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Family of murdered Patrice Wilson speak at sentencing
Family of Patrice Wilson, the Detroit Receiving hospital nurse that was killed by an ex-boyfriend, gave statements that admonished Jamere Miller before he was sentenced to prison.
DETROIT (FOX 2) - Patrice Wilson was a 29-year-old nurse at Detroit Medical Center who left her job on the morning of May 13 when she was kidnapped and later found murdered in her own car. On Tuesday, the man who disguised himself in a wig, hat, and glasses before the kidnapping was sentenced for her murder.
Jamere Miller pleaded guilty a month ago to the May murder of Wilson and, as part of the plea deal, was sentenced on Tuesday to at least 35 years in prison.
On Tuesday, Miller was sentenced as family and friends spoke in memory of Wilson. The prosecution read through two victim's statements, including one from Kalise Thomas, Miller's cousin, who said she experiences nightmares from the murder of Wilson.
"The tremendous void will never be filled and the heartbreak will never go away,"
"You took Patrice away from her child, family, and friends. …You hurt us in a way that is indescribable. You have not showed any mercy for your cowardly acts," Thomas wrote.
She went on, saying that Miller "blamed everyone but yourself" on jail phone calls with his mom.
"No amount of time that you plead to will ever bring closure to me or my family," she said.
Other family members urged for the maximum sentence possible, even though it was decided with the plea agreement.
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Emotional day in court for family of Patrice Wilson as murderer is sentenced
Patrice Wilson was a mom, daughter, niece, sister, cousin, and granddaughter. In May, her life was ended after only 29 years when her ex showed up at her work and kidnapped her before ultimately killing her.
When Wilson's grandmother, Pamela Golston, spoke, however. She seemed to grab the entire attention of the courtroom.
"I am so angry for what you have caused for my family," she said.
Golston was just getting started.
"What kind of person are you? Where do you come from? Who can even support you right now? The hurt that you have caused on my family - you don't deserve…you need life (in prison)," Golston said. "How could you love a person and you took her life? How? Is that love? Is that really love?"
"Why did you do this to my family? Why? How would you like somebody to do that to your mama? Or your sister? You think they would like it? You ain't fit to live. I shouldn't say it, but it's real," she said.
Golston said if it was up to her, MIller would have been sentenced to life in prison.
When Miller got his chance to speak, he read a statement that, at times was inaudible in court. He said he has spent time thinking about what he's done to Wilson's family and his own family.
"There's nothing I can do to take back any of this," he said. "I can read all of these pages I wrote but…I don't know. I don't know what to say except sorry."
Miller's attorney then read through his letter where Miller wrote that Patrice didn't deserve this and they both didn't deserve to lose their lives over ‘foolishness’.
"I failed her. I failed us. I failed our kids, our family, and our friends. I'm so ashamed," the letter read.
The letter included details about the day Wilson was murdered and Miller expressed remorse for his actions.
The judge said he echoed the sentiments of all the statements and called the murder senseless while saying it was up to Wilson's family to forgive or understand his actions.
There are plenty of people in this courtroom who believe you should be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Given your age and sentence there is a good chance that will in fact be the case," the judge said.
Miller was then formally sentenced to 35 to 60 years in prison.
Miller has admitted to killing the young nurse and said he disguised himself while waiting in the parking lot of the hospital as she ended her shift that morning. When she got into her car, Miller said he got into the back seat of the car before shooting her.
Miller then got into the driver's seat and fled the scene.
Wilson's body was later found in the rear of a car at a Novi apartment.
Why was Patrice Wilson killed?
According to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office, Wilson was ending a relationship with Miller when he murdered her.
Detroit Police oversaw the investigation, which led to evidence in Inkster, Garden City and Novi. They found her in her own car hours after Wilson went missing.
Detroit Police launched an urgent manhunt trying to find the suspect, identified as Miller.
Two days after she was murdered, Miller turned himself in, saying he was "feeling the pressure of this investigation," Detroit Police Chief James White said.
On Oct. 10, Miller pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder. He'll be sentenced Nov. 1. In exchange for his guilty plea, charges of first-degree murder, felony murder, carjacking, armed robbery, and multiple counts of felony firearm will be dismissed during the next hearing.
Miller has a long criminal history for gun and drug charges, plus assault, drunk driving, and eluding police crimes.
MORE: Family of murdered Detroit nurse plan to sue hospital for negligence