Acquitted: Jury Finds Father Accused of Killing Son’s Stepfather Not Guilty

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On July 3, a jury reached a not guilty verdict for a 36-year-old murder defendant before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Jennifer B. Schiffer.

Samuel Cole faced charges of first-degree murder, firearm use in a felony violent crime, having a loaded handgun in a vehicle and having a loaded handgun on his person in connection to the murder of his son’s stepfather, 30-year-old Jonathan Miller, in early 2022.

During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence from license plate readers that determined that Cole’s vehicle was in the same location as the victim at the time of the incident. Cell phone location data showed Cole and Miller in the area prior to the incident.

The prosecution argued that circumstantial evidence portrayed Cole as a suspect.

Cole’s defense attorney, Jason Silverstein, countered the argument stating Cole and Miller never met each other on the night of the incident.

According to documents from the District Court of Maryland, on Jan. 22, 2022, Baltimore Police Department (BPD) investigators responded to the 4600 block of Walther Avenue, where they discovered Miller’s body with a gunshot wound to the head. A witness identified Cole arguing with Miller via Facetime before the incident.