A jury in southwest Missouri heard descriptions about torture during Friday’s penalty phase in the murder trial of an Ash Grove man convicted of killing Hailey Owens in 2014.

Craig Wood sits at the defense table in Greene County Circuit Court in October 2017 (photo courtesy of Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10}

Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson has rested in the penalty phase of Craig Wood’s trial, at the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield.

A jury from western Missouri’s Platte County convicted Wood of first degree murder this week.

The jury was selected in Platte County, because of extensive news media coverage in the Ozarks.

Reporter Daniel Shedd at Missourinet Springfield television partner KOLR-10 reports Patterson told jurors that Craig Wood brought Owens to his “dungeon”.

Patterson also alleges that Wood received text messages on the day of Owens’ murder, joking about the Amber Alert issued when she was abducted.

KOLR-10 reports defense attorney Patrick Berrigan says Wood was depressed and “medicated himself” with alcohol and drugs.

Counselor Berrigan called Wood’s father, Jim Wood, to the stand on Friday. Jim Wood says he still visits his son, knowing Craig Wood killed Owens.

Hailey Owens

“Society has to have compassion for their children,” Jim Wood said in court Friday.

Under Missouri law, the only options for a first degree murder conviction are death by lethal injection or life in prison without parole.

The jury will recommend either death or life in prison without parole to Judge Thomas Mountjoy, who will sentence Wood at a later date.

The penalty phase will continue at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in Springfield.