Family Says Body of Hailey Owens Found

SPRINGFIELD, MO -
Police worked a crime scene all night at 1500 block E. Stanford St. as they investigated the kidnapping and murder of 10-year-old Hailey Owens. She was taken from the 3200 block of West Lombard Street as she walked from a friend's home to her home two blocks away late Tuesday afternoon.

At a news conference at 6:30 a.m., police would not confirm that they found Hailey's body but multiple news agencies report that fact, including that the family was told of her death. Early Wednesday morning, police parked a mobile Crime Scene vehicle at the home on Stanford. FBI agents are also at the scene.

Police arrested Craig Michael Wood on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police located Wood about 8:30 p.m. in his vehicle in his driveway at 1532 E. Stanford, where he lives. A search for Hailey then started in the area around Bennett Street at National Avenue, near Phelps Grove Park, the Springfield Art Museum and Mexican Villa restaurant. About 35 police officers were involved in the search, which resulted in the discovery of evidence of foul play in the case.

Parents tell us Wood is an in-school suspension teacher at Pleasant View Middle School. The school has yet to confirm his position with the district.

Witnesses say the abductor drove Hailey away in a gold Ford Ranger pickup. Police said Tuesday evening that they were looking for a man with gray hair and an unshaven face who is in his 40s. Wood is 45. A light gold or silver Ranger is in the driveway at the home on Stanford on Wednesday morning. The home is surrounded by Crime Scene tape.







photo: Craig Michael Wood (man being charged)





Story Contributed by KY3News

BREAKING NEWS: suspect and vehicle located in abducted girl case

SPRINGFIELD, MO - The Springfield Police Department has located the suspect vehicle in a child abduction case and booked a suspect on kidnapping charges, according to a statement from Cora Scott, Director of Public Information for Springfield.

"The vehicle was found with the male suspect inside, at a residence in south Springfield. Hailey Owens remains missing," said Scott.

Between 30 and 40 officers have begun an extensive search that will continue throughout the night, or until Hailey is found.



For more information and to keep up with this story visit KY3.com


Story contributed by affiliate KY3News

UPDATED: New Information - Amber Alert: Stranger abducts girl in Springfield

UPDATE:
More information has been released about the suspect wanted in connection to the abduction of Hailey Owens.

The suspect is described as a 45-year-old male, with gray hair and an unshaven face.

The suspect vehicle may have a second Missouri registration of 1YS454, along with 1YF454.


Previous report:
Springfield police are investigating an abduction of a girl in the 3200 block of West Lombard Street at 4:48 p.m. Tuesday. The girl is 10, 5-foot-2, skinny, with sandy blonde hair and pierced ears. She was wearing blue jean shorts. Her name is Hailey Owens.

A neighbor who lives at 3247 W. Lombard says a man went up to Hailey, who was outside the home, and talked to her, then grabbed her and threw her in his truck. Hailey's mother told police that she has no idea who the man is.

Police are looking for a white man who may be driving a gold early 2000s Ford Ranger pickup that was last seen going south on Golden Avenue from Lombard. The truck has Missouri plates IYF 454.

The area of the kidnapping is near Grand Street at West Bypass in Springfield, Mo.

Anyone with information on Hailey's whereabouts can call 911.

Bates County 4-H Scores Big at Ozark Empire Fair

Springfield, MO - According to Alan J. Mundey, 4-H Youth Specialist, Bates County 4-H’ers once again displayed first-rate exhibits at the Ozark Empire Fair, held July 25 through August 3, in Springfield.

A total of 90 exhibits were taken to the fair. The local 4-H’ers brought home 6 Grand Champion ribbons and 12 Reserve Champion ribbons. In addition, Bates County 4-H’ers were awarded 72 blue ribbons and 17 red ribbons.

The Grand Champion recipients are as follows: Erin Armentrout for zucchinis, Bethanie Cole for a cathedral window quilt, Alex Jenkins for a boot planter and a deer antler knife, Alexis O’Farrell for a sundress and purse, and Triston Trumbore for a shooting sports bag.

Reserve Champions include Shelby Bartz for a roadtrip gift basket and for a pig board, Haley Bolling for her Haley and Rusty Shadow Box, Morgan Bradley for a matching game, Gabrielle Cole for a scarf, Luke Crawford for corn, Allison Jenkins for her owl cake, Isaac Kagarice for his rabbit nesting box, Emma McIntire for a vest, Jack Rotert for a bee house, McKenzie Self for tile stone, and Dakota Steinhoff for a rabbit cage.

Sheriffs Discuss Most Common Threats

SPRINGFIELD, MO - Sheriffs from more than 100 Missouri counties are meeting in Springfield this week.
It's part of the annual Missouri Sheriff's Association training conference.

Speakers from around the country will talk with sheriffs about different threats, and how to handle them.

Those threats include terrorism, dealing with PTSD and one of the biggest threats, which affects kids - school violence.

"Kids are more likely to die by school violence than any other way at school combined," says Col. Dave Grossman (ret.), one of the conference speakers.
"The numbers have increased, and last year we had a new record for the most violent deaths in the school."

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is also speaking to the Sheriff's conference.

The conference started Sunday, and runs through Thursday.

All of the sheriffs will be recognized at the Ozark Empire Fair Tuesday night.



(Courtesy KOLR Springfield, MO)

Masked Man Robs Credit Union in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- A man who covered his face and made sure he left no fingerprints robbed a credit union early Thursday afternoon and got away with some cash. The holdup was about 12:50 p.m. at the Educational Community Credit Union, 1221 E. Grand St., near National Avenue.

Police said the man went into the credit union with a towel or a kind of mask covering his face, wearing sunglasses and latex gloves. He asked a teller for money and made verbal threats, but police say the credit union staff didn’t see a weapon.

After getting some money, the robber left in a vehicle going east on Grand. Police think it is an early 2000s model silver car.

Police say the robber is white, about six feet tall and 200 pounds, with strawberry blonde hair and tattoos on his arms.

Anyone with information about the robber or robbery can call the Springfield Police Department at (417) 864-1810.

Springfield Shocked by Flash Flood

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - Nine to ten inches of rain fell in the span of about two hours yesterday in parts of Greene County, creating flooded roadways and stalling cars.

"It's been chaotic," says Springfield Fire Department Rescue Specialist Jeff Elliott. "Mostly it's been checking on people who have tried to drive through flood water. There have been people calling in and saying 'I'm stuck here or someone is stuck there.'"

The Springfield Fire Department was extremely busy-- staging its water rescue vehicle on the south side of town after darkened skies moved into Greene County bringing thunderstorms and a lot of heavy rain.

"The storms just exploded over the southern part of the city," says National Weather Service Meteorologist Steve Runnels. "Up until about one 1:00 p.m. we had nine to ten inches of rain in some parts."

Raindrops turned to puddles and before the blink of an eye roadways and cars were underwater.

"Even though your vehicle is heavy, the water is buoyant and can lift you up in your car and that's how you lose traction and get blown off the side of the road," Elliott says. "And you can get into trouble that way."

"It really takes no water to impact a car driving across the roadway," says Larry Woods with the Springfield/Greene County Office of Emergency Management. "A few inches of rapidly running water is enough to float a car and wash it off the road."

The downpours put quite the damper on Greene County-- prompting the National Weather Service to issue an emergency flash flood warning.

"As the rainfall continued to pile up, we issued a flash flood emergency," Runnels said. "This was a very incredible heavy rainfall event that happened to strike south Springfield."

And as the rain continues to fall, officials want to get one main message across-- if you see water, turn around and don't drown.

"Don't drive through flood water," Elliott says.

"The rule of thumb is very simple," says Runnels. "If you ever see an area of water that covers the road-- turn around, don't drown."

Officials say it's very important for families to be prepared and have a plan whether that's evacuating or just putting valuables in a safe place where they won't get damaged by flooding.

(Source KOLR)