JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The murder of eight-year-old Maddie Clifton by her 14-year-old neighbor Joshua Phillips in November 1998 profoundly impacted the Jacksonville community and garnered national attention. Phillips, who was sentenced to life in prison, has recently returned to Duval County.

Clifton was reported missing in November 1998, and a week later, tragically discovered under Phillips’ waterbed. She had suffered severe beating and stabbing. Phillips was found guilty of her murder and received a life sentence.

In 2017, Phillips was resentenced to life imprisonment with an option for review after serving 25 years. This change followed a supreme court ruling that declared it unconstitutional to impose life sentences on juveniles without the possibility of parole.

A hearing is now set for Monday to schedule Phillips’ sentencing review. 

Attorney Shannon Schott said a judge will have to consider certain factors, like whether he has shown maturity and remorse, and his behavior in prison.

“The emphasis becomes less about what he did in the late 90’s, and more about who he is as a person today and if he should be entitled to be free in society,” Schott said.

Once a date is set the sentencing review, Schott said the public defender’s office will begin looking into the last 25 years of Phillips’ life.

“What’s going to happen in the next few weeks is the public defenders office is going to reopen their case, they will look into what has been happening with Joshua Phillips over the last 25 years, and they will start preparing their arguments for why he should have a meaningful opportunity for release,” Schott said.