Cousins! The final chapter to an absolutely gruesome story has been delivered as a former St Louis principal has been sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison!
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Missouri, former St Louis Middle School principal Cornelius Green was found guilty of the 2016 murder of his girlfriend and teacher Jocelyn Peters.
It has been indicated that Jocelyn was 31 weeks pregnant at the time and had been home alone working on baby shower invites when she was fatally shot.
Sources state that Cornelius was married but told Jocelyn that he was working towards divorcing his wife.
“Peters did not know about the multiple other women, including at least one who was also being duped by Green into believing they were building a life together,” prosecutors wrote in a news release.
Authorities state that Jocelyn had miscarried once before and had terminated another pregnancy after being encouraged by Cornelius. However, she had made plans to keep this one and even had a name for the baby, Micah Leigh.
“All she ever did was love him,” Lacey Peters, the victim’s mother, said during Tuesday’s hearing. “And she loved that baby so much.”
Investigators state prior to Jocelyn’s tragic death Cornelius had researched different ways to poison an unborn child with crushed up pills in oatmeal or yogurt. After his plans ultimately failed he contacted his friend.
Cornelius is said to have stolen funds from a school dance to hire his longtime friend to kill Jocelyn.
“He literally stole from children to pay for killing his own child,” said Dr. Nicole Conaway, the principal of Mann Elementary.
Sources state that Cornelius and his friend Philip Cutler strategized the murder within a series of phone calls.
On March 7, 2016, Cornelius forwarded Philip a package with $2,500 in cash. Two weeks later on March 21, Philip arrived to St. Louis.
In an effort to establish an alibi, Cornelius traveled to Chicago by train. He had provided Philip with a key to his car and Jocelyn’s apartment. He also purchased potatoes so that Philip could place it over the gun as a silencer.
Sadly, Philip let himself into Jocelyn’s apartment and fatally shot her in the eye. Cornelius then returned to St Louis after the job was done and contacted Jocelyn’s mother to check in on her says authorities.
“The depravity of asking a mother to go find Jocelyn’s body, knowing she was dead, can’t be matched,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said during Tuesday’s hearing.
Investigators state that Jocelyn’s mother was unavailable at the time and that Cornelius went to her apartment instead and dialed 911 to report her death.
On the night Philip was detained for questioning he had attempted to retrieve the car he’d left at the scene. After being told he was being detained Philip was seen on surveillance footage eating two pieces of paper from a notebook that had been in his pocket.
Both men were indicted on March 9, 2022. Cornelius was convicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder for hire. Philip was also sentenced to two consecutive life sentences in prison.
“The devastating actions of one depraved individual continue to impact the victims’ family, colleagues, friends and young students,” said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore. “We are grateful for the resources provided by the U.S. Attorney’s office to help bring closure to this heartbreaking case.”
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