The man who pleaded guilty to murder in the death of 11-month-old Mercedes Lain will be sentenced in Starke Circuit Court Tuesday morning.
An amended plea agreement was negotiated between Defense Attorney Alex Hoover and Special Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Tami Napier in this case for defendant Justin Lee Miller and a plea hearing was held December 20 in Starke Circuit Court.
According to factual basis information given during the plea hearing, 37-year-old Justin Lee Miller is accused of inflicting serious blunt force trauma injuries to Mercedes Lain’s head while at a residence in Mishawaka in the early morning hours of August 14, 2021. Lain later died of those injuries. It was then when Miller drove to Starke County and buried her body in the area of 1025 E. and 50 N, according to testimony given during the plea hearing.
Per the terms of the agreement as discussed in open court, Miller would agree to plead guilty to one count of murder, a felony. A sentence enhancement would be dismissed, if Starke Circuit Court Judge Kim Hall agrees to accept the proposed agreement at a sentencing hearing tomorrow at 10 a.m. CT. If the judge rejects the plea agreement, the plea of guilty would be withdrawn and a jury trial date may be set.
The court would have discretion of the sentence. The charge of murder has a minimum sentence of 45 years and a maximum sentence of 65 years in the Indiana Department of Corrections. Judge Hall will determine the sentence upon the presentation of evidence and argument surrounding the case by the prosecution and defense, as well the weight of any mitigating or aggravating circumstances. A pre-sentence investigation report will outline some of those circumstances, as well as certain questions asked by the court.
Watch the hearing live with this link.
