EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. — An East Alton man was found guilty of hiring someone to shoot up his ex-girlfriend's home and set her van on fire in 2023.
A jury found Lorenzo Miller, 42, guilty in a Madison County Circuit Court of solicitation of murder.
Prosecutors said he solicited Vernon McIntosh, 38, to murder his ex-girlfriend. He was also found guilty of one count of obstructing justice for lying to police and saying he did not know McIntosh. Each charge is a felony.
McIntosh was charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated discharge of a firearm and arson. He is still awaiting trial.
According to a press release from the Madison County State's Attorney, on March 26, 2023, the home of Miller's ex "came under a barrage of gunfire." There were no injuries, but one bullet lightly grazed the woman's friend and went through their sweater.
Assistant State's Attorney Morgan Hudson said in her closing argument that Miller was upset that she broke up with him and “couldn’t let her go,” but knew that if something happened to her, he'd be a primary suspect. “He couldn’t get his hands dirty,” Hudson said.
Assistant State's Attorney Lauren Miracle said in her opening statement to jurors that Miller decided to “find somebody else to do his dirty work.”
Days after the shooting, the woman's van was set on fire outside her home. She called the police and feared someone was trying to lure her outside as the van burned. “Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!” and “Please, hurry!” she told police in a 911 call that was played for jurors.
During the investigation, Alton police used license plate reading technology to establish that Miller's car, which was being used by his associate, was near his ex's home at the time of the shooting and van fire.
Detectives also used phone records to find out that Miller and McIntosh spoke minutes before and after the incident.
Miller is facing up to three decades behind bars. A sentencing date has yet to be scheduled.
