Baltimore Man Charged With Murdering and Burning Girlfriend Rejects Life Plea

By Alyssia Davis [former] - September 19, 2022
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Victims |

A Baltimore man charged with murder rejected a life plea on Sept. 16 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Melissa M. Phinn. 

Jermaine Jeter, 40, is charged with first-degree murder, use of a firearm during a felony violent crime, having a handgun in a vehicle, having a handgun on his person, possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, second-degree arson, and first-degree malicious burns in connection to an incident on Oct. 24, 2021. 

Jeter also has several other active cases, including one where he is charged with five counts of first and second-degree attempted murder, along with multiple firearm and assault charges. 

According to Baltimore Fox, on Oct. 24, 2021, an off-duty firefighter found 39-year-old Leandrea Sampson inside a parked burning car. Investigators say that the victim was fatally shot in the head. She also had a gunshot wound in her arm. 

The prosecutor filed a motion to have all the defendant’s cases joined together. The prosecutor also presented a plea of life suspending all but 60 years for all of the defendants’ cases.

Jeter’s defense counsel, Brandon Taylor, rejected the plea.

The defendant’s trial is scheduled for March 31, 2023. It is expected to last nine days.