SIKESTON -- As tragic as last week's abduction and murder of a 10-year-old Springfield girl is, local parents are encouraged take a moment to teach their children to use caution with strangers.
"It's a bad situation," New Madrid County Sheriff Terry Stevens sighed. "I would tell your children to be alert and aware of your surroundings."
Craig Michael Wood is accused of snatching fourth grader Hailey Owen as she walked home from her best friend's house, just two blocks from her own home Feb. 18 in Springfield. Neighbors said they watched in horror and unsuccessfully gave chase as Hailey was pulled into a pickup truck that sped away.
Wood was arrested outside his home about four hours after Hailey went missing. He was a seventh-grade football coach and teacher's aide at a school other than the one Hailey attended.
According to court records, Hailey's body was found Feb. 19 in Wood's basement, stuffed into trash bags and plastic containers, and prosecutors said she was shot in the back of the head.
Wood is charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping and armed criminal action in her death and has pleaded not guilty.
"My children are grown, but if I had a child at home or a grandchild, I would use this (tragedy) as a learning tool, so to speak," Stevens said. "For example, you need to be cautious at all times. Just because you may recognize their face doesn't mean they won't do you any harm."
Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter agreed.
"The big thing is parents need to talk to kids and explain things to them," he said. "Sometimes as parents we're nervous about approaching that issue with our own children because we don't want to scare them. ... Kids are sharper than what we give them credit for."