Baby Kate grandma: Letter seems legit

LUDINGTON, Mich. (WOOD) - April Lange admits she has a strained relationship with her daughter, Ariel Courtland. But she said the letter Sean Phillips wrote to Courtland from prison proves Ariel had nothing to do with the disappearance of their 4-month-old daughter.

Katherine Phillips, also known as Baby Kate, was last seen on June 29, 2011. Sean Phillips was found guilty on April 27, 2012 of the unlawful imprisonment of the child.

He was sentenced to between 10-15 years in prison. Within minutes of his sentence, authorities said they would now investigate the case as a homicide.

But in a letter obtained by Target 8, it appears Phillips -- for the first time -- admits to killing the child.

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== Read: The full letter from Sean Phillips to Ariel Courtland ==

== A copy of the letter from Sean Phillips to Ariel Courtland ( pdf) ==

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The letter explains how he believes Baby Kate died, what he did with her body -- and gives a possible explanation to why he and Baby Kate's mother Ariel Courtland are getting married.

Lange told 24 Hour News 8 she believes the letter is legitimate.

"I've seen letters from Sean before, and it looks like his writing and everything," she said.

She said it sheds a lot of light on what took place the day Baby Kate disappeared and proves in her mind what she's long suspected: Sean Phillips murdered her granddaughter.

"It was very disturbing, but really nothing we didn't expect," she said Wednesday. "We've kind of known he killed Kate a long time ago, but to see it in writing, I don't want to say more of a closure, but it helps a little bit, you know."

To see the truth in print was disturbing, she said.

"The part that really bothers me the most is throughout the letter he uses past tense: 'I used to feel bad, I use to feel sorry,' like he's already forgiven himself," Lange said. "I don't understand how he could do that when he hasn't come forward with the truth yet to everybody."

She said the letter also proves her daughter Ariel Courtland had nothing to do with Kate's disappearance.

But, she said, some things remain puzzling -- like Phillips ripping the car seat from the back seat and Kate being thrown. Where did he drive with Kate's body? How exactly did she die?

And most importantly: where is Baby Kate?

"That's the one thing I was hoping was in the letter," she said.

Lange says she is a little concerned how the letter will effect the police investigation now that it's out, but said maybe it will prompt Phillips to tell authorities where Kate's body was left.

Phillips also mentions his defense attorney Annette Smedley in the letter, telling Ariel he sent Smedley a different "tear-soaked" original version of the letter.

"I seen it on the Internet where it was posted," Smedley said Wednesday.

Target 8 asked Smedley if the letter was from Phillips and if he had ever confessed. She referred to state law.

"It prohibits me from discussing anything that I have communicated between me and my client," she said.

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On Wednesday, Mason County Prosecuting Attorney Paul Spaniola released this statement regarding the letter and the marriage license:

"Recent reports by numerous media outlets have reported that (1) Ariel Courtland has applied for a license to marry Sean Phillips at the Ionia County Clerk's Office and (2) that Sean Phillips has allegedly authored and sent a letter to Ariel Courtland in which he admits to killing Katherine Phillips. This letter has been disseminated by WOOD-TV and posted on its website. This News Release is to provide comments from Paul Spaniola, Mason County Prosecuting Attorney, and also from the officers and detectives who continue to investigate this case.

"A copy of the same letter posted on the WOOD-TV website was obtained several weeks ago by the investigating officers from a family member of Baby Kate. It should be noted that this letter was not released to WOOD-TV by or on behalf of any law enforcement officer or agency.

"The Mason County Sheriff's Office and the Ludington Police Department continue to investigate this case as a homicide. As with any other case, it is important that the investigation be complete and thorough. Investigators continue to follow up leads that have been developed."