ST. LOUIS – U.S. District Judge Ronnie L. White on Tuesday sentenced a former St. Louis middle school principal to two consecutive life terms in prison for hiring a friend to kill his pregnant schoolteacher girlfriend.
Cornelius M. Green, 42, pleaded guilty in February to one count of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and one count of murder-for-hire in the deaths of 30-year-old Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child, Micah Leigh, in 2016.
A jury in U.S. District Court in St. Louis found Phillip J. Cutler, 46, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, guilty of the same charges in March. Judge White sentenced Cutler last week to two consecutive life terms in prison.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Peters’ mother, Lacey Peters, said Green was supposed to be Peters’ protector but became her executioner. “All she ever did was love him,” Lacey Peters said, adding “and she loved that baby so much.”
Peters’ cousin, Dedra Peters, said “Jocelyn had a light around her at all times,” and “touched the heart of anyone she came in contact with.” Peters’ death has left the “family empty and heartbroken,” she said.
Peters had miscarried before and terminated one pregnancy at Green’s urging but was determined to keep Micah Leigh, according to a sentencing memo filed by prosecutors. She mistakenly believed she was the only woman in Green’s life and that Green was divorcing his wife. Peters did not know about multiple other women who were also being deceived by Green into believing they were building a life together.
Green researched ways to secretly poison Micah Lee by crushing pills and hiding them in oatmeal or yogurt. When that plan failed, he contacted his longtime friend Cutler and stole money from the dance team’s fundraiser at Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School where he worked to pay Cutler.
“He literally stole from children to pay for killing his own child,” said Dr. Nicole Conaway, the principal of Mann Elementary when Peters worked there. Dr. Conaway said she had to tell Peters’ class about her murder: “I will never forget the pain in their eyes,” she said. “This trauma will follow them for the rest of their lives.”
Green and Cutler planned the murder through phone calls; Green sent Cutler $2,500 cash via UPS on March 7, 2016. On March 21st that year Cutler arrived in St Louis.
Green took a train trip to Chicago as an alibi for the murder while giving Cutler keys to his Kia Optima and Peters’ apartment.
On March 24th Cutler drove Green’s car using his keys into Peter’s apartment located on West Pine Street where he shot her using a potato as silencer while working on baby shower invitations days before being killed herself bought potatoes by request from green himself
After confirming Jocelyn & baby’s death through phone call – returned back home buying return ticket soon after contacting mother asking if could check up knowing what would find leading up eventually calling emergency services pretending ignorance surrounding events lying police alongside getting others conceal evidence
Cutler detained later same night attempting retrieve Kia Optima following directions eating pieces paper notebook during questioning
“The devastating actions of one depraved individual continue impacting victims’ family colleagues friends young students” stated Circuit Attorney Gabe Gore expressing gratitude towards resources provided US Attorney office aiding closure heartbreaking case
St Louis Metropolitan Police Department FBI jointly investigated prosecuted cooperation Circuit Attorney Office Assistant US Attorneys Tiffany Becker Zachary Bluestone Former SLMPD Homicide Detective Mark Biondolino acted case agent initially handled Chief Trial Attorney Marvin O Teer Jr Assistant Circuit Attorney Rob Huq
Victims domestic family violence seeking help may contact National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or refer agencies listed here: https://www.stlouis-mo.gov/live-work/community/help/domestic-violence.cfm
