Sentenced To Life, Man Apologizes To Family Of Victim He Stabbed 132 Times
MOUNT CLEMENS (WWJ/AP) - A 20-year-old Detroit man convicted of murder on accusations he stabbed a Warren man more than 130 times during a robbery targeting gay men has offered an apology.
Macomb County Circuit Court Judge James Biernat sentenced Andrew T. Clark to the mandatory term of life in prison without parole. A Macomb County jury last month convicted Clark of first-degree murder.
Clark told 57-year-old Robert Miller Jr.'s family during the hearing that he was "truly sorry" for the November 2010 killing. Clark said he was under the influence of ecstasy and marijuana, the Macomb Daily reported.
"For those who think I have no remorse or don't care, I do. I wish I could explain how and why I did this. I can't believe I did this. I am truly sorry," Clark said in court.
Before officially declaring a sentence, Biernat pointed out the "evil" and inconceivable nature of a note left by Clark -- which read: "He said tell the Family he loves them. Sincerly(sic), the Killer." -- adding that the young man would die in prison.
Investigators say Clark met Miller through a telephone dating service in 2010, exchanging over 40 phone calls in the two weeks they knew each other.
According to court records, the men met up on Nov. 23, 2010 at Miller's home on 14 Mile in Warren. Randy Rodnick, Clark's attorney, said his client was prompted to attack because Miller came on to him.
"My client freaked out… He got enraged and the stabbing occurred multiple times," said Rodnick, who had asked jurors to consider a less-serious charge of second-degree murder.
Assistant Macomb Prosecutor Chad Davis told the jurors that Clark was "setting up gay men specifically to rob them."
"The defendant initiated the contact with Mr. Miller and basically groomed him," said Davis.
Miller bled to death on his dining room floor after suffering 132 stab wounds.
Authorities say Clark also stole jewelry and other items from Miller's condo. They also say Clark took Miller's Nissan Maxima, which was later found torched in Detroit.
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