Murder Case: Judge rejects plea for former school administrator
A Miami judge voided a 30-year prison agreement for Ernest Roberts, who was the godfather to the victims' daughters, after family members argued the deal was too lenient.
By Dominic Foster ·
The family of Camila Russell no longer has to wait for a trial verdict to determine the fate of the man accused of killing her. A judge in Miami voided a plea agreement on Thursday that would have sentenced Ernest Roberts to 30 years in prison. This decision follows a hearing where Russell’s relatives argued that the deal offered Roberts an easier path than standing trial.
Roberts, who served as an assistant principal at Miami-Norland Senior High School, was charged with first-degree murder in 2019. At the time of the incident, he was also the godfather to Russell’s two daughters. The original agreement included five years of probation after the prison term and accounted for the seven years Roberts has already spent in custody.
Prosecutors stated that Russell disappeared on May 15, 2019, after surveillance video showed her entering Roberts’ home in Miami Gardens. Footage later captured Roberts placing an object in her vehicle and driving away. Her car was found near County Line Road a few days later, and her body was recovered from a canal in Miami Gardens the following day. Police arrested Roberts based on the video, blood found at his residence, and a handwritten note regarding the disposal of her car.
During the hearing, Roberts displayed no visible emotion while listening to impact statements from his victims’ daughters. The younger daughter described the psychological toll of her mother’s absence, noting difficulties with waking up, hearing voices, and feeling safe in her surroundings. She said, “Living without my mother has affected me in so many ways, especially mentally. I struggle to even wake up in the morning.”
The older daughter addressed Roberts directly, criticizing his demeanor and lack of moral compass. She told him, “To Ernest, you are not a man, you are an overgrown child with no dignity, no morals, and no moral compass. Your greed has been and will forever be your downfall, you will never know peace.” She recalled how he had previously asked to pick the family up after her mother’s death and later offered an apology at their home.
Russell’s loved ones contended that the plea deal allowed Roberts to avoid the burden of a full trial and the presentation of all evidence against him. The judge agreed with the family's assessment and rejected the agreement. This outcome ends a seven-year period of delays for the family, who have sought justice since the 2019 disappearance.
Roberts is now expected to stand trial on the first-degree murder charge. The case had previously seen prosecutors attempt to seek the death penalty before the plea negotiations began.
