(Stella, MO) -- A year ago this week, a 9-year old Stella, Missouri girl was brutally murdered.  Police say Rowan Ford died in the early hours of November 3.

Nestled in southwest Missouri is the small town of Stella, with nearly 200 people.  Today, it's a community in still in recovery.

"Certain crimes affect you.  Different certain crimes stick with you." says Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland.

The crime, Sheriff Copeland is talking about, is the brutal murder of 9-year-old Rowan Ford.  She was last seen alive at her home in Stella on November 2, 2007.
    
After a week long search by local law enforcement and the FBI, her little body was found in a small cave in McDonald County.  Her stepfather, David Spears, and Christopher Collings are charged with her rape and murder.
    
While the court process slinks on, a year later, the thoughts of that week are still fresh.

"I still have Rowan's 8x10 picture on my bookcase in my husband's office." says Connie Moser, a friend of Rowan's family.

Sheriff Copeland also has his own picture of Rowan, placed right in front of him at his desk.

"I decided to keep it up until the guys responsible for this receive the justice that is coming to them." says Copeland.

The Stella community says Rowan will always be a part of its family and a brick has been placed at the town's new Veterans Memorial in her honor.

"This (the memorial) is not only for Stella, but for everybody." explains Bill Alsop, Stella's mayor.

Alsop says his community united to find Rowan when she was missing and are forever bonded.

"We all remember her in our hearts." says Alsop.

Moser adds, "When I think about it, my mind plays it again and thinks about what they did and why that is.  The thing I ask is why would you take such an innocent life?"

While the questions and the grief continue, so does the healing and the knowledge that Rowan's name is not only engraved on the memorial, but also in their hearts.

Collings appeared in court on Monday.  His trial has been set for March 2010.  Prosecutors and the defense say they need that much time to prepare for the trial.  

The prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Collings and Spears.  Spears' next court appearance is scheduled for December.