Man gets life sentence for 2008 torture death

AIKEN, S.C. (AP) — A Columbia man has been sentenced to life in prison for the 2008 torture and murder of an Aiken man.

The Aiken Standard reports (http://bit.ly/y7jAGg ) that 33-year-old Antonio Miller was found guilty last week of murder, first degree burglary, kidnapping and weapons possession after a four-day trial.

Prosecutors say Miller and three other men were charged in the September 2008 home invasion of Frederick Tucker. Authorities say Tucker was tied with duct tape, burned with a heated screwdriver, pistol-whipped and shot after his home was ransacked in search of drugs and money.

Witnesses testified that Miller and his co-defendants planned the murder in advance, casing Tucker’s home several times.

Police testified blood stains on Miller’s shoes matched Tucker’s DNA.

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Information from: Aiken Standard, http://www.aikenstandard.com