014 @ 2:03 am

RS – I might recommend a reading comprehension course since you obviously are incapable of grasping the content of the posts I have made for months and months on this blog.

Nowhere, do I claim credit. All glory goes to the Father and my witness is an attempt to get just one more person to have enough courage to actually stand up for what they claim to believe in and actually do something about it.

Wouldn’t it be great if Christians were actually the people that are described in the hymns we sing every Sunday?

Lastly, I do find it a little humorous you decide to quote the KJV of the bible since it is universally accepted as one of the least accurate translations due to the direct interference and influence of King James in an attempt to suppress the colonies.

Why do you think they outlawed the printing of a bible in English in the colonies?

Are you aware of who printed the first bible in English in the United States? It was Congress in 1787.

Original Intent by David Barton is a great resource for someone who wants to learn about America’s spiritual heritage and the sacrifice of the founders to create our country. I can assure you they did much more than write out missives for their friends to read.

Have you studied the comparative differences between say the Geneva bible and the King James Bible?

Have you ever taken the time to review the notes from the scribes that give direct instruction from King James as to specific wording on Holy Scripture?

Perhaps a good concordance that gives you the ancient Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic might be in order to best understand what God was trying to tell his people.

However, I am sure even these comments will be interpreted as Christofacist ramblings by a right wing nut case.

Funny thing is, I have never had the pleasure of meeting you at the SCOTUS, Congress, Traditional Marriage rallies, lobbying trips, missionary trips, evangelism trainings, street activism, neighborhood vigils, Stand Up for Religious Freedom Rallies, crowdfunding events, driving Truth Trucks, dumpster diving to recover the bodies of aborted babies, court battles, or participating with any national public interest law firms on issues of sanctity of human life, religious liberty, or natural law as it relates to traditional marriage, or large Prayer vigils. Unfortunately, a lot of ours are too large to hold in a closet, but if you want to donate the money to build a closet big enough to hold a couple hundred Christians, we will be happy to occupy said closet if it brings us closer to the Lord.

The weirdest part about all of this discussion is your posts seem to be about degrading me, and I want nothing more than for the Holy Spirit to illuminate your life and for God to give you and your entire family abundant blessings.
Zohydro
February 20th, 2014 @ 6:15 am

Riveting sermon, lad! Do pontificate it again… For Jeeeeeesussssss, and for Mr. McCain and his “15 followers”!
Zohydro
February 20th, 2014 @ 6:20 am

Riveting sermon, lad! Do pontificate it again… For Jeeeeeesussssss, and for Mr. McCain and his “15 followers”!
Zohydro
February 20th, 2014 @ 6:25 am

Hmmmmmm…
Art Deco
February 20th, 2014 @ 6:56 am

This fellow was a middle-aged bachelor with a couple of inconsequential brushes with the law (possession of street drugs, poaching) commuting in a vehicle registered to his father (for whatever reason). Up until two days ago, you’d have said he was a tad off-center, but nothing more.
Jeanette Victoria
February 20th, 2014 @ 7:33 am

Sadly this is almost a post script: “The scariest part of the story? The girl’s killer had been employed by the Springfield public school system since 1998”
RS
February 20th, 2014 @ 7:59 am

Actually, big fella, I have read multiple translations, including Greek and the Textus Receptus in Latin. I also compare Martin Luther’s original translation with various English ones. My last personal research project involved 8 hours with Genesis 22 in the original Hebrew.

As for the balance of your comment, I’ve read your comments here over a number of months. They follow a pattern. You imply that commenting on a story presented is insufficient “activism.” That inevitably leads to a pronouncement about your 25 years IIRC of being “activist.” Two points, both of which should be obvious: First, commenting on a blog and attempting to fulfill God’s work in your life are not mutually exclusive propositions. Second, as the verses in Matthew 6 instruct, it’s more pleasing to God to do your works in private and not “blow a trumpet” about them.

Finally, you speak of “radical action,” without defining what that is, having first invoked the Old Testament injunction of “eye for eye.” Well? What radical action to do you propose which would have prevented this horrendous crime, given that the perpetrator had no criminal history that we know of?
ChrisDavis2011
February 20th, 2014 @ 8:30 am

Your work sounds interesting and compelling. Have you published it somewhere so others can gain from your research and hard work. I for one would love to see the fruits of your labor.

I mean that sincerely!

Martin Luther’s labors are a piece of work the way he bastardizes the concept of grace, salvation, and re-birth in the faith.

It does beg the question of why you would bother quoting KJV in your illustrative example of my self-perceived piousness.

If you watch the trades, you will see radical action taking place
simultaneously at 25 locations across America this Friday. A
tremendously loyal group of defenders of the faith will be carrying the Gospel along with the horror and tragedy of abortion at high schools across America.

God’s incredible grace has been tremendous through their faithful, peaceful action and has born incredible fruit.

Check out Abolish Human Abortion on facebook and their webpage.

Tremendous soldiers for the Lord.
Dana
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:11 am

The rather obvious question is: why should a public school, which doubtlessly has a zero tolerance policy for things like eating your pop tart into the shape of a pistol, not have a zero tolerance policy on criminal background for its employees? Ought not a “couple of inconsequential brushes with the law,” especially one which included drug possession, be disqualifying?

The linked story stated that his “poaching” conviction was in 2001, after he was hired by the school, but that his illegal drug possession conviction was in 1990, before his hiring.
trangbang68
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:13 am

What is producing this increase in amoral psychopaths and pure evil monsters? I know the Bible talks about men who’s consciences are seared with a hot iron.
Stick a sign on him outlining his crime and turn him loose in the general population of the prison.
Dana
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:20 am

Every year, my company checks on the driver’s licenses of our employee, to make sure that none of the people who drive company vehicles have lost their license or something like that. Why can’t a school district run criminal background checks on all employees, every year, and discharge those with criminal records?

You can never make the schools 100% safe, or insure that there will never be someone just plain off his rocker as an employee, but if criminal records are made 100% disabling for school employment, we might be able to reduce the risks somewhat.
ThomasD
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:21 am

No, seeking to inflict pain for the sake of pain is evil. And that’s how evil works – it sucks you in and tries to draw you down to it’s level.

He should be approached with sadness and regret – that a man has fallow so low that he must be put down like a distempered animal.

Then do it quickly and humanely. There can be no doubt of this man’s guilt, any prolonged struggle only delays justice and serves to extend the horror.

After that better people than I can pray for his soul.
ThomasD
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:22 am

No, given that set of facts, I’d have described him as a loser, but never suspect he’d prove capable of this.
RS
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:28 am

Your question is apt, but you forget the one thing in common with all public schools: The NEA. The stories are legion regarding teachers accused and convicted of crimes, including sexual crimes against children, who have been defended by the teachers’ unions. Some of those stories have appeared here. Public school districts exist to protect the administrators and teachers and not the children.
RS
February 20th, 2014 @ 9:44 am

I have no intention of getting into an argument about the “best” biblical translation. You obviously understood the meaning of the verses quoted, so mission accomplished.

My point is, you appear in the comment threads to these sorts of posts and assume the mantle of éminence grise regarding the purported proper course of action in dealing with evil that has been a fact of life since the Fall.

You then use any response as a springboard to provide 1) a resume of your good works while casting rocks at others who may be doing other things of which you are not aware, while 2) dropping enough names and factoids about yourself to make sure all readers of aware how smart you think you are. I find it both tedious and unseemly.
ScrewTheNorms
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:02 am

You’d call him a “loser” for being unmarried, and having a simple drug pinch? Really? He’s slime for what he did, and deserves death, but with that being said, the conservative, heteronormative, middle class(as typified by you)are truly dickheads. I so look forward to your little economy crumbling, and your way of life winding up in the toilet. It will be even better when you assholes start cannibalizing one another, and blaming everyone else for the inevitable collapse of this country. Better start praying to God!
Dana
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:06 am

Actually, your job seems to be less reporting the news than providing what Paul Harvey called “the rest of the story,” the part that the professional media somehow seem to miss.
Art Deco
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:36 am

1. The information is not in Missouri collated in such a way that those checking located it; or

2. The background checkers were lacking in skill; or

3. There’s a limit to the number of years they look back, perhaps generally or perhaps for petty misdemeanors.
Art Deco
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:38 am

This may come as a surprise to you, but about 70% of the population consists of wage-earners. They may not care about your contempt, but that contempt is ugly nevertheless.

A certain minority remain unmarried for a variety of reasons as well.
Art Deco
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:42 am

His record (such as it was) was not an indicator or predictor of this crime. (I’m none too interested in tossing a middle-aged man out of his job over a 23 year old pot bust).
Dana
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:46 am

Unmarried, apparently never married? It means that he’s a loser!

As for “heteronormative,” yes, I certainly am; heterosexuality is normal, and other things are not.
Dana
February 20th, 2014 @ 11:50 am

For driving the honey truck that cleans out portable toilets on construction sites, neither am I. For working for the electric company or a car dealership or a convenience store, neither am I.

But a public school? Hell, yes, I am willing to say that he should have been permanently ineligible. Working with children is a position of trust, even if you’re just the school janitor, and using illegal drugs proves that you are untrustworthy, period.
Christy Waters
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:08 pm

This evil f*ck should be hung from a tree and skinned alive, like the indians used to do. More importantly, get your kids out of govt schools.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:09 pm

Generally, child killers end up in solitary to save their lives. Even crooks hate child killers.
My grandfather could tell of stories in the west of a period when even crooks left women and children alone. Molesting either would cause the menfolk to drop what they were doing and ride the perp to ground after which he was the guest of honor at a necktie party. The “law” got what was left.
The west was a far more peaceful place than big cities of the time.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:12 pm

When that economy crumbles you will have less than nothing. It is the heteronormative middle class economy that keeps morons like yourself alive. Under Lex Talionis, people like you will disappear rapidly because you are an existential threat to families, and normal men will not tolerate your existence.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:15 pm

I can go with a 9mm brain hemorrhage. The Eurotrash can ban that export all they like. We make plenty.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:16 pm

Piker! Fire Ant hill. If we were in the Latin America, give him to the Army Ants.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:20 pm

By the by, the Textus Receptus is in Greek vice Latin. You may be thinking of Jerome’s Vulgate, which is a real work of art if you like tendentious translations.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:21 pm

You’re being silly at best. RS is responding to something he would be well advised to simply ignore and go his way.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:23 pm

You would do well to Read Psalms chapter 1. You don’t like Chris? Fine. But, you are treading on thin ice spiritually.
Quartermaster
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:24 pm

The country really should bring back public executions.
Mike G.
February 20th, 2014 @ 12:26 pm

Well then, let us hang him head first into a pool of Piranhas.