Isaac Miller’s first degree murder trial was put on hold this morning after Miller’s defense attorney became ill Friday.
Miller, 27, was charged with first degree murder in the 2019 slaying of his father, Anthony Chestnut, in their Jackson Street home.
Defense Attorney J.B. Lee is recovering after a medical procedure. Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Foster had recessed court until Monday when the state wrapped up its case Thursday. Defense testimony was scheduled to begin Monday. Judge Foster will make a decision on whether to continue tomorrow based on Lee’s condition.
Miller is claiming that he shot Chestnut in self defense. Three women and another man were in the home when Miller and Chestnut began arguing, according to initial reports. Miller allegedly tried to prevent one of the women from dialing 911.
Ex-Chadbourn Police Chief Anthony Spivey and CPD Sgt. Chris Dudley performed CPR on Chestnut in his bedroom, but Chestnut died before EMS arrived. CPD, Fair Bluff Police and the sheriff’s office had to provide crowd control in the area near the home after Chestnut’s shooting.
Miller was arrested on drug, assault and murder charges a few weeks later, in January 2020. The day before his arrest, police were called to location about a man with a gun threatening people from the yard of the property.
It was the second time Miller allegedly shot a man in self defense. On Aug. 29, 2019, he allegedly killed William Nance at a home in the 500 block of Dessie Road, Chadbourn. Miller claimed he was acting in self defense in that shooting as well.
The killing was also the second at the single-wide trailer on Jackson Street, a deadend lane on the southern side of Chadbourn.
Kenneth Barnard “Woo” Wooten shot and killed West Columbus athlete Jacob Baldwin in the front yard there during the early morning hours of May 10, 2016. He was convicted of manslaughter on Dec. 9, 2021, and sentenced to six years and two months in prison.
While on parole, Wooten allegedly cut off his ankle monitor and went on a shooting spree in Chadbourn on Nov. 25-26, 2019, wounding one man and causing damage to several homes and vehicles. He was sent back to prison for an additional 23 months in that case. Wooten is scheduled to be released May 23, 2023.
