Joshua Phillips Research Paper

In my opinion I believe that Joshua Phillips’ life was dictated and shaped by his childhood upbringing. I believe this because violent homes greatly affect children’s mental health and the way they grow up. Children only reflect what adults decide to show them, so living in a house with a violent parent and experiencing domestic abuse is bound to result in some kind of changed behavior.

Joshua Earl Patrick Phillips was born on March 17, 1984 in Allentown, Pennsylvania to Steve and Melissa Phillips. Steve was 34 when Joshua was born and I was unable to find Melissa’s age. They were married and both worked as computer specialists. Steve was an alcoholic and a drug addict, and committed acts of domestic abuse towards his wife and son. It is reported

He had been playing baseball in his front yard when Maddie Clifton came over and asked to play. Maddie Clifton was born to Steve and Sheila Clifton on June 17, 1990. She was 8 years old at the time of the crime, and had been living in Florida her whole life. Apparently, Joshua’s father was a very strict man and did not allow Joshua to have friends over when he was not around. He also had a particular dislike for young girls, which was never understood by the family. Despite this, Joshua agreed to play with her. This was not the first time that they had played before. It was a common event, so nothing seemed amiss about the situation. During the game of baseball, Joshua had accidentally hit Maddie in the eye with the ball. Terrified of the consequences, he dragged her inside his house in order to attempt ceasing her cries. He ended up strangling her and hitting her with his baseball bat. He beat her unconscious and hid her body underneath his bed, fearful that his father would come home while she was screaming. Later on in the day, around sundown. Maddie began to wake up again. This is when he murdered her on his bedroom floor. He took his Leatherman tool and slit her throat, proceeding to stab her seven times and hide her body underneath his bed

A missing person search began, and the police began searching all over the Lakewood community where the Phillips and Cliftons resided. Joshua helped in the search, pretending as if he didn’t know where his friend Maddie went. In later reports Joshua says that his coping mechanism was ignoring things, and that was exactly what he did in this case. The search went on and on, and the hopes of finding the 8 year old girl were failing. The police had searched Joshua Phillips' home three times, but they had mistaken the smell of Maddie Clifton’s body for the pet birds that Joshua had in his bedroom. Eventually the FBI got involved, and flyers for a $100,000 reward for the discovery of Maddie were distributed. By November 10, 1998, most people had given up. However, this was the day that Joshua’s mother would crack the case after all. She had gone into his room to clean and noticed a wet spot by the bottom of his bed. While observing Joshua’s broken bed frame, she saw Maddie Clifton’s legs peeking out from under the bed. She ran out of the house to go speak to the police and report what she saw. Joshua Phillips was 14 at the time of the crime and had no diagnosed mental, emotional, or physical