Man Sentenced For Murder, Trying To Blow Up Body In Hamden: Feds

HAMDEN, CT — A West Haven man has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for a drug-related murder along with trying to destroy the victim’s body with a pipe bomb on July 4, 2015, according to authorities. Christopher Miller, 43, was also sentenced Wednesday to five years of supervised release following the prison term, U.S. States Attorney for Connecticut John H. Durham announced in a press release.

According to court documents and statements made in court, at approximately 11 a.m. on July 4, 2015, an explosion took place on Wintergreen Avenue in Hamden. Responding law enforcement located a deceased white male, who had been wrapped in plastic garbage bag material and bound by rope material, in a wooded area close to where the explosion had occurred. An explosive-type device and debris were also located in close proximity to the body. The victim, who had also sustained three apparent gunshot wounds, was subsequently identified as Edward Brooks, 39, of West Haven. To sign up for Hamden breaking news alerts and more, click here.

“After West Haven Police informed investigators that Brooks had been residing with Miller at 59 Front Avenue in West Haven, and that Miller and other residents of 59 Front Avenue were subjects of an ongoing narcotics investigation, investigators executed a state narcotics search and seizure warrant at 59 Front Avenue and seized numerous items, including pipe bomb making materials that were consistent with the materials found at the Wintergreen Avenue explosion scene, approximately 16 grams of cocaine base (“crack cocaine), approximately 10.6 grams of methamphetamine and narcotics packaging material,” according to a press release from the U.S. States Attorney’s Office. “Investigators also seized a surveillance DVR, which captured video surveillance from eight cameras placed around the residence.

“The investigation revealed that, in the early morning hours of July 4, 2015, Miller shot Brooks three times with a firearm that was equipped with a silencer, at their residence. Miller and Maurice Wearing then wrapped Brooks’ body in plastic, drove the body to the wooded area in Hamden, placed a pipe bomb that Miller had fabricated underneath Brooks’ body, and detonated the pipe bomb in an attempt to destroy evidence.”

The investigation further revealed that in the year prior to Brooks’ murder, Miller distributed at least 1.6 kilograms of crack cocaine, as well as other narcotics, authorities said.

Miller has been detained since his arrest on July 4, 2015. He pleaded guilty on April 5, 2017, to one count of possession of a firearm and explosive device in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Wearing pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine base (“crack cocaine”) and one count of possession of an explosive by a convicted felon. He awaits sentencing.

Miller and Wearing also were charged with related state offenses.

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