Josh Phillips had spent 25½ years in prison for what even he described as an “unfathomable” act when he was 14 years old. He killed 8-year-old neighbor Maddie Clifton and hid her under his waterbed for a week as a massive search ensued across Jacksonville.
That was in 1998, and the laws have changed for juvenile offenders charged as adults and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. After serving 25 years, they are now required a sentencing review. So a year ago, Phillips began the process filing for and being granted a review.
Now 42, his latest court hearing on May 13 was canceled after he unexpectedly withdrew his application, at least for the time being. After seeing what he was up against, he decided he needed more time to prove his rehabilitation.
His May 6 filing states it voluntary but he reserves the right to resubmit the initial application at a later date.
Why did Josh Phillips withdraw his request for a sentencing review?
In a neatly handwritten four-page letter to Judge R. Anthony Salem, Phillips outlined why. Here is the letter in its entirety:
I am withdrawing my Application For Sentence Review. At this time I would like to share my thoughts and reasonings that led to this decision.
Upon filing my Application for Sentence Review and returning to Duval County for these proceedings, my family and I were excited as well as nervous. I was quite confident, and still am, that upon release I would live a productive and meaningful life absolutely free of any fears of a return to incarceration. Yet I’ve come to understand that though this confidence is relevant to the question of my rehabilitation, it by itself is not dispositive of a finding of such.
This became more clear to me after interviews with various experts since returning to Jacksonville, most especially so after reading the report written by the State’s expert witness, Dr. Gregory Prichard.
In this report mentioned a number of areas of concern that made him question as to whether or not I was rehabilitated in regards to the requirements of Florida Statute 921.1402.
Among these concerns were:
I would like to say that I did attempt to do some of the Department of Corrections’ programs for some of these issues but was refused due to my status of a “lifer.” I was told in very clear terms that it was not allowed, and so, I quickly ceased to pursue such courses of action.
Instead, I took matters into my own hands and studied copious amounts of material on the subjects mentioned above in a sincere and dedicated attempt to become the best person I could become given the circumstances. I believed that this would be enough to assuage any concerns as to my rehabilitation and trusted that any expert who interviewed me would find me rehabilitated and quite prepared for release.
However, after reading Dr. Prichard’s report it became clear to me that although self-educating on the topics mentioned above is laudable, it is not a substitute to true professional counseling and therapy. The best possible results would have been achieved by coupling this self-driven learning with, and augmented by, the outside perspective of a trained professional.
I truly desire freedom and the best possible chance of achieving it and living up to an beyond the expectations of society and this Honorable Court.
Armed with the information now at my disposal I have no doubts that after the withdrawal of my Application and subsequent return to prison that I will be able to address and assuage every concern mentioned by Dr. Prichard in his report.
Although I am still confident in my rehabilitation, I seek the utmost confidence of this Court and of the State of Florida by doing everything possible to achieve it.
As always I wish to convey my deepest apologies to Maddie’s family for the reopening of wounds that any legal action in my case surely causes. All hope of success in my case at any stage is always tempered by this knowledge.
I would like to apologize to this Court for any inconvenience this withdrawal may cause yet would proffer that it has not been a waste of time as this action I am taking will surely make the Court’s job much easier upon my return after my success in addressing all the concerns as to my rehabilitation.
I thank the Court for its behind adequate handling of my case to date.
May God bless everyone involved. Thank you.
Sincerely, Joshua Earl Patrick Phillips, 6 May 2026
What happened to Maddie Clifton?
On Nov. 3, 1998, Maddie went outside to play in her Lakewood neighborhood on Jacksonville’s Southside but didn’t come home. Her mother reported her missing, and for several days people from all over searched for her and passed out flyers with the pictures of the smiling 8-year-old.
On Nov. 10 her body was found across the street by Phillips’ mother, entombed under her son’s waterbed. He told police he panicked after accidentally hitting Maddie with a ball while playing and was afraid of getting in trouble. He said he beat her with a bat and stabbed her to keep her from crying and then hid her.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Josh Phillips explains unexpected sentencing review withdrawal
Reporting by Scott Butler, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
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