‘It’s been so many years,’ says mom of teacher allegedly killed by assistant principal

Crime admin October 9, 2026 0 Comments

‘It’s been so many years,’ says mom of teacher allegedly killed by assistant principal

The mother of a Miami-Dade teacher who mysteriously vanished and was later found in a canal walked into a courtroom on Friday, seeking an end to the years-long court proceedings.

Dressed in an orange jumpsuit, Ernest Joseph Roberts, 47, sat in the jury box as Linda Russell, the mother of Kameela Russell, spoke to Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Alberto Milian. Roberts was indicted on a first-degree murder charge in Russell’s killing.

“It’s been so many years,” Linda Russell said. “I’m just trying to see if we can come to… something to end all of this.”

Roberts’ attorneys and prosecutors are working on reaching a resolution, Milian said. The next hearing is set for Oct. 30 at 11 a.m.

Kameela Russell, a popular teacher at Norland High in North Miami-Dade, disappeared on May 15, 2019, after failing to pick up her daughter at a relative’s home in Miami Gardens. Roberts, an ex-assistant principal at Norland, once worked with Russell at the school.

READ MORE: Former assistant principal charged with murder of Miami Norland High educator

Days later, her body was found in a canal near Roberts’ home. Russell and Roberts were friends since childhood, and Roberts was the godfather of Russell’s children.

Investigators immediately honed in on Roberts. Russell, according to detectives, was seen walking into Roberts’ home on the day she disappeared. But she was never spotted leaving.

Roberts’ video surveillance security system, police said, was shut off just before Russell arrived at his home.

When detectives searched Robert’s home, they found Russell’s blood and DNA on an Amazon box inside Roberts’ bedroom, which had been thoroughly cleaned with bleach. Roberts was also captured on surveillance footage putting something — which investigators believe was Russell’s body — in the trunk of her black Audi and then driving her car away, according to the arrest warrant.

Investigators believe Roberts tried to enlist the help of a school janitor to get rid of Russell’s car, penning a note and leaving it hidden inside a cabinet at Linda Lentin K-8 Center in North Miami, where Roberts was working at the time.

“Do you know anyone that can chop up a car? If so or make it ‘disappear’ take these keys,” Roberts’ note read, according to the warrant. “Its behind the speedway racetrack on 441 by County line. Friends are gone and need it to disappear. If not leave it + I’ll work it out later. THROW THIS NOTE AWAY!”

Inside was a set of car keys, leading police to finding the black Audi where the note said it would be.

The janitor called Miami Gardens police officers and said Roberts told him he “did something crazy,” according to the warrant. He also said Roberts claimed an intruder broke into his home, and he “hit the person with a baseball bat.” Roberts later told the janitor that he killed the supposed intruder, wrapped him in a tarp and “dragged the body through the house leaving blood stains.”

Roberts also asked the janitor how he could get rid of blood stains, according to the warrant. The janitor said he suggested using bleach, thinking Roberts was joking. The janitor later called Roberts, and Roberts acknowledged the Audi and “referenced in the handwritten note.”

That call, however, was secretly recorded by detectives. Roberts was arrested almost a month after the slaying on June 14, 2019. He was facing the death penalty until prosecutors waived it in 2021.