Miami-Dade Educator Accused In Teacher's Death

MIAMI GARDENS, FL — Police investigating the death of Norland Senior High School teacher Kameela Russell have arrested a former assistant principal at the school who worked with Russell and had known her since the two were children.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle announced the arrest of former assistant principal Ernest J. Roberts on a charge of first-degree murder during a Friday afternoon press conference.

Fernandez Rundle was joined by Russel's mother, Linda Russell; her aunt, Donna Blyden, as well as Miami Gardens Mayor Oliver Gilbert and Miami Gardens Police Chief Delma Noel-Pratt.

The murder has rocked the community of Miami Gardens, which has grown accustomed to stories of violence, but none quite like the death of the beloved high school teacher allegedly at the hand of a man who not only grew up with her, but who was also the godfather of her two children.

"We know that this arrest has been very difficult on Kameela Russell's family because they've been family for years," said Fernandez Rundle. "It's been additionally compounded by the difficult process of trying to grapple with how did someone who they felt so close to — that felt like family to them — could have done this to their loved one."

Fernandez Rundle said investigators have yet to determine a motive for the slaying but found surveillance video from a neighbor of Roberts that placed Russell at Roberts' home moments after she left her aunt's driveway at 6:03 p.m. on May 15. Fernandez Rundle said Roberts' own video surveillance system had been shut off just prior to Russell's arrival based on an analysis by the U.S. Secret Service.

"Murder is not a necessary element of a crime," said Fernandez Rundle. "We know the family is going to have those kinds of questions. We all want to know that. It's human nature to try to find out how was it that someone so close could have done this to someone that was so loved by so many people."

Russell had been last seen in her black, 2014 Audi A6, as she arrived in her aunt's driveway in the 800 block of NW 203rd Street. She was spotted around 6 p.m. and had made arrangements to pick up one of her two daughters for gymnastics practice on May 15.

Mobile phone records revealed that Russell received a call from Roberts between 6:01 p.m. and 6:03 p.m. She was spotted on surveillance video arriving at Roberts' home, seven blocks away in the 1500 block of NW 203 Street at 6:03 p.m.

"She received a call from the defendant and pulled out of the driveway," said Fernandez Rundle, referring to the driveway of Russell's aunt. "Driving only a short distance, because he lived very close by, she pulled out of the driveway and then drove to the defendant's house. That was the last time that she was seen alive. She entered the defendant's home, never being seen alive again."

A spokeswoman for Miami-Dade County Public Schools told Patch that the district removed Roberts from his position as a precaution once officials learned of the police investigation. Roberts most recently worked as an assistant principal at Linda Lentin K8 Center in Golden Glades.

"Miami-Dade County Public Schools is appalled and saddened after learning of today’s arrest in connection to the death of Kameela Russell," said the spokesperson. "Following his arrest, the district has initiated the employment termination process. Our prayers and thoughts continue to be with Ms. Russell’s family."

Russel's body was found floating in a canal in the same Coconut Cay community where Roberts lived in his mother's home. His mother lives out of state. The body had been wrapped in a tarp.

Darren Caprara of the Miami-Dade County Medical Examiner's office told Patch earlier that the cause of death was blunt head injury.

Caprara, who is director of operations with the Medical Examiner's office, also said earlier that the Miami Gardens Police Department performed a fingerprint analysis to confirm Russell's identity.

Five days after Russell's disappearance, investigators received an important piece of information from a Miami-Dade school employee who said he was asked by Roberts in a note to dispose of an Audi. Robert's also allegedly placed a phone call to the employee in which Roberts allegedly confided that he had killed an intruder in his home and wanted advice on how to get rid of the intruder's blood.

"What he was supposed to do with the car was chop it up so no one could find it," said Fernandez Rundle. "Roberts told this employee earlier that he had an intruder and 'there was blood in my house, and I want you to tell me how I'm supposed to clean up this blood.' And that's what led to a search warrant."

Mayor Gilbert said he met Russell when he visited the school on multiple occasions. She always impressed him with her warmth.

Chief Noel-Pratt said she promised Russell's family that the agency wouldn't rest until they found out who was responsible for the teacher's death.

"Today, I'm glad we were able to get some type of closure," the chief said.

A GoFundMe started by a family friend said Russell "vanished without a trace" on May 15, leaving behind two daughters. The page had raised about $2,325 as of Friday morning.

Roberts started working for Miami-Dade schools in August of 2004 and became a teacher at Miami Norland Senior High School in December of 2012. Five years later he was named an assistant principal at the school, according to the district spokesperson.

He was transferred to Linda Lentin K-8 Center in February 2019 based on district policy, several months before Russell's death. Roberts had no prior disciplinary history with the district.

"Miami-Dade Schools Police has provided any and all assistance requested by the Miami Gardens Police Department in their investigation," the school district spokesperson added.