Former Assistant Principal Tries to Plead Guilty to Bludgeoning Teacher to Death — Judge Rejects Deal After Family’s Emotional Plea

A Florida courtroom erupted with emotion when a former assistant principal attempted to plead guilty to killing a longtime friend, only for a judge to reject the proposed deal after hearing the victim’s family speak. Ernest Joseph Roberts, 47, had been expected to accept a plea agreement in the 2019 murder of Kameela Russell, a 41-year-old teacher and mother of two. But what was supposed to be a step toward resolving the case became an emotional confrontation, with Russell’s daughters and mother making it clear they did not believe the proposed punishment was enough.

Russell disappeared on May 15, 2019, after leaving her sister’s home in Miami Gardens. She had gone there to pick up her daughter for gymnastics class, but reportedly received a phone call from Roberts, a man she had known for more than 30 years. He was also the godfather of her two children and had previously worked as an assistant principal at the school where Russell was employed. Investigators said surveillance footage showed Russell arriving at Roberts’ home shortly after the call. She was never seen alive again.

Ten days later, Russell’s body was discovered wrapped in a tarp and floating in a canal. A medical examiner determined that she had suffered severe blunt-force injuries to both sides of her head and ruled her death a homicide. Investigators later reported finding blood inside Roberts’ home, along with evidence that someone had attempted to clean the area. An affidavit described the smell of bleach throughout the residence and visible cleaning residue on the bedroom floor. Roberts was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

At the November 6, 2026, court hearing, Roberts indicated that he wanted to plead guilty to second-degree murder. However, there was confusion over the terms of the agreement. He initially appeared to believe he would receive 30 years of probation, when the actual deal called for 30 years in state prison followed by five years of probation. After speaking with his attorney, Roberts said he was willing to accept the prison sentence. The agreement would have allowed him to avoid a trial and resolve the case with a reduced murder charge.

Then Russell’s family members addressed the court. Her daughters described growing up without their mother and losing the opportunity to share important milestones with her. One daughter recalled that she never got to hold her mother’s hand one last time because there was no traditional casket at the funeral. She directly confronted Roberts, calling him a coward and expressing her anger over the violence that had taken her mother away. Russell’s mother also spoke about the pain of losing her daughter and the betrayal of someone the family had trusted for decades.

Judge Alberto Milian paused the proceedings and asked Russell’s mother whether she wanted him to accept the plea agreement. When she answered no, the judge rejected the deal and said the case would move forward toward trial. He apologized to the family, acknowledging that he should have spoken with them before the agreement was presented. Immediately afterward, Roberts’ attorney requested that the judge recuse himself, and Milian agreed. Roberts remains charged with first-degree murder, and no new trial date had been announced in the reports available at the time.

Source: PEOPLE