Kids Who Kill: Joshua Phillips
Maddie Clifton disappeared on November 3, 1998 around 5:00 pm from her home in Jacksonville, Florida. She was last known to be playing outside before her mother reported her missing. The search for Maddie commenced and later the FBI would become involved too. Flyers of the missing girl were passed out around town and many volunteers offered their support. Everyone appeared to be trying to help, including the killer himself…
Come to find out, Maddie had been playing baseball outside with a neighbor, Josh Phillips. Josh was not only the last person to see her alive, but he was also the one to take her life.
Josh Phillips was only 14 years old when he committed murder. Maddie Clifton was only 8 years old when she was brutally murdered by another child, a playmate.
Josh maintains it all started with an accident. While home alone and playing baseball with Maddie, he accidentally hit her with the ball in the face. Maddie cried out; screaming, as any 8 year old would do when hit in the face with a baseball…accident or not.
Josh expected his father to arrive home at any time and was so afraid of him, fearing he would get in trouble because he was not supposed to have anyone over the house… Josh panicked. He needed Maddie to be quiet… so he hit her with the baseball bat quickly putting an end to her screams.
Josh dragged her body into his house and then into his bedroom. Reportedly- once inside, he strangled for her 15 minutes with a telephone cord before he stuffed her body under the base of his bed. At some point later on, he realizes she’s still alive…. Maddie was moaning. Joshua then stabbed Maddie multiple times, ultimately killing her.
Maddie’s lifeless body wasn’t found until several days later. Josh’s mother was cleaning the house and thought that maybe Josh’s waterbed had a leak so went in for a closer look. It was then, to her horror, that she had found Maddie. This was immediately reported to the authorities and Josh was arrested while still at school. He quickly admitted to the horrendous crime without hesitation.
Joshua Phillips was convicted of the first-degree murder of Maddie Clifton. Due to being just a child himself, Josh was not eligible for the death penalty and was instead sentenced to life in prison.
In June of 2000, Josh’s father died in a car accident. The man Josh feared so much was now gone and not long after his sentencing.
In 2012, the US Supreme Court barred mandatory life sentences without parole for juveniles (Miller v. Alabama). Due to this new ruling, Joshua received a new sentence hearing in 2017. He was again sentenced to life in prison, subject to review after 25 years.
The Florida Times-Union reported on June 23, 2020 that the Florida Supreme Court denied an appeal that was filed by Joshua Phillips back in January 2020.
Joshua Phillips is now 36 years old and is currently incarcerated in Florida at the Cross City Correctional Institution.
If you are interested in learning more about this case, see my sources are listed below. Also, there have been many shows and podcasts that have covered the case as well.
Sources
Justices Turn Down Appeal In Death Of Maddie Clifton
Life Sentence Upheld For Maddie Clifton’s Killer
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