‘Life stealing’ Columbia teen killer given 40 years by judge

“You stole his life.”

With the courtroom watching, state circuit Judge Knox McMahon looked at Maurice Miller, at 19 already a small-time Columbia criminal, who had just pleaded guilty to the random crime of shooting and killing a man last year during an attempted daylight armed robbery.

The victim, Rickey Baker, 26, was walking as he did every day to catch a bus to go to work.

“I look at murder as stealing a life. It is the worst crime that can be committed,” McMahon continued.

McMahon then sentenced Miller to 40 years in prison for the July 2015 shooting death of Baker, described by family as a happy energetic fellow who made people laugh and who had a steady job working at Dick Smith’s auto repair shop.

“He caught the bus back and forth to work every day,” the judge said, noting that last July 2, the sun had just risen as Baker was walking down Longcreek Drive.

“He probably never thought in his mind that he would not see the sun set,” McMahon continued.

Baker’s final conscious seconds were spent on his back bleeding out on Longcreek Drive, where he managed to dial 911.

“I’m shot! I’m shot! I’m shot! Help me!” he screamed into his cell phone.

Those words were captured on 911 line and played by prosecutor Meghan Walker to a Richland County jury Tuesday.

The 911 operator lost contact and tried several times to call him back. She got no answer. He died 30 minutes later.

On Wednesday, on the second day of his trial, as Walker and fellow 5th Circuit assistant solicitor Luck Campbell got ready to present evidence, Miller told his lawyers he wanted to plead guilty to murder. Evidence included DNA that linked Miller to the stolen car he was in, testimony from friends who were in the car with him and and on-scene surveillance cameras.

A plea deal was worked out. The sentence would be up to the judge, but no more than 40 years.

Before McMahon pronounced sentence, Baker’s mother, Joyce Fisher, told the judge that she would pray for Miller’s soul, but, “I want to ask for the full 40 years. I don’t get to hug my son now; my son is in a box today.”

Miller’s lawyer, Megan Eigenbrot, had asked the judge to give Miller only 30 years, due to the teen’s youth, personal troubles and shaky home life. McMahon noted that Miller was on probation at the time, having been convicted recently of second-degree burglary and taking a car without permission.

And, the judge noted, several days earlier, Miller had used his gun to steal the Chevrolet Trail Blazer that he was riding around in when he shot and killed Baker.

If tried and found guilty by a jury, Miller could have gotten life without parole.

After court, friends and family members thanked prosecutors and Richland County sheriff’s investigators for their work and talked about their loss.

“This is a mother who will never hear her son say, ‘Happy Mother’s Day,’” said Linda Newman, a friend of Baker’s mother and co-worker. “She will suffer many hurtful things.”

Stacy Baker, Rickey Baker’s cousin, said he cared about people, loved music and was always singing and making jokes.

“He would give you the shirt off his back. If they had just pulled up and asked for the shoes off his feet and the shirt off his back, he would have given it to him,” she said. “He was just that type of person.”

This story was originally published August 11, 2016 at 5:28 PM.