Judge Rejects Plea Deal in Former Miami Teacher’s Killing

Russell’s mother and two daughters spoke at the hearing about the loss and its lasting effects. Her daughters were 6 and 15 when their mother was killed in 2019. The family said the proposed deal would not provide the justice they sought after years of delays in the case.

Roberts, 47, was a former assistant principal at Miami Norland Senior High School and Russell’s godfather. Prosecutors said surveillance video showed Russell entering his Miami Gardens home on May 15, 2019, and later showed Roberts putting something in the trunk of her car before driving away. Her body was found in a canal days later. He was charged with first-degree murder.

The proposed agreement called for 30 years in state prison followed by five years of probation. Roberts had already spent seven years in custody, and the earlier account of the deal said that time would count toward his sentence. Prosecutors had previously sought the death penalty.

After hearing from the family, Judge Alberto Milian asked whether they wanted him to accept the agreement. Russell’s mother said the family rejected it. The judge then dismissed the plea deal and told the family not to let Roberts take more of their time.

Roberts’ defense attorney said the case was back to the drawing board. Milian recused himself, and the case will be assigned to another judge. The defense attorney said the case would now proceed toward trial, though the family had hoped for closure.