We've been following this story since it broke, and honestly I am appalled (but not surprised) at this outcome.
For some reason, this POS of a father has a lot of very powerful men supporting him. It's like a fathers rights cabal of the influential lawyers and politicians. Check out this earlier post.
Dad is identified as SEAN PHILIPS.
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2014/09/baby_kate_fathers_murder_charg.html#incart_related_stories
Baby Kate father's murder charge dismissal to be appealed by prosecutor, Attorney General Bill Schuette
By Heather Lynn Peters
on September 15, 2014 at 1:23 PM, updated September 15, 2014 at 1:35 PM
MASON COUNTY, MI -- Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Mason County Prosecutor Paul Spaniola will appeal the decision announced Monday, Sept. 15, by a district court judge to dismiss an open murder charge against Sean Phillips, Baby Kate's father.
Phillips was charged with open murder of his daughter, Katherine "Baby Kate" Phillips who disappeared in Mason County on June 29, 2011. She was 4½ months old when she disappeared.
District Court Judge Peter J. Wadel dismissed the charge against Phillips on Monday. The attorney general said he will continue to fight for justice. In a seven-page written opinion from Wadel, the judge simply states there wasn't enough evidence to charge Phillips with the baby's death.
"Baby Kate deserves full justice. We will not settle for any less," Schuette said in a press release. "As Attorney General, it is my job to ensure every victim across our state has a voice no matter who you are or where you live."
Spaniola said a circuit judge will review the case on the appeal.
"We have already decided that the pursuit of justice for Baby Kate is to appeal this decision and have the circuit judge review the evidence which we presented at the preliminary examination," Spaniola said in the same press release.
As of Sept. 15, 2014, the child remained missing.
Phillips is already serving a prison term of 10 to 15 years for unlawful imprisonment of his daughter. A Mason County jury convicted him of that in April 2012.