A former Missouri principal learned his fate in 2016 after admitting to asking a friend to murder his pregnant girlfriend with money stolen from a St. Louis middle school.
Federal prosecutors press release Cornelius Green, former principal of Carr Lane Visual Arts Middle School, was charged with one count of conspiracy to solicit murder and one count of soliciting murder and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.
Greene is serving two consecutive life sentences, meaning he will have to wait at least 50 years before he can be considered for parole.
Authorities say he hired a friend, Philip Cutler, 46, to kill his girlfriend, Jocelyn Peters, 30, and their unborn child, Micah Lee.
Cutler was indicted this week on the same charges.
Former Missouri principal admits to hiring hitman to kill pregnant teacher
Prosecutors say Cornelius Green, a former principal at Carr Lane Visual Arts Middle School, stole field trip money and paid Philip Cutler $2,500 to kill his pregnant girlfriend. (St. Louis City Justice Center)
Green, who was married at the time, had previously admitted asking a friend to kill Peters, who was seven months pregnant at the time.
Federal prosecutors said Green and Cutler planned the murder in a series of phone calls.
Authorities say Green sent Cutler a UPS package in March 2021 containing $2,500 to pay for the brutal murder of his pregnant girlfriend.
Prosecutors said Green had paid Peters to buy potatoes just days before Green’s murder. (U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Missouri)
The former principal admitted to using funds stolen from the school to pay for the murder.
“He literally stole from children to pay for the murder of his own child,” said Dr. Nicole Conaway, principal of Mann Elementary School.
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Authorities said Green took a train to Chicago to establish an alibi for the murder and gave Cutler his Kia Optima and a key to Peters’ apartment.
Authorities say Cutler arrived at Peters’ apartment, used a key he was given to gain entry, and shot her to death. Prosecutors allege Cutler used a potato as a silencer.
At the time of her murder, Peters was sitting at her kitchen table preparing invitations for a baby shower, which was being funded by her boyfriend.
Third-grade teacher Jocelyn Peters was remembered as someone who “cared deeply about children,” according to People magazine. She was shot and killed in the early hours of March 24 while she was sleeping. (Jocelyn Peters on Facebook)
After Cutler confirmed that Jocelyn and her baby had been killed, Green bought a train ticket home.
Authorities said Green knew what he would find when he returned to St. Louis but first asked Peters’ mother to “check on her.”
“The depravity of knowing Jocelyn was deceased and then asking her mother to go find her body is incomparable,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said during Tuesday’s hearing.
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Authorities said Green eventually went to Peters’ apartment and pretended to be surprised when Peters called 911 to report her death.
“Green lied to police, feigning ignorance of the circumstances leading to the deaths, and encouraged Cutler and others to destroy evidence,” federal prosecutors said. “Cutler was taken into custody for questioning that evening after attempting to retrieve a Kia Optima from the crime scene at Green’s direction.”
Philip Cutler was Green’s childhood friend, and prosecutors say Green gave Cutler a key to Peters’ apartment, where Cutler shot and killed her. (St. Louis City Justice Center)
In February, Green and Cutler pleaded guilty to the murders of Peters and her baby.
Authorities said Green was legally married to another woman at the time of the murder and was involved in multiple other romantic relationships.
Peters had previously suffered a miscarriage during her relationship with Green and had also undergone an abortion at his urging.
Prosecutors also alleged that Greene was “researching ways to covertly poison people” by crushing pills and hiding them in oatmeal or yogurt.
After the poisoning attempt failed, police said, Green turned to friends to plan the murder of his girlfriend and her child.
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Ms Peters’ cousin, Dedra Peters, said her death had left “her family feeling empty and heartbroken”.
“Jocelyn always had a light around her,” she said.[Jocelyn] She touched the hearts of all who came into contact with her.”
Ms Peters’ mother, Lacey Peters, said Green was meant to be Ms Peters’ protector but ended up being her executioner.
“She just loved him,” Lacey Peters said, adding, “She really loved that baby.”
