Like many teenagers Arthur Booth had dreams of a successful career. Outstanding at math and science he would tell friends and family he wanted to be a neuro-surgeon.
Sitting across from him in a classroom at Nautilus Middle School in Miami Beach Mindy Glazer also had ambitions.She had set her sights on college – first she wanted to be a veterinarian, but then she decided she wanted to go to law school and a have career as a top lawyer.
As millions of people have seen in a heart-wrenching courtroom video only one of those students fulfilled their dream.
The former classmates came face to face when Booth, 49, appeared before Glazer in her current role as a bond hearing judge.
Recognizing his former school friend Booth, a burglary suspect, sobbed as he was overcome with emotion at the highly unconventional school reunion.
Arthur Booth and classmate Judge Mindy Glazer
A video of the encounter has been seen more than seven million times.
It seemed a surprising moment. But information gathered has that it may be more surprising that they had not met before – as Booth has a lengthy criminal history.
Family members have revealed that Booth has spent almost half his entire adult life behind bars.
An addiction to crack cocaine and gambling led him into a life of petty crime as he desperately sought out cash for a quick fix.
It has meant Booth has been in and out of prison since he was 17, squandering any chance of a normal life or the career that he had once hoped for.
‘If it had not been for Arthur’s addictions to gambling and drugs he would not be where he is,’ said his cousin Melissa Miller in an exclusive interview.
‘That has been his downfall. He is not a violent person and has not hurt anyone but to feed his addictions he always needed money and it was easier to steal.
‘He has been the architect of his own downfall and made a lot of mistakes.
‘Everyone in the family now hopes that appearing before his old classmate and the shame he felt will be the wake up call. We just hope that he can move on from this and start his life over.’
Booth is currently being held at the Metro-West Detention center in Miami on $43,000 bond facing charges of burglary and fleeing from police.
The mugshot of Arthur Booth after his latest arrest, which led to him appearing in front of Mindy Glazer, seen in her official portrait
He had only been out of prison for seven months when he was arrested on the latest charges,
Given his criminal record he is likely to end up back behind bars for another long spell as a repeated felon if found guilty of his latest offense.
More than 35 years ago prison wasn’t on the horizon when Booth was handpicked to attend Nautilus Middle School after achieving outstanding grades at the William J. Bryant elementary school.
His mother Hilda and step-father Fresswell were delighted their son, the eldest of three children, had been picked to go what in the late 1970s was considered one of the best schools in Miami.
Family members said Arthur had self taught himself Spanish and excelled at math and science.
‘We always knew Arthur was something special as he was born with six fingers on his right hand,’ said his aunt Betty Knight.
‘He was such a lovely boy. So tenacious and always wanting to learn. He really was very bright and his parents were thrilled when he was chosen to go to Nautilus.’
Arthur would take a 30-minute bus trip to the school in Miami Beach from his home in North Miami and according to family members achieved outstanding grades. An honor roll student he seemed destined for college and a successful career.
It was at Nautilus that Booth first met Mindy Glazer, who lived with her parents and her brother, Stephen, in Biscayne Bay
She too was bright and ambitious, at first wanting to be a veterinarian, then – after she visited her married cousin and her husband in New York, where he was a defense attorney.
In their courtroom encounter she fondly remembered him as the ‘nicest kid in middle school’ and reminisced about playing football together.
Booth left Nautilus in 1980 with glowing reports and attended Miami Beach High School whose alumni include actor Andy Garcia and actress Ellen Barkin.
He remained in High School until the 11th grade when he dropped out. By that time, according to family members, Booth had become addicted to gambling.
Game of pokes and craps replaced his studies. ‘Arthur would just gamble on anything and at anytime,’ said 27-year-old Melissa.
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