The former middle school principal in Missouri, Cornelius M. Green, aged 42, has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in federal prison for the 2016 murders of 30-year-old Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child, Micah Leigh. U.S. District Court Judge Ronnie L. White of the Eastern District of Missouri handed down the sentence on Tuesday, June 25. Green orchestrated the killing of Peters, who was seven months pregnant, using funds stolen from the school where they both worked.
Green, who was married at the time of the murders, admitted to conspiring to hire his friend, Phillip J. Cutler, to carry out the killings for $2,500. Cutler was also sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison for his role in the crime. Judge White described the murders as the most heinous he had seen in his career.
During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors revealed that Green had deceived Peters about his marital status, leading her to believe he was divorcing his wife and that she was the only woman in his life. In reality, Green was involved with multiple women, and he resorted to murder after failed attempts to secretly administer abortion pills to Peters.
Peters' mother addressed the court, expressing how Green betrayed her daughter's trust and love, calling him her executioner. She emphasized Peters' deep love for her unborn child.
Nicole Conaway, the principal of Mann Elementary where Peters worked, condemned Green for funding the murder using money stolen from school fundraisers meant for children. She also described the emotional trauma inflicted on Peters' students upon learning of her death.
Court documents revealed that Green had sent cash to Cutler and used the school's address as a return address for the package containing the money, which he had stolen. Cutler then traveled from Oklahoma to Missouri, where he fatally shot Peters with a firearm equipped with a makeshift silencer.
Green had meticulously planned the murder, establishing an alibi by traveling to Chicago on the day of the killing and returning afterward. He callously asked Peters' mother to check on her after the murder, knowing she would discover the tragic scene.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker highlighted the depravity of Green's actions, noting the emotional devastation inflicted on Peters' family and the community. The sentencing marked the conclusion of a tragic case that shook the local community and highlighted the consequences of Green's calculated and brutal actions.
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