Florida woman who killed baby in 1986 sentenced to probation in cold case DNA probe
A woman who killed her infant son in in Connecticut and went on to live a seemingly quiet normal life with her family in Florida for three decades was sentenced Tuesday to five years of probation Janita Phillips of Lake Mary Florida was charged with murder in after police reported new DNA testing linked her to the crime She pleaded guilty to a lesser manslaughter charge in April The probation sentence was distinctive in a child homicide incident but warranted because a peer-reviewed psychological assessment concluded Phillips experienced extreme emotional distress at the time of the killing both the prosecutor and defense lawyer revealed Judge Gary White in Stamford Connecticut called it a development deserving mercy When Phillips killed the infant she and her husband had just moved into an apartment in Greenwich Connecticut with their eldest child after being homeless and her husband had communicated her he didn t want another baby her lawyer Stephen DeLeo announced The couple who remain together and have been married for years were stressed about money and their ability to feed their family DeLeo revealed Phillips recounted police she hid the pregnancy from her husband and other relatives an arrest warrant revealed Police commented her husband did not know about the baby s death and had no involvement Phillips and her husband have three children who are now adults One of their sons is disabled and resides at an assistant living facility while her husband has healthcare problems and she takes care of him DeLeo revealed in an interview Incarcerating her would serve no purpose at this time DeLeo commented adding that this event was Phillips only brush with the law in her life He also explained she lost her insurance industry job because of the situation Phillips cried during the sentencing hearing and revealed she had a deep sense of regret She also announced she took full responsibility DeLeo reported Under her sentence if she violates probation she could face up to years in prison The newborn child named Baby John by police was exposed dead in a garbage truck on May after workers had emptied a dumpster at the apartment building in Greenwich where Phillips lived bureaucrats declared The chief anatomical examiner s office determined the baby was strangled shortly after being born and ruled his death a homicide Phillips and her family moved to Florida shortly after the baby s death police explained Greenwich police reported they used newly available DNA testing in that linked evidence discovered at the crime scene to the boy s mother Police took items out of the trash and recycling at Phillips Florida home in DNA testing indicated Phillips and her husband were the parents of the infant personnel disclosed
