Trial ordered in death of man stabbed 128 times

Kim Smith

Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002 | 9:05 a.m.

Two Las Vegas men will stand trial in the death of a 58-year-old man who was stabbed more than 100 times.

Justice of the Peace Nancy Oesterle said there was sufficient evidence to try Anthony Prentice, 19, and James Harrison, 21, on charges of conspiracy to commit murder and murder with use of a deadly weapon.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Lalli said Harrison faces a burglary charge as well.

Daniel Miller's body was found Sept. 5 after relatives called police concerned they hadn't been able to reach him for several days.

Miller had been stabbed 128 times and beaten with a hammer and had a swastika carved in his back following his death.

Prentice, who lived with Miller, was arrested shortly thereafter.

The teenager said he last saw Miller Aug. 30 after introducing Harrison to him. According to police reports, Prentice said he left the apartment after hearing what he thought was sexual activity and arguing.

Harrison, who was also arrested and charged with murder, told police, however, that Prentice attacked Miller because Miller called him a derogatory name.

"Prentice retrieved his knife from a desk nearby and started stabbing Miller," a police report quotes Harrison as saying. "Miller started to yell, 'What have I done to deserve this?' "

According the report, Harrison said he grabbed Miller from behind and tried to muffle Miller's yells. He also hit Miller in the head and face with his fist and continued to hold him while Prentice repeatedly stabbed him.

At the time of his arrest, Prentice was serving five years' probation for participating in an uprising in June 2001 at the Summit View Youth Correctional Center near North Las Vegas.

District Judge Joseph Bonaventure on Wednesday sentenced Prentice to 12 to 48 months in prison after he admitted he violated his probation prior to the slaying by failing to report to his probation officer and not paying restitution and supervision fees.

Prentice and Harrison will be arraigned in the murder case by District Judge John McGroarty within the next two weeks.