Two St. James teens, Enoch Phillips 18, (top photo) and Cody Armistead 17, are charged with first degree murder in the brutal assault and strangulation death of a 15-year-old Carthage boy.
The three were clients at Great Circle, a facility for young people dealing with behavioral problems at the time the murder occurred.
The allegations are detailed in the probable cause statement filed in Phelps County Circuit Court.
On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, three clients ran away Great Circle facility. The three clients were 17-year-old Cody Armistead,
18-year-old Enoch Phillips and 15-year-old (victim).
On Thursday, September 17, 2020, Armistead and Phillips were the only two to return to Great Circle. They told staff they did not know where CH was.
At Great Circle, Armistead confided in two fellow clients they killed (the boy). One client, AA, came forward with the information.
On Thursday, September 17, 2020, Det. Sgt. Boshoff and I interviewed Armistead and Phillips. No disclosures were made about the whereabouts of (the boy).
On Friday, September 18, 2020, while conducting a follow-up investigation at Great Circle, Armistead said he was willing to cooperate with the investigation. I advised Armistead his Miranda Rights, which he waived. Armistead said Phillips strangled (the boy) until he was deceased.
Armistead agreed to show Det. Sgt. Boshoff and I where the body was located. We traveled to the 600 block of Meramec Street, St. James, Missouri. Armistead showed the location of the deceased, which was located in an open field on the west side of the street.
It was confirmed (the victim) was deceased and it was self-evident that a homicide had been committed. Armistead was transported to the Phelps County Sheriff's Department for an interview.
Upon arrival, Armistead was advised his Miranda Rights again, which he waived. He stated during one point in the evening, Phillips and Armistead talked about assaulting (the boy). Armistead jokingly said they could kill him and no would know.
Phillips agreed and said no one would find him. Armistead said Phillips struck (the boy) first with a closed fist. They struck him several times on the ground. Both Phillips and Armistead took turns strangling (the boy) while he was on his back until he was deceased.
Armistead waived his arraignment Tuesday in Phelps County Circuit Court and entered a not guilty plea. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 9.
Phillips' arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6.
5 comments:
Both of these Maniacs need to never see the light of day - - They should both be charged as Adults - and sent to Prison - for Life. There they can deal with the same Abuse they dealt to their Victim - - We have to STOP CODDLING these Individuals and "Remember the Victims" - Not allow them to use the Insanity Defense, Their Age, or it's Someone Else's Fault - for why they did this Atrocious Act to someone.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES STOP - - Allowing these Individuals to Prey on Individuals and Society. We must Protect ourselves and STOP Being So DAMN PC (Political Correct) - We Live in a Different World Today - - and there are Monsters in our Society like these Two - - We have seen it in Both Jasper and Newton Counties - where the PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND JUDGES - have given these Individuals Slaps on the Wrist - - only for them to Continue to Break the Law and Hurt Others - - STOP LETTING THEIR DEFENSE ATTORNEYS - - MAKE DEALS, PAD YOUR POCKETS WITH RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN MONEYS, AND FAVORS - - AND DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE PEOPLE THAT ELECTED OR APPOINTED YOU TO OFFICE!!!
I knew Armistead personally. He was in JROTC and I despised him. We had the same classes and he'd constantly pick on and bully me every day. Always trying to act tough.
I bet he's not so tough now that he just killed a kid. He better be sentenced hard for this.
Quite frankly though, I blame my school and I say they need to take responsibility for this as well. Because my school is one of those schools that doesn't give a shit when kids do bad things. The worst they'll do is suspend them for a few days, which the kids will laugh off. And I'm talking things like drugs, assault, bringing weapons, cutting camera wires on a school bus, you name it.
If they're letting kids get away with this stuff then I say the school should take responsibility because when kids know they get away with things like this then it only gets worse. Next thing you know, they murdered someone.
I also blame parenting as well. Especially if he was lashing out the ways that he did back in school. His parents should also be held responsible.
Parents have failed their children by not instilling a love of God in their hearts. When people stopped attending church and took prayer out of schools, families began to disintegrate and morals began to decline. Young people need guidance and discipline. They need love and understanding. They need hope in a future. The Bible and prayer provide us with everything we need while on this earth, as well as what we need to carry us through eternity. I pray for our children and for all that are lost to this world. There is forgiveness, love, salvation amd peace in the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts238 provides you with the plan of salvation. Living for God will give you a peace that cannot be found anywhere in this world. God is what is missing from your life.
This has been a very disturbing incident within the St James MO & Carthage MO communities. We share in our grief for all involved.
Actually, I personally know that several people in Phillips life took him to church and tried hard to give him religion and prayer. He needed more help. Mindsets like this that imply that simply praying would have helped his mental illness are exactly part of the problem. More should have been done than just trying to force some religion on him; frankly he rejected all help when people tried. This kid had years with a churchgoing family. Doesn’t your good book say not to judge? Funny how so many Christians forget that.
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