A former principal in Missouri found himself sentenced to two consecutive life terms in prison after admitting to hiring his friend to kill his pregnant girlfriend in 2016. Cornelius Green, who used money stolen from a St. Louis middle school to fund the murder, was charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire.
Green’s friend, Phillip Cutler, was also charged with the same sentence for his involvement in the tragic plot. Green, who was married at the time, confessed to hiring Cutler to kill his girlfriend, Jocelyn Peters, who was seven months pregnant. The murder was planned through a series of phone calls between Green and Cutler.
Authorities revealed that Green sent $2,500 to Cutler in a UPS package to pay for the murder. Cutler used a potato as a silencer when he shot Peters, who was sitting at the kitchen table preparing baby shower invitations at the time of her death. After confirming the murders, Green bought a return train ticket and pretended to be shocked when he called 911 to report the crime.
Green’s sentencing came after he pleaded guilty to the murder of Peters and her unborn child. It was uncovered that Green had been involved in multiple romantic relationships and had a history of urging Peters to terminate pregnancies. Prosecutors also mentioned that Green had researched ways to poison Peters before resorting to hiring Cutler for the murder.
The heartbreaking loss of Jocelyn Peters left her family devastated. Her cousin, Dedra Peters, described Jocelyn as someone who brought light to everyone around her. Peters’ mother, Lacey Peters, expressed her disbelief that Green, who was supposed to protect her daughter, ended up being the one responsible for her death.
The tragic murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by a former school principal shocked the community and served as a reminder of the devastating consequences of domestic violence and manipulation. Jocelyn Peters’ memory lives on through the love and fondness shared by her family and all those who knew her.