Random Horrifying Story Of The Boy Who Survived The Bonebreaker Killer (11 items)

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  (#8) Clark Had Plans To Abduct, Torture, And Possibly Murder More Boys

  Authorities arrested Clark while he was at a party with his girlfriend, and from there, they began to search his house. Police looked for any indication of previous victims, but instead they found evidence suggesting Clark intended to capture and torment more boys.

  In the house, police located a school notebook, which listed names of over a dozen local boys, including some Phillips knew. The boys' names were in different columns, detailing whether or not Clark could kidnap them soon or later, and what he wanted to do to them.

  Part of the list included a column titled "The Leg Thing," suggesting he intended to break the bones of his future victims as well.
   
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  (#11) Phillips Never Received His $21 Million Settlement From Clark

  When he entered the hospital, Thad Phillips had serious, potentially life-threatening internal bleeding. Doctors said he was possibly hours away from passing. He received immediate medical care, but to repair his legs and hope to save the boy's mobility, he required many surgeries over several years. 

  As part of the $21 million settlement, Phillips was to receive $31,566 in medical damages, $6 million in compensation, and $15 million in punitive damages. However, Clark has never had the money to pay Phillips for the years of expensive surgeries and medical treatment he's undergone.

  In April 2023, Baraboo local Olga Johnson and her husband set up a GoFundMe with a $100,000 goal to help Phillips. Johnson said at the time of Phillips, "He saved the community and I wanted to say thank you to Thad. He brought peace to Chris [Steiner]'s family."
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  (#10) Joseph Clark Was Sentenced To 100 Years In Prison

  In October 1997, Joe Clark was found guilty of the following crimes related to his abduction of Thad Phillips: causing great bodily harm to a child, child enticement, attempted first-degree intentional homicide, mayhem and mental harm to a child. Clark pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, but the jury believed he was sane. Clark was sentenced to 100 years in prison and later received an additional 50-year sentence for the murder of Christian Steiner.

  To this day, Clark maintains he has no memory of what he did to Phillips and claims he is innocent of Steiner’s death. He later attempted to appeal some of his convictions based on lack of evidence, but the district court dismissed the case.

  Surgeries and long-term medical care have helped Phillips walk and use his legs again, though he still retains a limp. He also sued Clark and won. The total payment amounting to $21 million.
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  (#4) Phillips Attempted To Escape Multiple Times

  During his 43 hours of captivity, Thad Phillips made at least two attempts to escape Joe Clark. The first attempt happened immediately after Clark broke Phillips's ankle. Phillips reportedly felt more shock then pain and was able to leap off the bed towards the stairs, but Clark quickly caught him. Phillips then suffered further injuries, including having his leg stretched back until his thigh bone fractured.

  In his second attempt, Phillips managed to crawl down the stairs and into the kitchen before Clark returned home with his girlfriend. The two reportedly watched television in the living room as Phillips hid in the kitchen, but Clark found Phillips as soon as the girl left. 

  After that, Phillips would be locked in a closet whenever Clark left the house.
   
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  (#7) Phillips Threw Himself Down A Flight Of Stairs To Call For Help

  After his attempted escapes, Thad Phillips was placed in a bedroom closet while Clark left the house on the evening of July 31st. Locked in the closet, Phillips felt around for a weapon until he found an electric guitar, which he used to break down the closet door. Phillips then crawled from the bedroom closet and threw himself down the stairs, passing out multiple times due to weakness and the excruciating pain of his injuries.

  Once he made it downstairs, Phillips was able to find a phone and call 911. Police arrived at the scene before Clark's return and quickly put him under arrest. 

   
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  (#3) Clark Told Thad He Enjoyed The Sound Of Bones Breaking

  After the initial attack broke Thad Phillips's leg near the ankle, Joe Clark threw the shocked boy on the couch downstairs. Phillips, trying to figure out an escape plan, told Clark he wouldn't tell anyone what had happened and that he'd say he tripped over a table. Clark maintained no one would believe this. 

  Phillips then attempted to reason with Clark, asking why he would do this. Clark said he enjoyed the sound and feeling of bones breaking at his whim. He said he'd done something like this before and described how much he loved it. 
   

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