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By
Andrew Michaels
- July 12, 2022
Court
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Daily Stories
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Homicides
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Suspects
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A 27-year-old man accused of killing a 7-month-old baby girl days before Christmas in 2019 accepted a plea of 20 years from the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office on July 12.
Herbert Miller, a Baltimore native, was scheduled to begin a jury trial on Tuesday but opted for a plea agreement before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Gregory Sampson. The defendant was facing charges of first-degree child abuse resulting in death, second-degree murder, first-degree child abuse resulting in severe physical injury and second-degree child abuse.
A courtroom clerk from Judge Sampson’s chambers told Baltimore Witness that the prosecution offered Miller 50 years, suspending all but 20 years, and five years of supervised probation for first-degree child abuse resulting in death.
According to charging documents, Miller was babysitting his girlfriend’s daughter, Harlem Phillips, whose mother dropped her off at his apartment around 10 p.m. on Dec. 21, 2019, on the 2400 block of Louise Avenue. About 24 hours later, Phillips was found unresponsive and taken to Johns Hopkins Hospital Pediatric Center where doctors learned she was bleeding within her skull and eyes.
Detectives with the Baltimore Police Department investigated the incident and arrested and charged Miller two days later after he confessed to Phillip’s assault.
Phillips died from her injuries Christmas morning.
Miller was previously offered a lengthier plea last January for 50 years, suspending all but 35 years, with five years on probation for first-degree child abuse resulting in death, which he and his defense attorney, Linda Zeit, rejected.