(MARIETTA, Ga. — Feb. 6, 2025) — A Cobb County jury has convicted Samuel Etuk, 38, of criminal solicitation to commit murder and influencing a witness in connection to an armed robbery and murder-for-hire plot, District Attorney Sonya F. Allen announced.

On Jan. 30, 2021, Mylea King called 911 to report an armed robbery at her Cobb County apartment. King, who ran an at-home nail business, told police she had been contacted on Instagram by a man using the alias “Darren Herring” seeking a manicure. During the appointment, "Herring" briefly left and returned with three masked men who forced their way inside.

The intruders assaulted King, bound her with tape, and used a lamp cord and bedsheet to restrain her. They stole her laptop, debit card, passport and firearm before fleeing. Police later identified two assailants as Michael Hansell and Samuel Etuk. King said she had met Etuk previously through a mutual acquaintance. Investigators found digital messages on Etuk’s phone coordinating the crime.

Etuk and Hansell were arrested March 8, 2021. While in custody, Etuk solicited an inmate with ties to the Aryan Brotherhood to have King killed, offering $10,000 for the hit, police said. MCS Narcotics agents uncovered the plot after the inmate reported it. Investigators set up an undercover operative posing as a hitman. A search of Etuk’s jail cell found notes detailing the murder-for-hire.

During the trial, Superior Court Judge Henry R. Thompson issued directed verdicts on the armed robbery and aggravated assault charges. After 10 hours of deliberation over multiple days, the jury found Etuk guilty of criminal solicitation to commit murder and influencing a witness. Judge Thompson sentenced Etuk to 10 years in prison, to be served consecutively.

"This guilty verdict shows our commitment to holding people accountable for violent crimes," said District Attorney Sonya F. Allen. "I'm proud of the hard work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners in securing justice for the victim in this case."

Co-defendant Michael Hansell pled guilty on Nov. 13, 2023, and was sentenced to 20 years and must serve 15 in prison.

The Cobb County District Attorney’s Office thanked the Cobb County Police Department and MCS Narcotics agents for their work on the case.