The Georgia Supreme Court affirmed the felony murder conviction of Eureon Phillips in the 2019 shooting death of Tiffany Valkoun, rejecting Phillips's arguments that the evidence was insufficient and that the trial court committed errors during proceedings.
Justice Ellington delivered the court's opinion on Jan. 21, 2026, in the case *Phillips v. The State*, upholding the conviction handed down by a DeKalb County jury. The crimes occurred on Sept. 13, 2019, leading to an eight-count indictment against Phillips and two co-defendants.
The DeKalb County grand jury returned the indictment on Jan. 16, 2020, charging Phillips with malice murder of Valkoun, felony murder predicated on aggravated assault, felony murder predicated on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, aggravated assault, arson in the first degree, concealing the death of another, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Two co-defendants, Antisa Columbus and Lonzell Guffie, were also named in the indictment, charged with arson in the first degree and concealing the death of another. Phillips was tried separately, and at the time of his trial, the cases against his co-defendants remained pending.
The jury trial began on May 10, 2023, concluding with Phillips being found guilty on seven of eight counts. The jury acquitted Phillips of malice murder but convicted him on the remaining charges, including the felony murder count that would determine his sentence.
On May 31, 2023, the trial court imposed severe penalties reflecting the gravity of the crimes. Phillips received life in prison without the possibility of parole for felony murder predicated on possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Additional concurrent sentences included 20 years for aggravated assault, 20 years for arson in the first degree, and 10 years for concealing the death of another.
The court also imposed a consecutive five-year sentence for possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, extending Phillips's total prison time beyond the life sentence.
On appeal to the Georgia Supreme Court, Phillips challenged his conviction on multiple grounds. He argued that the evidence presented at trial was insufficient to support the jury's guilty verdict. Phillips also contended that the trial court erred in denying his motion for a mistrial during proceedings.
The state's highest court rejected these arguments in its January 2026 opinion. The court's analysis, delivered by Justice Ellington, found that the evidence was sufficient to support the jury's findings and that the trial court properly handled Phillips's mistrial motion.
The case represents a complex criminal prosecution involving multiple serious felonies stemming from a single incident. The charges paint a picture of a violent crime followed by attempts to conceal evidence, including the alleged burning of property and concealment of Valkoun's death.
The involvement of co-defendants in the arson and concealment charges suggests a coordinated effort to cover up the initial crime. The separate prosecution of Phillips indicates that the state may have had different levels of evidence against the various defendants or strategic reasons for handling the cases individually.
Phillips's status as a convicted felon played a significant role in the charges and ultimate conviction. The indictment included two separate firearm possession charges related to his prior criminal history, one of which served as the predicate for the felony murder conviction that resulted in his life sentence.
The Georgia Supreme Court's affirmation of the conviction means Phillips will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole. The court's decision also validates the trial court's handling of the proceedings, including its denial of Phillips's mistrial motion.
The case demonstrates how Georgia courts handle complex multi-count indictments involving violent crimes and subsequent cover-up attempts. The felony murder doctrine allowed prosecutors to secure a life sentence based on Phillips's commission of an underlying felony during the killing, even without proving the specific intent required for malice murder.
With the Georgia Supreme Court's decision final, Phillips has exhausted his direct appeal options in state court. The affirmation of his conviction closes this chapter of the criminal proceedings, though the cases against his co-defendants Columbus and Guffie remain pending in the trial court.
The victim, Tiffany Valkoun, died more than six years ago, and her family has now seen the legal process reach its conclusion with Phillips's conviction upheld by the state's highest court.