Murderer at 14

This true crime story involves a young girl from Jacksonville, Florida, who reportedly went missing for six days until she was found dead in a teenage boy's room. The boy was named Josh Phillips, a 14-year-old who committed an unbelievable that no teen would ever commit upon a child.

Joshua Earl Patrick Phillips was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, on March 17, 1984, to Steve and Melissa Phillips. Josh's father Steve was a drug addict and alcoholic, and was violent towards Phillips and Melissa who both reported living in fear of him. 8 year old Maddie Clifton and Joshua have known each other and has played outside together.

According to Maddie’s family, Maddie was a joy to the family and very close with her family. Clifton's family and neighbors described Joshua a “quiet and friendly” and Maddie was trusting with Joshua believing nothing would happen to her. On November 3, 1998, Maddie went to Joshua's house to go play with Joshua. It will be the last time that Maddie will be seen alive. After Maddie hasn’t returned home, Maddie’s mother grew concerned when Maddie hasn’t returned home. The family contacted authorities and went on a search to find Maddie. Joshua’s family also became a part of the search. The search lasted for six days until November 10.

On November 10, Joshua's mother, Melissa Phillips, entered her son's room and noticed a wet spot on the floor. The spot was starting to smell and the foul aroma was filling up the room. She searched the room and found Clifton's body, immediately leaving the house to report the incident to the police. Phillips confessed to murdering Maddie by stabbing her to death after he accidentally hit with a baseball then stabbed her to death and was arrested. Both families were stunned that 14-year-old Joshua murdered Maddie.

Phillips was tried as an adult. The trial was moved from Duval County, Florida, to Polk County over concerns about the publicity in Jacksonville. Joshua’s defense attorney insisted on a closing argument to the jury, where he stated Clifton's death was "an act that began as an accident and deteriorated through panic that bordered on madness". According to Phillips, Nichols never attempted to question him over the events of the murder, and only played chess with him when visiting him in jail prior to the trial.

The trial started on July 6, 1999, and lasted only two days, an unusually short time due to the defense calling no witnesses. Jurors took just over two hours to convict Phillips of first-degree murder. He was later sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole; he was not eligible for the death penalty, as he was under 16.

During the trial the defense attempted to introduce scans from a neurologist showing bilateral lesions on the frontal lobe of Phillips' brain, which are associated with panic and impaired judgement, while the prosecution wanted to discuss evidence Phillips had looked at pornography on his computer. The judge, however, ruled both pieces of evidence inadmissible. Maddie’s family shared their statement at Joshua’s sentencing.

“How dare you take Maddie away from us. She was your friend.”

Maddie’s father

In 2000, Joshua’s father passed away in a car wreck. Joshua spent his education in prison. Phillips works as a paralegal in prison, assisting other inmates with their appeals, and also works as a tutor for inmates. He also plays guitar in a band, and participates in Christian religious services, zazen and yoga. During his 2017 appeal, the prosecution acknowledged that Phillips had been a model prisoner.

Phillips is now 41 years old and still serving time at the Cross City Correctional Institution. He still feels regret for killing Maddie and is remorseful for what he has done. Joshua wanted to apologize to the Clifton family but rather apologize in person than writing a letter to them.

Joshua’s mother still visits Joshua despite that he killed Maddie after all that is her son. In the years following Maddie's death, her memory has been kept alive in various ways. A memorial playground was erected at her school, San Jose Catholic School.

Recently, years after Maddie’s murder, Phillips appeared before a Judge to reduce his sentencing. Maddie’s sister ordered the judge not to reduce his sentencing and continue his life sentence.

Source

https://www.yahoo.com/news/had-chances-maddie-cliftons-sister-160443478.html

Wikipedia