logo
Woman who killed baby in 1986 sentenced to probation in cold case DNA probe

Woman who killed baby in 1986 sentenced to probation in cold case DNA probe

A woman who killed her infant son in 1986 in Connecticut and went on to live a seemingly quiet, normal life with her family in Florida for three decades was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation.
Janita Phillips, 65, of Lake Mary, Florida, was charged with murder in 2021, after police said new DNA testing linked her to the crime. She pleaded guilty to a lesser manslaughter charge in April.
The probation sentence was unusual in a child homicide case, but warranted because a peer-reviewed psychological assessment concluded Phillips experienced 'extreme emotional distress' at the time of the killing, both the prosecutor and defense lawyer said. Judge Gary White in Stamford, Connecticut, called it a case deserving mercy.
When Phillips killed the infant, she and her husband had just moved into an apartment in Greenwich, Connecticut, with their eldest child after being homeless and her husband had told her he didn't want another baby, her lawyer, Stephen DeLeo, said. The couple, who remain together and have been married for 42 years, were stressed about money and their ability to feed their family, DeLeo said.
Phillips told police she hid the pregnancy from her husband and other relatives, an arrest warrant said. Police said her husband did not know about the baby's death and had no involvement.
Phillips and her husband have three children who are now adults. One of their sons is disabled and resides at an assistant living facility, while her husband has medical problems and she takes care of him, DeLeo said in an interview.
'Incarcerating her would serve no purpose at this time,' DeLeo said, adding that this case was Phillips' only brush with the law in her life. He also said she lost her insurance industry job because of the case.
Phillips cried during the sentencing hearing and said she had a 'deep sense of regret.' She also said she took full responsibility, DeLeo said. Under her sentence, if she violates probation she could face up to 20 years in prison.
The newborn child, named Baby John by police, was found dead in a garbage truck on May 16, 1986, after workers had emptied a dumpster at the apartment building in Greenwich where Phillips lived, authorities said. The chief medical examiner's office determined the baby was strangled shortly after being born and ruled his death a homicide.
Phillips and her family moved to Florida shortly after the baby's death, police said.
Greenwich police said they used newly available DNA testing in 2020 that linked evidence found at the crime scene to the boy's mother. Police took items out of the trash and recycling at Phillips' Florida home in 2020. DNA testing showed Phillips and her husband were the parents of the infant, authorities said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Colorado State Patrol says multiple fatal crashes on C-470 involve wildlife
Colorado State Patrol says multiple fatal crashes on C-470 involve wildlife

CBS News

timea few seconds ago

  • CBS News

Colorado State Patrol says multiple fatal crashes on C-470 involve wildlife

In Colorado, we're used to seeing wildlife, but sometimes a moose or a deer on the road can be deadly. Colorado State Patrol said two people were killed on C-470 this month after coming in contact with wildlife. The first crash took place on July 11 when four vehicles struck a moose. One woman suffered fatal injuries in the crash. Early on the morning of July 20, a man swerved when he saw a deer on C-470. He reportedly drove off the road, and then his vehicle rolled. Authorities said he was taken to the hospital, where he later died. Troopers say they've responded to 1,600 animal-involved crashes so far this year.

New York tourist found murdered in Miami parking garage remembered by family, friends at funeral service
New York tourist found murdered in Miami parking garage remembered by family, friends at funeral service

CBS News

timea few seconds ago

  • CBS News

New York tourist found murdered in Miami parking garage remembered by family, friends at funeral service

A 35-year-old woman from New York City who was found murdered in a parking garage in Miami two weekends ago was honored on Sunday at a funeral service in Hialeah. Friends of Chastidy Charlotte Rodriguez gathered at the Mother of Our Redeemer Catholic Parish to remember her. City of Miami Police said that she and 31-year-old Darious Coon from Detroit, whom she had met in Miami, were discovered at 10 a.m. in a car that was on the 10th floor of a parking garage by an apartment building at Northeast 2nd Avenue and 4th Street, just west of Biscayne Boulevard and Bayfront Park. Police said they had been shot and killed, and said it appeared that this did not involve a robbery since both of them still had their belongings with them. Miami Police spokesman Ofc. Mike Vega told CBS News Miami that the crimes could have been committed anywhere between July 16 and 19. He also said they are reviewing surveillance tape between those dates and are appealing for anyone who heard or saw anything suspicious to come forward and call Miami Police or Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at (305) 471-TIPS (8477). "I am praying that God will accept my friend to heaven," said Rodriguez's friend Franchesca Martinez. "I remember her as a good friend. She was a great person. She was a great mother. She was a great daughter." She hopes the Miami Police investigation will pay off and lead to whoever committed the crimes. "We need to resolve this issue," Martinez said. "I want whoever did this, I want them in jail, at least." Rodriguez's brother told CBS News Miami that his sister had lived in New York City for more than 10 years and loved to visit Miami. He said she was thinking of leaving New York City in the next few years, and Miami would have been one of her top choices as her next destination. He said that her body will be sent to the Dominican Republic in the next few days, and that's where family members will hold their funeral service for her. "She was a good person and a good person and everyone around her knew she had a good heart. I don't want this to be just another case. We want justice," he told CBS News Miami on Friday. "We also need to know the motive because it is not fair that someone you love, who did not deserve this, had to go out so early. I hope detectives can find the person or the people who did this."

Arkansas couple killed at Devil's Den State Park while hiking with young daughters; suspect at large
Arkansas couple killed at Devil's Den State Park while hiking with young daughters; suspect at large

Fox News

timea few seconds ago

  • Fox News

Arkansas couple killed at Devil's Den State Park while hiking with young daughters; suspect at large

An urgent manhunt is underway after a husband and wife were killed at an Arkansas state park over the weekend while hiking with their two young daughters, according to police. Arkansas State Police (ASP) were notified of a double homicide at Devil's Den State Park, located near the northwestern corner of the state, at about 2:40 p.m. on Saturday. Clinton Brink, 43, and Cristen Brink, 41, were found dead on a walking trail, according to a press release. Their young daughters, ages 9 and 7, were uninjured and are now safe with family members, police said. The Brinks were new to the area, the press release notes, having recently moved to Prairie Grove, Ark., from another state. The ASP issued a description of the suspect: a White male with a medium build, wearing a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up, dark pants, a dark ballcap, sunglasses and fingerless gloves. He was also carrying a black backpack, police said. The suspect was also seen driving toward a park exit in a black, four-door sedan – possibly a Mazda with tape covering the license plate. The vehicle may have been traveling on State Route 170 or 220, police said. Police described the park as "a remote and rural area, where the terrain is rugged, vegetation is thick and there is no cellphone service." "We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Devil's Den State Park," Shea Lewis, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, said in a statement. "Our hearts are with the victims' loved ones during this incredibly difficult time." Lewis continued. "The safety of our visitors and staff is our highest priority, and we are working closely with Arkansas State Police and various law enforcement officials as the investigation continues." Lewis also noted increased law enforcement presence across the Natural State's state parks. Investigators are also asking those who visited the park on Saturday to check any photos and videos taken for images of the suspect. The ASP did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for comment.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store