Arrest Made In Connection With 1986 Homicide Of Newborn: Police

GREENWICH, CT — The Greenwich Police Department on Friday morning announced that an arrest has been made in connection with the 1986 homicide of a newborn baby, nicknamed "Baby John" by investigators over the years.

Janita M. Phillips, 62, of Lake Mary, Fla. was arrested and charged with murder Friday morning, according to a news release from the department. She surrendered to the GPD at police headquarters, and was transported to court for same-day arraignment.

Phillips is being held on a court-set bond of $50,000. Police said in September when authorities went down to Florida to interview Phillips, she admitted to being the baby's mother and causing the death of the infant.

“We are grateful that justice is finally being obtained for this infant child of our community," said GPD Deputy Chief Robert Berry in a news release.

[Police held a press conference on Friday morning. To read more, click here]

"The investigation of his tragic death has taken many long years, but he has always been remembered and we hope this conclusion will bring him peace and recognition. Each and every life has meaning and we will always pursue every avenue in the pursuit of justice," Berry added.

On May 16, 1986, a newborn baby boy was found dead inside a sanitation truck that had just emptied a dumpster at the apartment building located at 27 Havemeyer Place in Greenwich, police said. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was strangulation, and ruled the case a homicide.

Police said they collected several pieces of evidence at the scene, including items soaked with blood. Interviews were conducted of residents at the apartment building, but as the investigation wore on, investigators were unable to positively identify the killer.

In 2020, police said investigators in the GPD Cold Case Unit deployed newly available forensic testing to try and link physical evidence found at the scene to the mother of the baby.
An investigation, with the help of authorities in Florida, confirmed the identity of the mother as Phillips, who lived at 27 Havemeyer Place in Greenwich at the time of the baby's death, police said Friday.

In September of this year, GPD detectives went to Florida, and with the assistance of detectives from the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, interviewed Phillips, when she confirmed that she was the mother and caused the death of the baby.

An arrest warrant was obtained on Nov. 17, police said.

Berry thanked all those involved in the investigation, including the Seminole County Sheriff's Office, Florida State Attorney's OFfice, the Connecticut State’s Attorney’s Office in Stamford and the Connecticut State Lab-Division of Scientific Services.

"There have been many Greenwich Detectives over the last 35 years who have investigated this case to the extent of the resources available to them," Berry said. "I would like to especially single out the work of Greenwich Police Detective First Grade Christy Girard whose tireless efforts, investigative skill and ingenuity brought this investigation to a successful conclusion."