Police Make Arrests Shortly After Body's Discovery

Nov. 9, 2007 — -- Police announced Friday night they have arrested two men in the disappearance and death of nine-year-old Rowan Ford.

Ford's body was identified by authorities Friday morning after she disappeared a week ago in Missouri.

While the case is being investigated as a homicide, Penny Burch, a spokeswoman for the Newton County Sheriff's Office in Missouri, would not name the suspects in custody or what charges were being filed.

Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland told ABC News that Ford was last seen one week ago by her stepfather, David Spears, who told authorities that he last saw the girl at 10:45 p.m. the previous Friday.

Spears then left the house with two friends until around midnight, during which time the fourth-grade girl was left alone in their unlocked Stella, Mo., home. Spears told investigators that he did not check on the girl before going to bed.

Investigators also learned -- and Spears acknowledged -- that he'd left the house for a second time early Saturday morning and was not there between 1:30 a.m. and about 7 a.m. During that time, Copeland said, Spears' mother was at the house while her son used her car. The woman told investigators that she did not check on her stepgranddaughter while her son was away from the house.

Where Spears was for more than five hours remains unknown. "We don't know," Copeland said. "We know where he said he went."

Spears has publicly maintained his innocence, but told ABC News' affiliate KSPR Thursday night that he had been brought into the Newton County sheriff's office for additional questioning.