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Brother: Chandler spent days in closet with no food

By Sue Lindsay, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 4, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.
Updated August 4, 2008 at 6:56 p.m.

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Chandler Grafner had to spend days and nights in a closet with no food, his little brother told a detective the day after his death.

Taped interviews of the boy were shown to jurors Monday in the trial of his father, Jon Phillips, who is charged with first-degree murder and child abuse in 7-year-old Chandler’s death May 6, 2007. Prosecutors contend that he died of dehydration and starvation after being kept in a locked closet in the dark without food and water. Defense attorneys say he died of complications from undiagnosed diabetes.

Dominic Phillips matter-of-factly told Denver detective Ken Klaus, “I had a big brother but he’s dead so he went to heaven.”

He told the detective that his “mommy and daddy put Chandler in the closet because he was being really bad.”

He said sometimes Chandler had to stay in the closet through dinner and slept there. “Sometimes he poops in his hand and rubs it all over the walls of the closet,” Dominic said.

The first time he had to stay in the closet “was a long time ago,” said Dominic, adding that he didn’t have to go into the closet.

The boy said Chandler sometimes asked him for food when their parents were asleep.

“He said, ‘Dominic go get me food.” But he said he didn’t get him any, explaining, ”I don’t want to get into trouble.”

The boy said he was sad that he couldn’t see his brother any more.

“Now he doesn’t have to be in there,” Dominic said.

Asked to help draw pictures of his family, Dominic said they all had happy faces except Chandler.

Dominick said he and his brother usually had cereal for breakfast in their bedroom but they didn’t get lunch anymore “because mommy and daddy always forget.”

He also told the detective that the boys had to take “very mean showers” when they got in trouble. That meant the showers were cold, he said. He also said that Chandler got in trouble for stealing food.

Jon Phillips’ parents said they last saw Chandler during Easter weekend 2007. They said that Chandler was grounded and had to eat oatmeal while the rest of the family had their Easter dinner.

Christine Phillips said she understood this was because “he was acting up” at home and school. She said she didn’t know Phillips and Berry had pulled Chandler out of school by then.

Christine and Tim Phillips both said they knew nothing about Chandler being ill before they were called when he was taken to the hospital. They said Chandler was always thin but healthy.

Jon Phillips’ brother, David Phillips, said he also was at the Easter family gathering in 2007, the last time he saw Chandler alive.

The boy had a black eye that day, and he recalled, that Phillips told him it happened when Chandler was hitting himself in the shower. He said Jon Phillips told him Chandler was grounded because he was telling lies and blamed Sarah for hurting him but that Jon Phillips said he had seen Chandler punching himself in the face.

Chandler had oatmeal instead of Easter dinner “because that was part of his punishment,” David Phillips said.

Comments

  • August 4, 2008

    7:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Alexandra writes:

    I hope these people just rot, rot, rot in hell--in jail wherever they go.
    I hope they ROT....miserably--OH and I hope they starve.

    Alex

  • August 4, 2008

    7:47 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LadyBird112 writes:

    I'm torn between wanting the death penalty for these people and sending them to jail and broadcasting to their fellow inmates what they did. I hear that even axe murderers don't like babykillers.

  • August 4, 2008

    8:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    wydodido writes:

    I think these people should be starved until they're about to die then give them some food, just enough to keep them alive, but they should be starved until they weigh like 50 pounds and stay in a very small dark cell for a long time. I don't think they should have a second chance.

  • August 4, 2008

    9:04 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    calbeach95 writes:

    I agree with wydodido - Jon Phillips & Sarah Berry should have to endure the same treatment they thought appropriate for a 7 year old child. I find very hard to believe Jon Phillips family didn't have an inkling that ANYTHING was wrong after spending any length of time at the family home. This poor child cried out for help to so many people; it is a crime that no one could save him. I pray that his brother Dominic is able to grow up in a loving family that actually cherishes a child so he can really know what a loving family is and heal from this tragedy.