[9] Six days after her disappearance, in a rural part of McDonald County, Missouri, Ford's body was found inside a cave.

At the time of the discovery, Ford, who was covered with leaves and debris and in an advanced stage of decomposition, was nude from the waist down, wearing only one sock.

An autopsy report found that Ford died due to strangulation, and the girl was raped prior to her death.

[10] Prior to the murder, Collings had previously lived with Ford's family for several months during the summer and fall of 2007.

[12] Based on the confessions of Collings and Spears, it was the former who had abducted Ford on the day of her disappearance and confined her inside his trailer after some heavy drinking.

[24][25] On March 12, 2012, Collings first stood trial solely for the charge of first-degree murder before a jury at a Phelps County circuit court.

Forensic evidence and the videotape confession of Collings were presented in court, and Spears himself appeared as a witness while awaiting trial for the murder of his stepdaughter.

[29] The prosecution sought the death penalty after highlighting the aggravating factors of the case, while the defence opposed the death sentence and asked for life imprisonment by highlighting that Collings was diagnosed with both severe disorganized dissociative attachment disorder and intermittent explosive disorder, and had a dysfunctional family background and tragic upbringing.

[32] On March 23, 2012, the jury returned with their verdict after 48 minutes of deliberation, sentencing Collings to death for the charge of murdering Ford.

The prosecution stated that further investigation had not conclusively proven that Spears participated in the murder and rape of Ford, and his role itself was minor compared to Collings, who was deemed to be the principal offender in the case.

[48] During the final weeks before Collings was set to be executed, his lawyers and civil groups asked for clemency on his behalf.

[52] On December 3, 2024, 49-year-old Christopher Leroy Collings was put to death via lethal injection at the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center.

[55][56] For his final meal, Collings ate a bacon cheeseburger, breaded mushrooms, tater tots and a chef salad.

[61] Newton County Sheriff Chris Jennings similarly stated that he had waited for the day to attend the execution, as the case was personally the most horrendous he ever came across in his career as a police officer.