Missouri judge scheduled to sentence Craig Wood on Thursday in Springfield

Sentencing is scheduled for Thursday afternoon in southwest Missouri’s Greene County for a man convicted of raping and murdering ten-year-old Hailey Owens in 2014.

Missourinet reported in November that a jury was deadlocked on the fate of 49-year-old Craig Wood, who was convicted of first degree murder and other felonies.

The jury could NOT come up with a unanimous decision regarding sentencing.

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

Online court records indicate Wood’s attorneys have filed a motion for a new trial, and have also requested life in prison, without parole.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Wood.

Greene County Judge Thomas Mountjoy is scheduled to sentence Wood Thursday at 2:30 p.m. at the Springfield judicial courts facility.

University of Missouri forensic pathologist Dr. Carl Stacy testified during the trial that Hailey Owens died from a gunshot wound to the head.