Baltimore Man Headed to Trial for Death of Girlfriend’s 7-Month-Old Daughter

By Andrew Michaels - August 24, 2021
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Victims |

A Baltimore man charged with the death of his girlfriend’s daughter rejected a plea offer on Aug. 24 at Baltimore City Circuit Court.

Herbert Miller, 26, is charged with first-degree child abuse resulting in death, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse causing severe physical injury, and second-degree child abuse.

The prosecution offered Miller a plea deal of 50 years, suspending all but 35 years, with five years probation for first-degree child abuse resulting in death; however, the offer was rejected by defense attorney Linda Zeit.

Miller then declined to waive his September Hick’s date, or his right to be tried within 180 days of his first court appearance. Judge Melissa M. Phinn found reason to delay the trial to next year due to counsels’ unavailability.

Miller is set for trial on Jan. 11, 2022.

According to CBS Baltimore, seven-month-old Harlem Phillips allegedly fell off a couch and had a seizure at a Baltimore home. The baby was unresponsive and unconscious when Miller called for a medic. She was taken to Johns Hopkins University Hospital around 10 p.m. on Dec. 22, 2019.

Phillips died three days later.

Medical examiners concluded that Phillips’ death was caused by blunt force trauma, following a doctor’s report that her injuries were consistent with being shaken.

Miller later told police that he was frustrated and shook Phillips, causing “her eyes to roll into her head.”