Story Published:
Nov 7, 2007 at 12:19 PM CST
Story Updated:
Nov 7, 2007 at 2:06 PM CST
NEOSHO, Mo. -- The search for a missing 9-year-old girl expanded outside Newton County on Wednesday. The widened search area includes neighboring McDonald and Barry counties.
No one is arrested but law officers say they aren't ruling out anybody, including Rowan Ford's family. The FBI has about 50 agents on the case, in the air and on the ground. They're helping local and state law officers.
Because of the 20 or so hours between when Rowan was last seen in her bed at her home in Stella and when her disappearance was reported to law officers, the FBI says the chance of finding her alive is growing smaller. Her mother and stepfather reported her missing early Saturday evening after they spent all day Saturday trying to find her.
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Rowan's mother says she has one message for other parents: never leave your kids alone. Colleen Spears talked to reporters outside her home in Stella. Spears said everybody in the village of Stella is praying that Rowan will still come home safely.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
