Jury Finds Man Accused of Shooting Girlfriend, Burning Her Body Not Guilty on All Counts

By Andrew Michaels , Alyssia Davis [former] - April 21, 2023
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | Shooting | Suspects | Victims |

A Baltimore man accused of fatally shooting Leandrea Sampson and burning her body inside a car was found not guilty on April 20 before Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Lawrence Fletcher-Hill.

Jermaine Jeter, 41, was originally charged with first-degree murder, first-degree malicious burning, second-degree arson, and four weapons charges in connection to the 39-year-old’s murder on Oct. 24, 2021. The jury’s verdict comes after a six-day trial.

During closing arguments on April 18, defense attorney Brandon Taylor did not discount Sampson’s tragic death, but described his client as “an easy target” given his alleged romantic relationship with the victim. Sampson’s family deserves to find the person responsible for their loved one’s death; however, Baltimore Police did not look for any other possible suspects.

“Don’t be persuaded by sympathy,” Taylor told the jury. “Convicting an innocent man for Ms. Sampson’s murder is not justice. The lead detective proved how insufficient this investigation was.”

Despite the prosecution and police’s belief that Jeter and Sampson had a relationship, the defense attorney argued that his client did not know the victim prior to meeting her at a cookout. In addition to the lack of evidence showing Jeter was acting hostile toward Sampson, he continued, it was also learned during the trial that Sampson was being abused by her boyfriend at the time.

“Why did we have to find out about her in a relationship in the middle of trial?” Taylor asked.

The prosecutor previously painted another picture for the jury, saying that the defendant and victim had a complicated relationship, suggesting that they had been dating for several months. At one point, near the time of the murder, Jeter became jealous when he saw Sampson talking to other men.

Jurors were also reminded of the video surveillance footage played a trial that showed Jeter trying to leave the area with Sampson’s car—a car that a Baltimore City firefighter later found on fire with the victim’s body inside. The fire destroyed any prints from within the car.

“In his statement to police, he did not show any emotions for the woman he was dating,” the prosecutor said. “…This defendant executed Leandrea Sampson.”