A preliminary hearing date will be set Tuesday for two men accused of murdering 75-year-old South Pasadena resident Susan Miller in her home last June.
Josh Edward Atkins, 44, and Bikramjot Singh Padda, 28, are scheduled to appear at 8:30 a.m. in Department 36 of the Criminal Courts Building in downtown Los Angeles. Both men face charges of murder and first-degree residential burglary with a person present.
Defendants Plead Not Guilty
Atkins pleaded not guilty on January 24, 2025, while Padda entered the same plea on December 23, 2024. Atkins remains in custody on a $2.02 million bail, while Padda is held on $2.05 million bail.
Prosecutors allege that Atkins and Padda broke into Miller’s home on the 800 block of Brent Avenue around 3:30 a.m. on June 4, 2024. Court documents indicate that Atkins, born May 2, 1980, allegedly used a knife during the crime.
Details of the Crime
Miller was found dead later that evening from multiple stab wounds to her upper body. Her grandchildren discovered her body around 8:45 p.m. while checking on her welfare.
Authorities believe another person may have been present during the burglary, though no additional suspects have been publicly identified. There is no indication of a pre-existing relationship between Atkins and Padda beyond their alleged collaboration in the crime – according to court documents.
Arrests and Investigation
Padda was initially detained in June 2024 but released two days later without charges. Following further investigation, detectives arrested Atkins on November 12, 2024, in the Santa Clarita Valley, and Padda was re-arrested on November 16, 2024, booked at the sheriff’s Norwalk station.
Former District Attorney George Gascón addressed the case, expressing sympathy for Miller’s family and emphasizing the tragic nature of the crime, given that one of the suspects is her grandson.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate, with prosecutors from the District Attorney’s Office Major Crimes Division leading the case.
What’s Next?
Atkins and Padda were originally scheduled for arraignment on December 19, 2024, in Department 30 of the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center. Their next court date was previously set for March 4, 2025.
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of life in state prison.
For more details on this case, read our breaking news coverage of the initial crime: South Pasadena Elderly Woman Found Stabbed to Death on Brent
