Remembering Jocelyn Peters

Chris Roberts shares a touching video honoring his late cousin, educator Jocelyn Peters. Her ex-partner tragically murdered her while she was pregnant. This stands as a powerful reminder of the impact of domestic violence.

Long before the devastating tornado struck on May 16, another tragedy shook the city of St. Louis. The murder of a popular, pregnant schoolteacher by her partner sent shockwaves through the community. Those waves still resonate today.

Jocelyn Peters was a remarkable individual. Her career inspired many, and her community loved her deeply. Tragically, a killer took her life and the life of her unborn child far too soon.

January 7, 2026, marked what would have been her 40th birthday. Chris Roberts, her compassionate cousin, posted a heartfelt tribute to Jocelyn on social media. Here is what we know about that challenging day—a moment that will remain with us always.

A Life Cut Short

Jocelyn Peters was a 30-year-old pregnant teacher in St. Louis, Missouri. Her boyfriend orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot that fatally ended her life. He was a former school principal named Cornelius Green. His friend, Phillip Cutler, carried out the act in March 2016.

VIDEO TRIBUTE: The Guiding light: The Jocelyn Peters Story by Chris Roberts

The Guiding Light a Jocelyn Peters Story

Details of the Case

Victim: Jocelyn Peters worked as a third-grade teacher at Horace Mann Elementary School. She was 31 weeks pregnant with Green’s child at the time of her death.

Perpetrators:

• Cornelius Green: He served as the principal at Carr Lane Middle School. He was married to another woman and did not want responsibility for the child. Consequently, he researched ways to end the pregnancy secretly before he hired a hitman.
• Phillip Cutler: Green paid his longtime friend from Oklahoma $2,500 to commit the murder. Green stole this cash from the school’s dance team fundraiser.

The Crime: On March 24, 2016, Cutler entered Peters’ apartment. Green provided the key. Cutler found her in bed working on baby shower invitations. He shot her in the head using a potato as a silencer. Meanwhile, Green traveled to Chicago to establish an alibi. Later, he called 911 to report finding her body. He pretended to have no knowledge of the murder.

Justice Served

Sentencing:

• Green entered a plea agreement to avoid a potential death penalty in state court. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire and murder-for-hire. In June 2024, a judge sentenced him to two consecutive life terms in prison.
• A jury found Cutler guilty. He also received two consecutive life sentences in June 2024.

Prosecutors described the case as a “heartbreaking” crime. Green’s desire to avoid child support and maintain a specific lifestyle drove his actions. Furthermore, the family and colleagues of Peters remember her as a “bright light.” She loved teaching and her students.

Honoring Her Memory

In closing, we wish a happy birthday to the late, great Jocelyn Peters. May she and her unborn child rest in peace. My thoughts and prayers go out to her mother and other relatives. They continue to remember this wonderful woman.

#RememberJocelyn #JusticeForJocelyn #DomesticViolenceAwareness #MemorialTribute #NeverForget #ViolenceAgainstWomen #LossAndLove #InMemory #SupportVictims

VIDEO TRIBUTE: The Guiding light: The Jocelyn Peters Story by Chris Roberts

#RememberJocelyn #JusticeForJocelyn #DomesticViolenceAwareness #MemorialTribute #NeverForget #ViolenceAgainstWomen #LossAndLove #InMemory #SupportVictims