The grieving parents of 3-year-old Journei, a Las Vegas toddler allegedly killed by her babysitter, spoke through tears and heartbreak outside a courthouse Thursday—just one day after their daughter’s tragic death.
Phalan Whitson and Jeremy Ross, the child’s mother and father, confronted the horrifying reality of the situation as the accused, 41-year-old Marketta Phillips, was arraigned on murder charges. “Seeing her face [the babysitter] for the first time, horrible,” Whitson said outside the courthouse. “You did that to my baby. How?”
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Las Vegas police say it was Ross who called 911, telling the dispatcher that his daughter had been stabbed by the babysitter. When authorities arrived, Journei had suffered multiple stab wounds. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Phillips had reportedly fled the scene before officers arrived.
Whitson, clearly devastated, described her daughter as more than just a child. “That was an extension of my soul,” she said. “I just want an explanation. Why? And I want you to go away for a long time.” Ross, filled with guilt and regret, reflected on his past relationship with Phillips. “I wish I had never met this woman,” he said. “I wish I had just left her alone.”
He revealed that Phillips had been at his apartment often, describing their relationship as on-and-off. “She was doing her thing, I was doing my thing,” he said, noting that he had tried to support her music career. Despite spending significant time around her, Ross said he never saw warning signs.
“I saw her in the kitchen lying on her side,” he recalled. “There was dried-up blood, and I thought she was cooking and cut herself.” But when he went to check on Journei, he was met with a nightmare. “I went to the room and saw my baby girl right there. I said, ‘What did you do to my child?’ And instantly called 911, doing chest compressions, everything for my child… Right when I called 911 is when she booked it out of the house.”
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Whitson, through tears, issued a heartfelt warning to other parents: “Men, please be aware of who you keep around your children. I’m going to spread awareness of this because this is not right.” Phillips remains in custody without bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for April 1.
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