Chandler Grafner's Brother Testifies

By JULIE HAYDEN, Reporter

Perhaps the most damning testimony yet, today in Jon Phillips' trial. And it came from his son... Chandler Grafner's then five year old half brother.

The little boy talked to detectives the night Chandler died and then again the next day. He described how Phillips and Berry gave the boys baths when they were good... and what he called "mean showers" when they were bad. And he said "There were other days, when Chandler would be bad, he was in the closet.' How often was he in the closet, the detective asked? "A lot of times," the little boy replied.

He said the couple wouldn't let Chandler out to eat or sleep or go to the bathroom. He told the detective, "Sometimes Chandler pooped in his hands and wiped it on all the walls."

He says sometimes, when the couple was asleep, Chandler would call out to him and ask him to get him some food. But he didn't, because he was afraid of getting in trouble.

He says the day Chandler died, Phillips and Berry took Chandler out of the closet and changed his clothes. They also took soiled items out of the closet and threw them away, before calling 9-1-1. The next day, the little boy took detectives to the dumpster. It was empty.... but the trash truck was just a block away and they were able to recover the incriminating evidence.

It's disturbing, just how matter of fact this little boy was, while describing how his brother was tortured and starved to death. It's clear that while he describes horrible things, he didn't really understand what was going on. It's going to be tough, as the older he gets, the more he will understand.

When the detective asked the little brother who all lived in his home he said "I had a big brother but my big brother's dead so he went to heaven. He's an angel now."

Prosecutors say their case will go through Thursday. Defense attorneys say they should be able to wrap it up Friday.... then some rebuttal witnesses and I predict to the jury mid next week.

BACK TO TOP