Court records show that a man, later identified as Cornelius, admitted his role in a chilling murder-for-hire plot against Jocelyn, a 30-year-old coworker who was seven months pregnant. Cornelius’ admission of guilt on charges of murder-for-hire and conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire has paved the way for a life sentence in a federal correctional facility.
The plea agreement, accepted by prosecutors, unravels the harrowing details of a meticulously planned murder in 2016, involving not just Cornelius but also his co-defendant and longtime friend, Phillip. Phillip, accused of executing the murder for a sum of $2,500, has pleaded not guilty, with his trial set for the following month. The relationship between Cornelius and Jocelyn, described by prosecutors as an “ongoing romantic relationship,” turned deadly when Jocelyn became pregnant with Cornelius’ child. The subsequent planning for Jocelyn’s murder began in early 2016, with Cornelius orchestrating the plot, from sending Phillip the money to providing the means for Jocelyn’s apartment entry.
The indictment reveals an exchange of messages and the dispatch of a UPS package from Cornelius to Phillip, using the school’s address for the return label. The $2,500 sent to Phillip was stolen from the school. According to authorities, Phillip stayed at the residence where Cornelius lived with his sister. The following day, Cornelius took a train to another city and left Phillip with his car and the keys to Jocelyn’s apartment. As per the prosecutors, Cornelius only traveled to another city to establish an alibi for the murder of Jocelyn and their unborn child.
Two days later, Phillip drove Cornelius’ car to Jocelyn’s apartment. He used the keys provided by Cornelius to unlawfully enter her home, found her in bed, and “shot her with a .38 caliber firearm in the head. Cornelius then purchased a ticket back to his hometown so there would be verification that he was out-of-town at the time of the murder. The sentencing hearing for Cornelius has been scheduled for June 5.
