Man involved in murder of local religious leader receives sentence

COLUMBUS (WCMH) – A man found guilty on two charges involving the murder a Columbus religious leader received his sentence in court Tuesday.

In January, Isaiah Brown-Miller was found guilty of aggravated robbery and kidnapping in connection to the murder of Mohamed Hassan Adam, who was reported missing on Dec. 22, 2021.

On Tuesday a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge sentenced Brown-Miller to between 26 and 31 years in prison on both charges.

Brown-Miller and his accomplice, John Wooden, robbed and shot Adam several times in a vacant lot in Columbus’ South Linden neighborhood. His body was found inside of a van near the intersection of Joyce Avenue and Windsor Avenue.

Wooden, who was arrested six months after Adam's death, was found guilty on Oct. 25 of aggravated murder, kidnapping, felonious assault and aggravated robbery. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday, after his original sentencing hearing was delayed.

Adam was an imam at the Masjid Abu Hurairah mosque in Columbus, as well as a leader in the local Muslim and Somali communities.

In a victim impact letter submitted into court records, penned to judge Karen Phipps, Adam's family asked for the maximum sentence for Brown-Miller and Wooden and citing the murder of Adam, "a terrible loss to the entire Central Ohio community".

The letter, which was signed by over 300 people, said Adam "bridged gaps between communities and engaged with Christian, Jewish and Muslim organizations to improve interfaith relations and encourage local civic engagement," and emphasized, "understanding among faiths and principles of compassion and unity."