Former middle school principal, Cornelius M. Green, 42, received two consecutive life sentences in federal prison for masterminding a murder-for-hire scheme that caused the deaths of 30-year-old teacher Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child, Micah Leigh. The sentence was handed down on June 25, 2024, in the U.S. District Court in St. Louis, Missouri.
Despite being married, Green had a romantic relationship with Peters, who was carrying his child. He conspired with his friend, Phillip J. Cutler, to commit the murder. To finance the murder, Green stole $2,500 from a Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School fundraiser, where both he and Peters worked. These funds were delivered to Cutler via UPS, using the middle school as the return address.
On March 24, 2016, Cutler used Green’s vehicle to reach Peters’ apartment on West Pine Boulevard in St. Louis. He gained entry using keys given by Green and shot Peters in the head while she was sleeping. Cutler used a potato as a makeshift silencer to suppress the gunshot noise. Prosecutors disclosed that Green had even made sure there were potatoes in the apartment by shopping with Peters a few days before the crime.
Green crafted an alibi by traveling to Chicago on an Amtrak train on the day of the murder, leaving Cutler with his car and the keys to Peters’ apartment. After Cutler carried out the murder, Green contacted Peters’ mother, asking her to check on her daughter, fully knowing what she would discover. “The depravity of asking a mother to go find Jocelyn’s body, knowing she was dead, can’t be matched,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Becker stated during the sentencing.
Investigations revealed that Green initially attempted to terminate Peters’ pregnancy by surreptitiously poisoning her. When this plan didn’t work, he resorted to murder. Unbeknownst to Peters, Green was not only still married but was also involved with other women. Federal prosecutors pointed out that Peters was unaware of Green’s attempts to poison her.
Several individuals spoke at the sentencing, expressing their grief and indignation. Peters’ mother pointed out that Green, who should have been a protector, became her daughter’s murderer. “All she ever did was love him,” she commented, underscoring that Peters “loved that baby so much.”
Dr. Nicole Conaway, the principal of Mann Elementary School where Peters was a teacher, also expressed her views at the hearing. She highlighted the significant impact of Peters’ death on her students and colleagues. “He literally stole from children to pay for killing his own child,” Conaway stated. “I will never forget the pain in their eyes. This trauma will follow them for the rest of their lives.”
In February, Green entered a guilty plea to one charge each of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire. Cutler, found guilty of identical charges, also received two consecutive life sentences. Both men are to spend the rest of their lives in federal prison.
Jocelyn Peters’ death has profoundly affected her family and the school community. “Jocelyn had a light around her at all times,” said Dedra Peters, Jocelyn’s cousin. “She made a lasting impression on everyone she met.” Peters’ loss has left her family “empty and heartbroken.”