The Great Smoky Mountain Journal
Staff Reports
Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:43 PM
Parents Of Two-Year Old Boy Found Dead After Being Left In Car Outside Gatlinburg Home Arraigned Monday
Anthony Phillips and Jade Phillips were indicted on one count of first degree murder, committed through aggravated child neglect; one count of first degree murder, committed through aggravated child abuse; one count of aggravated child neglect; and one count of aggravated child abuse against their 2-year-old son, Kipp. TBI agents and officials from the Sumner County Sheriff's Office arrested the couple without incident on July 24. Jade Phillips is the daughter of the Westmoreland mayor, Jerry Kirkman.
Tasha Blakney, attorney for Jade Phillips, said the mother was released from jail on a $100,000 bond, but the toddler's father is still behind bars.
"Jade Phillips is absolutely devastated, and so is the whole family. This is tragic in every sense of the word. This is truly a tragedy in every possible way. The family is just devastated," Blakney told Local 8 News.
According to the Gatlinburg Police Department, the 2-year-old child was left in a vehicle overnight July 13 on Laurel Avenue and found dead on July 14. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Gatlinburg Police Department are investigating the incident.
"There's a lot of questions to be answered in this case and they're still working on that to try and determine answers to those questions, determine charges and actions to be taken in this case," said Gatlinburg Police Chief Randall Brackins.
Anthony and Jade Phillips are expected to appear in court again on November 1. A trial date has not been set yet in the case.
