A change of venue was granted Tuesday to one of two men accused of kidnapping, raping and murdering a 9-year-old Stella, Mo., girl last November.

David Wesley Spears, 25, and another man, Christopher Collings, have both pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, forcible rape and statutory rape in connection with the death of Rowan Ford. Spears was the girl's stepfather.

Proceedings for Spears have been moved to Pulaski County from Barry County. The change of venue request was made by defense attorneys Cynthia Bryden and Sharon Terlington, likely because of the publicity in the case. The ruling was made by Barry County Judge Robert S. Wiley.

Rowan disappeared from her Newton County home while her mother was working at night. The girl’s body was discovered 10 miles southeast of her home nearly a week after she was declared missing by Spears and his former wife, Colleen.

Rowan had been missing since 10:45 p.m. Nov. 2, and was the subject of a massive search by local law enforcement agencies, volunteers, the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigations.

Collings is expected to appear for a hearing Aug. 19 in Barry County. As the two men are being tried separately, their trials could take place in different locations.

This is not the first time an area trial has been moved to Waynesville, the Pulaski County seat on a change of venue. The trial for Levi King was moved there from McDonald County because of the publicity in that case. King was convicted of two counts of first degree murder in the shooting deaths of Orlie McCool and Laura Dawn McCool and was sentenced to life in prison. He faces additional murder charges in Texas.