Officer Charged With Murder & Manslaughter For Allegedly Killing Woman, Child
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, Md. (WJZ) -- A mother and her baby disappeared the night before a paternity hearing. The man called to that court appearance is now in jail for the murder of that woman and her child.
Andrea Fujii explains that man, a police officer, is facing more charges.
A D.C. police officer charged with the murder of a 20-year-old woman now faces a manslaughter charge for killing a 1-year-old girl who may be his own daughter.
Wynetta Wright and her daughter Jaylin were discovered in a Prince George's County park Thursday night. They were last seen in Baltimore County.
Prosecutors say Richmond Phillips, 39 shot Wynetta Wright, left her in the park, then drove her car to hide it. They say he left the toddler buckled in her carseat for three days in sweltering heat. She likely died of heat exhaustion.
"They got him. I hope he gets the death penalty. I want him to get the death penalty," said Wynetta's mother, Wyvette Wright.
The victims' family demanded to speak in court Monday, a rarity during a bail hearing. Female family members called the accused D.C. cop a monster, asked for justice and reminded him that Monday would've been Jaylin's first birthday.
"I think for everybody in this community, we share this family's pain. We absolutely share their pain and look forward to prosecuting the case," said State's Attorney Angela Alsobrooks.
The victim and the suspect were supposed to be in court last week for a paternity hearing over the girl. The mother and daughter never made it to court. Family suspected Phillips from the start.
"The night before the child support case, he called her at 10 o'clock at night, telling her to meet him at this park. We haven't seen her since," Wright said.
He faces first-degree and manslaughter charges and will not be released on bail.
"We look forward to prosecuting this case and getting justice for this family," Alsobrooks said.
The suspect was not physically in court but could be seen, witnesses say, sitting very still with no reaction on a closed circuit TV.
Phillips is married with children and has been with the D.C. police department for eight years.
