Teen-Ager Convicted in Carjacking That Sparked National Outrage

A teen-ager was found guilty of murder Friday in the slaying of a woman who was dragged 1 1/2 miles to her death in a carjacking case that prompted national calls for stronger penalties against violent auto thefts.

Bernard Miller, 17, also was convicted of robbery and of kidnaping Pam Basu’s 22-month-old daughter, Sarina.

Basu, a 34-year-old research chemist, was beaten and forced from her car at a stop sign near her home in Savage, Md., on Sept. 8. She was dragged after her arm became tangled in a seat belt.

Her daughter was later dropped unharmed by the roadside in her car seat.

The slaying prompted Congress to declare carjacking a felony. Several states, including Maryland, also have passed carjacking laws.

Rodney Solomon, 27, will be tried later on similar charges. Prosecutors say Miller and Solomon were roaming the affluent suburb between Washington and Baltimore after a stolen Cadillac they were in ran out of gas.

Both men pleaded not guilty and told police that the other was responsible for the carjacking.

But Assistant State’s Atty. Michael Rexroad described Miller as a willing participant who repeatedly kicked and beat Basu.

When the carjackers were unable to dislodge Basu’s body by driving close to a barbed wire fence, Miller got out of the car and pulled the body off, Rexroad said.

Howard County Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney set sentencing for June 29.