On January 9, 2023, a double murder occurred in Miami, Florida, resulting in the deaths of 61-year-old Bradley Griffith and 61-year-old Marie Lousirna Noel. The incident began on NW 38th Street and NW 22nd Avenue, where Bradley Griffith was found shot dead on the side of the road. Approximately 15 minutes later, another call was received regarding Marie Noel, who was also found shot to death about a mile away on NW 28th Street.
Both victims were identified as homeless individuals, and the community was deeply affected by their deaths. Surveillance video released by the police showed a suspect casually walking around after the murders, prompting a widespread search and appeal for community help to identify the perpetrator.
The suspect was described as a man between 20 to 30 years old, standing 5-foot 7 to 5-foot 10 inches tall, with a medium build, dark hair, and a goatee. He was last seen wearing a purple tie-dye shirt, purple camo shorts, and black sneakers. Despite the release of this description and the surveillance video, no witnesses had come forward at the time, highlighting the need for community assistance.
On June 15, 2023, an arrest was made in connection with the murders. Kenneth Allen Bent, a 30-year-old man, was identified as the suspect and taken into custody. Bent was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. His arrest was the result of a joint investigation involving the Miami-Dade Police and other law enforcement agencies, aided by ShotSpotter technology which helped place Bent at both crime scenes.
Bent had a prior criminal record, having been sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2012 for robbery and aggravated battery, and was released on June 3, 2022. The motive behind the murders was still under investigation at the time of his arrest. The community and law enforcement emphasized the importance of treating the lives of vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, with the same attention and detail as any other incident.
