Clemency petition reveals brain impairment and abuse history for Missouri death row inmate
- A Missouri man condemned to death has a history of severe childhood abuse and a brain abnormality affecting his judgment.
- The victim's body was discovered after a six-day search, and the accused confessed to strangling her.
- Collings' clemency petition raises concerns about his mental health and the fairness of his trial compared to another suspect.
In Missouri, a man facing the death penalty for the sexual assault and murder of a child has filed a clemency petition, highlighting his significant history of abuse and a diagnosed brain abnormality. This man, who had a turbulent childhood marked by both physical and sexual abuse, is described as having a structurally abnormal brain that impairs his judgment. The petition stresses that his psychological background and brain condition should be considered when evaluating his competency for execution. Added to this, the man has experienced several rejections of previous appeals in various courts, and his legal team is still pursuing a pending appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court. Amidst these legal challenges, the background of the crime reveals disturbing details regarding the events leading up to the child's death. Authorities state that the victim's body was found in a sinkhole six days after her abduction. The man confessed to consuming alcohol and cannabis before committing the crime, and during investigations, he admitted to having an encounter with the child in a camper where he lived. Following the assault, he strangled the girl when he realized she recognized him and subsequently disposed of her body. The clemency petition not only raises questions about Collings’ health and mental state but also brings attention to another central figure in the crime, David Spears, who was associated with Collings during the incident. Spears, the stepfather of the victim, also confessed to his involvement. Despite this, he was permitted to plead guilty to lesser offenses rather than face the death penalty as Collings does. This discrepancy in legal outcomes forms a vital part of the argument presented in the clemency petition. The legal approach is framed around the notion of fairness in sentencing, particularly when contrasting the alleged actions of both men involved in the crime. Additionally, the petition presents claims about the credibility of a key law enforcement witness during the trial against Collings. This witness, a police chief from a nearby town, reportedly had a problematic past, including four AWOL convictions while serving in the military. The defense argues that the failure to disclose this information during the trial compromised Collings’ right to due process. Given the complexities surrounding the case, the discourse around mental health, abuse, and due process continues to challenge the legal landscape surrounding capital punishment in Missouri.