Harrison Keegan

HKEEGAN@NEWS-LEADER.COM

Craig Wood is willing to spend the rest of his life in prison if, in exchange, the Greene County prosecutor drops his pursuit of the death penalty, according to an exclusive interview with Wood’s attorney.

Patrick Berrigan, Wood’s attorney from the public defender’s capital case division, said he sent a letter to Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson on Oct. 31 telling the prosecutor Wood is willing to plead guilty to murdering 10-year-old Hailey Owens in 2014 and agree to a life sentence without the possibility of parole.

Berrigan told the News-Leader about the proposal Thursday. He said the crimes Wood is accused of committing — snatching Hailey off the street, taking her back to his house, raping her and killing her — are “terrible” and “egregious.”

Berrigan said what separates Wood from other people recently sentenced to death in this country — like church-shooter Dylann Roof in South Carolina — is remorse.

“Craig Wood has a great deal of remorse about this case,” Berrigan said. “Some people would find that persuasive, or at least a factor, in decisions about life or death.”

Berrigan said this week he hasn’t heard back from the prosecutor about the proposal.

Four months after Wood was charged in 2014, Patterson said he would pursue the death penalty against Wood, citing a Missouri statute that allows the death penalty if a crime is "outrageously or wantonly vile, horrible or inhuman."

Patterson said Friday that ethics rules prohibit him from publicly discussing possible plea negotiations.

"At this point, we are still proceeding with the prosecution of the case," Patterson said.

Stacey Barfield, Hailey’s mother, said after a pretrial court appearance Wednesday that it is difficult for her to sit through the proceedings.

Attorney David Ransin, who represents Hailey's parents, said Hailey’s parents want to avoid a trial, but the most important thing for them is coming to a resolution that is "air-tight."

“We want it done right,” Ransin said.

Ransin said the worst thing for the family would be for Wood to plead guilty and for the family to think everything was behind them, only for the case to be opened back up if Wood appealed his conviction.

Ransin said he believes Patterson is still gathering information about the case.

“My understanding is that Dan’s position is there is more to be done and more information to be obtained before he is comfortable fulfilling his duty to the state, to the community as well as the family to make the right decision with regard to accepting a plea or proceeding to trial,” Ransin said.

Patterson said he is listening to input from Hailey's family as the case moves forward.

"As in all cases, we talk about these things with the family and will consider the victim's family's input as we move along," Patterson said.

Patterson said other factors are also considered in death-penalty cases, including the facts of the case, the defendant and the interests of the community and the state.

After a second rescheduling last year, Wood’s trial is now set for October.

If Wood goes to trial and is found guilty, there would be a separate proceeding to decide whether or not to put Wood to death.

Four days after Hailey's death, an estimated 10,000 people marched in a candlelight vigil for Hailey on Commercial Street in Springfield. The Jefferson Avenue footbridge, where the march ended, was illuminated in purple, Hailey’s favorite color.

Many others in Springfield left their porch lights on in memory of Hailey and donated to her memorial fund.

Berrigan, Wood’s attorney, has been working capital cases for three decades. He said the majority of the death-penalty cases that he has worked have ended with negotiated pleas.

Wood, 48, has been charged with kidnapping, rape and murder in connection with Hailey’s death on Feb. 18, 2014.

Springfield police say the girl's body was found wrapped in garbage bags in Wood's basement, hours after witnesses saw someone matching Wood’s description grab Hailey off the street near her home.

Berrigan acknowledged this week that prosecutors have a strong case against Wood. He said he has no idea whether they will accept his plea offer.

Wood took the stand briefly during a pretrial court appearance last year, and during cross-examination, he said he was high on meth during the time frame in which he is accused of abducting and killing Hailey.

Much of the recent court proceedings in the case have dealt with mental evaluations for Wood, and what rights prosecutors have to see notes from psychologists and to have their own psychologist interview Wood.

In Jefferson City, Hailey’s parents have been focused on legislation that would speed up Missouri’s Amber Alerts, which are issued for abducted children.

Wood’s parents, Jim and Regina Wood, have teamed up with the Barfields to advocate for the legislation, which has been dubbed Hailey’s Law.