High court affirms murder charge in 'Baby Kate' case

LUDINGTON (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has upheld a murder case against a northern Michigan man accused of killing his infant daughter, whose body hasn’t been found.

The state’s high court Wednesday affirmed rulings by the state appeals court and a Mason County circuit judge.

Katherine Phillips, known as “Baby Kate,” disappeared in 2011 in the Ludington area, about 80 miles northwest of Grand Rapids.

Her father, Sean Phillips, is charged with murder. The 25-year-old Phillips is serving a 10-year prison sentence for unlawful imprisonment in Kate’s disappearance.
County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola and state Attorney General Bill Schuette are prosecuting the case.

The case originally was dismissed by district judge Peter Wadel, who found insufficient proof Kate was killed.

Schuette and Spaniola are appealing a decision Wadel can preside over the case.