Cornelius M Green, a former middle school principal, has been sentenced for his role in a tragic murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the deaths of schoolteacher Jocelyn Peters and her unborn child.
Green, 42, had a child with Peters, 30, despite still being legally married and involved with other women. He embezzled funds from a school dance fundraiser to pay $2,500 to a friend, Phillip J Cutler, 46, to carry out the murder in 2016.
Prior to the fatal shooting, Green had ttempted to kill Peters by crushing pills, which failed. He then conspired with Cutler, who traveled from Oklahoma to unlawfully enter Peters’ Chicago apartment, where he fatally shot her as she worked on baby shower invitations. Cutler used a potato to muffle the gunshot, an item Green had purchased with Peters.
After Peters’ murder, Green traveled to Chicago, called 911 from her apartment with false information, and upon returning to St. Louis, callously asked Peters’ mother to check on her deceased daughter.
During sentencing, Assistant US Attorney Tiffany Becker highlighted the callousness of Green’s actions, emphasizing the emotional toll on Peters’ family. Both Green and Cutler were convicted and sentenced to two consecutive life terms each in prison by the US Attorney’s Office.