Christopher Collings, who Ford knew as “Uncle Chris” earlier than her brutal killing, was put to loss of life final evening in a Bonne Terre jail and declared useless 9 minutes after an injection of pentobarbital, per AP.

In a handwritten closing assertion earlier than his execution obtained by USA Right now, Collings wrote, “Proper or improper I settle for this case for what it’s. To anybody that I’ve damage on this life I’m sorry. I hope that you’ll be able to get closure and transfer on. Regardless which aspect of this case that you’re on. You might be in my prayers and I hope to see you in heaven someday.”

Per the Kansas Metropolis Star, Collings’ final meal consisted of a bacon cheeseburger, breaded mushrooms, tater tots and a salad.

“We share Chris’s need that his loss of life will present a measure of closure for the sufferer’s household and that the folks damage by him will have the ability to keep on,” mentioned Collings’ lawyer, Jeremy Weis, in a press release. “What occurred at present, although, was an act of vengeance, but it surely is not going to outline Chris, nor will it’s how we bear in mind him.”

Collings was residing with Rowan’s stepfather, buddy David Spears, in addition to the kid and her mom on the time of the homicide.

In line with court docket data, Collings informed police he, Spears, and one other man had been ingesting and smoking marijuana the evening of Rowan’s loss of life, November 3, 2007. He confessed to taking the kid from her mattress earlier than bringing her to his camper, the place he assaulted her.

He allegedly mentioned he did not intend to kill her, however “freaked out” when she acknowledged him after seeing his face. Collings then admitted to strangling her to loss of life, earlier than hiding her physique in what’s been described as a sinkhole or cave. He additionally burned rope, a blood-stained mattress and the garments he was carrying.

Spears additionally reportedly confessed to involvement within the crimes, with docs saying he informed police Collings handed him a wire and he killed Rowan. Courtroom docs additionally say he first insisted Rowan was at a buddy’s home earlier than in the end main police to her physique, which was found on November 9.

Spears, nevertheless, pled responsible to a lesser cost of endangering the welfare of a kid and masking up the crime and was sentenced to 11 years in jail. He was launched in 2015, after seven years.

Collings, in the meantime, was discovered responsible of first-degree homicide on March 20, 2012, earlier than he was sentenced to loss of life on March 23.