Former principal convicted of murder-for-hire plot over death of pregnant teacher girlfriend

A former Missouri principal learned his fate after admitting he hired his friend to kill his pregnant girlfriend in 2016 with money stolen from a St. Louis college.

Federal prosecutors announced in a press release that Cornelius Green, former principal of Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School, has been indicted on one count of conspiracy to commit murder for hire and one count of murder for hire and sentenced to two consecutive life sentences.

Green's two consecutive life sentences mean he will have to wait at least 50 years before being considered for parole.

His conviction came after authorities said he hired his friend, Phillip Cutler, 46, to kill his girlfriend, Jocelyn Peters, 30, and her unborn child, Micah Leigh.

Cutler was charged with the same sentence this week.

FORMER MISSOURI SCHOOL PRINCIPAL ADMITS TO HIRING HITMAN TO KILL PREGNANT TEACHER

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Green, who was married at the time, previously admitted to hiring his friend to kill Peters, who was seven months pregnant at the time.

Federal prosecutors said Green and Cutler planned the killing during a series of phone calls.

Authorities said Green sent Cutler a UPS package in March 2021 with $2,500 to pay for the gruesome murder of his pregnant girlfriend.

The former principal admitted to using funds stolen from the school to finance the murder-for-hire.

“He literally stole from children to pay for the murder of his own child,” said Dr. Nicole Conaway, principal of Mann Elementary School.

Utah father of 6 kills wife in murder-suicide after cryptic Facebook post

Authorities said Green took a train trip to Chicago to establish his alibi for the murder and gave Cutler the keys to his Kia Optima and Peters' apartment.

Cutler arrived at Peters' apartment and entered with the provided keys and shot him, authorities said. Prosecutors said he used a potato as a silencer.

Peters was sitting at the kitchen table preparing invitations to a baby shower at the time of her murder – paid for by her boyfriend.

After Cutler confirmed that Jocelyn and the baby had been killed, Green purchased a round-trip train ticket.

When Green returned to St. Louis, he first tried to convince Peters' mother to “check on her,” knowing what she would find, authorities said.

“The depravity of asking a mother to go find Jocelyn's body, knowing that she was dead, is unparalleled,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker said during Tuesday's hearing.

HEARTBROKEN WIDOW OF Slain MICHIGAN OFFICER REMEMBERS HIM AS 'TRULY OUTSTANDING'; “ “OUR FAMILY HAS LOST EVERYTHING”

Authorities said Green eventually went to Peters' apartment and feigned surprise when he called 911 to report her death.

“He claimed he had no knowledge of the circumstances leading to these deaths, lying to police and causing Cutler and others to conceal evidence,” federal prosecutors said. “Cutler was arrested for questioning the same night, after attempting to recover the Kia Optima from the crime scene, at the direction of Green.”

In February, Green and Cutler pleaded guilty to murdering Peters and her baby.

Legally, Green was married to another woman at the time of the killing and was in several other romantic relationships, authorities said.

During her relationship with Green, Peters had already suffered a miscarriage and terminated a pregnancy at her request.

Prosecutors also alleged that Green “looked for ways to secretly poison him” by crushing pills and hiding them in oatmeal or yogurt.

When the poisoning failed, Green turned to his friend to plot the deaths of his girlfriend and child, police said.

Peters' cousin, Dedra Peters, said his death left the family “empty and heartbroken.”

“Jocelyn always had a light around her,” she said. “[Jocelyn] touched the hearts of everyone she came in contact with.

Peters' mother, Lacey Peters, said Green was supposed to be Peters' protector but instead became his tormentor.

“All she did was love him,” Lacey Peters said, adding, “and she loved that baby so much.”

Original article source: Former principal convicted of murder-for-hire plot over death of pregnant teacher girlfriend