Southeast Missouri man pleads guilty to 2010 murder of girlfriend

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- A Howardville, Mo., man will spend 23 years in prison for the death of his girlfriend.

Jann L. Wofford entered a guilty plea to a reduced charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of Dorothy Virginia Hood on Feb. 16, 2010. Hood's body was discovered along a fence row along a rural New Madrid County road by a passer-by on Feb. 17, 2010.

Hood died from multiple gunshot wounds, authorities later determined.

In a preliminary hearing June 3, the victim's daughter, Caitlyn Hood, described her mother and Wofford as girlfriend and boyfriend. She stated she last saw her mother leaving with Wofford on Feb. 16, 2010.

Also during the preliminary hearing, an officer with the Missouri State Highway Patrol testified Wofford told them the two had been together and had used crack cocaine. However Wofford had told the officers when he refused to buy more crack cocaine, Hood became angry, pulled a gun and a struggle ensued, resulting in the gunfire and Hood's death.

An assistant medical examiner stated at the hearing that toxicology reports did show cocaine in Hood's blood.

Wofford's plea was accepted Tuesday in Division I of New Madrid County Circuit Court by Judge Fred Copeland. He remains in New Madrid County Jail, where he has been held since his arrest in 2010.

Pertinent address:

New Madrid, MO

Howardville, MO