Missing: Kate Phillips, 4 Months Old

'I thought they'd find Kate next day'

Ariel Courtland still holds out hope for baby

Updated: Friday, 29 Jul 2011, 11:20 PM EDT
Published : Friday, 29 Jul 2011, 5:50 PM EDT

LUDINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) - Though it's been a month since her 4-month-old daughter, Katherine Phillips, disappeared, Ariel Courtland is holding out hope.

"I just want Kate home with me," Courtland told 24 Hour News 8 on Friday. "I had plans for her future."

Note that "with" shows distance. 

Please note that she said she "had" plans for her future; not that she "has" plans for her future."

When a mother of a missing child speaks of the child in the past tense, she has either knowledge or belief that the child is deceased. 

The baby went missing, allegedly snatched by the man believed to be her father, Sean Michael Phillips, from outside Courtland's apartment just before he was to undergo a paternity test.

He's currently in jail, and is expected in court next week on a kidnapping charge.

"I thought they'd find Kate like that day or the next day, definitely not being a month later and still haven't found any leads, pretty much nothing," she told 24 Hour News 8 on Friday. "They're still pretty much in the same spot they have been."

She said she's heard whispers and comments, some online and some to her face, about the case.

"To me, I don't understand why there are people out there who are being so negative towards me. There are people who are out there, I don't even know them, being so mean to me, so hateful," she said. "My baby was taken from me, and they're being hateful and just rude and mean. How could you possibly think I had something to do with my daughter's disappearance?"

Note "to me" she doesn't understand; which to others, she might. 

Note the focus upon her; not the missing child.

Note the words "I had something to do with my daughter's disappearance" as possible embedded admission.  If she spoke this on her own, and not quoting another, it is a stronger possibility that she had something to do, or criminal knowledge of, what happened to the 4 month old child. This is not something we would expect to hear from an innocent mother.  An innocent mother focuses upon the child.   "Just rude" is quite unexpected from a mother who's sole concern would be her missing child. 

24 Hour News 8 asked the Ludington Police Chief whether or not Ariel is believed to know baby Kate's whereabouts.

"I think what we have right now is one person charged and that's Sean Michael Phillips," Chief Mark Barnettsaid. "He's been charged with the information we've received and that's really all I'd say about that."

Note "I think" is weak.  

Note "right now" which means at another time, he may think differently. 

Note "that's really all I'd say about that" indicates he is withholding information and it likely may be about what the mother may know.  

Courtland said, when she finds Kate, she'll take her two daughters and move away. She wants a fresh start for her family.

Sean Phillips' kidnapping preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday. A judge will determine whether there is enough evidence to send him to trial.