We’ve got a lot to cover this week— including a couple of cases we’ve never discussed here but will endeavor to keep up with going forward. So, let’s get going:
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: Though Mica Miller’s death investigation seems to be wrapped up (though we can’t help but have lingering doubts about that whole situation), the fallout of her death continues to unfold, squarely putting her pastor husband (who she was separated from) in the crosshairs. This week has included more and more stories circulating— including court filings and police reports, which are hard to argue with— regarding John Paul Miller’s behavior before and after her death. In a released letter he wrote to Mica, he even calls his own actions towards her “evil.”
It seems that some of the public outrage that surrounds this case is because the husband is a pastor, and the perception is that a pastor would not act the way this man has acted. There’s a verse in the Bible that says “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.” (James 3:1) There’s another verse that says, “Everything that is hidden will be shown, and everything that is secret will be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the light.” (Luke 12:2-3) It seems that John Paul Miller is seeing these truths play out in his life right now.
Massapequa, New York: Rex Heuermann’s home, where his wife and son still reside, was searched again yesterday, and the medical examiner was present. Heuermann is the accused LISK (Long Island Serial Killer) who is currently in jail awaiting trial for the murders of four women. Though the whys and wherefores of the search haven’t been fully explained by authorities, the assumption is that this search was to determine if his crimes took place around or in the home, and hopefully find evidence to bolster the prosecution’s case, which is, at present, mostly circumstantial.
Park City, Utah: Kouri Richins, the mom accused of murdering her husband, Eric, by fentanyl poisoning, was fired by her attorneys this week due to an “irreconcilable and nonwaivable situation” and now must find a new attorney to represent her. Before withdrawing as her attorney, Skye Lazaro filed a motion to have the prosecution disqualified, citing that the chief prosecutor had violated Richins’ attorney-client privilege by saving recorded jail phone calls. Richins next case hearing will take place in just a few days on May 24th.
Jacksonville, Florida: Shanna Gardner, accused of plotting to murder her ex-husband, Jared Bridegan, had a hearing this past week to ask to be let out on bond. The judge heard both the prosecution’s and the defense’s arguments for and against this request, and will possibly rule at a hearing that will also take place May 24th. We will let you know what develops for both Kouri Richins and Shanna Gardner here next week.
Rankin County, Mississippi: Carly Gregg, the 14-year-old (who is now 15, but still!) accused of killing her mother and attempting to murder her stepfather, was in court this past week, where the judge admonished her attorney for not getting her a mental health evaluation in the time the state had requested. She has another court date in a week, where her attorney is going to ask for her $1 million dollar bond to be reduced, and to exclude the public and the media from any pre-trial proceedings. We will let you know what happens there and will be following this case going forward.
Boise, Idaho: Last week of Chad Daybell’s case was a doozy! Not only because a clerical error almost cost the state being able to carry out the prosecution of JJ’s murder, but because the courtroom was forced to listen to Chad and Lori’s cringe-worthy jail calls in which they discussed things like Chad’s ability to text Alex Cox from the great beyond, and Chad’s “storm.” (If you know, you know.) The prosecution rested last week, and this week begins the defense’s chance. We think that that’s gonna be a tough assignment, as we don’t think those calls did him any favors with the jury.
Marion County, Florida: Bryan Howard was arrested for 8 counts of DUI manslaughter this past week after an early-morning accident in which his truck crossed the center line and sideswiped a bus. The bus subsequently ran off the road, killing 8 migrant workers and injuring approximately 40 others, some seriously, who were riding the bus to work at a farm. The driver was allegedly high on pain meds and marijuana. This case makes us think of the recent tragedy in Michigan, where two children were killed, and others injured, when a 66-year-old woman allegedly ran her car into a building where families were celebrating a birthday. In both cases, innocents who were just trying to live their lives had those lives tragically altered by someone who had no business behind the wheel.
Texas County, Oklahoma: The five suspects in the murder of the Kansas moms, Veronica Butler and Jillian Kelley, were back in court this past week where a motion to seal the search warrants was denied, but the judge did issue a gag order on the extensive media surrounding the case. Those search warrants are coming out as we speak, and the five will be back in court June 19th.
Tallahassee, Florida: Charlie Adelson, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his former brother-in-law, Dan Markel, has been moved to an undisclosed prison in South Dakota. The rumors are swirling as to why, with some claiming it has to do with a hit put out on him because Adelson testified in his trial that he was just the innocent victim of extortion by a gang. Back in March, we wrote here that he’d been put on “administrative confinement,” which means he was temporarily separated from the other prisoners, so it does make us wonder if the rumors are true and he was separated until he could be moved because he was a marked man. His mother, Donna Adelson’s trial for her alleged part in the murder is set for jury selection starting September 17th. So we guess Charlie will have to make the 1800 mile trek back to testify in that. Will he flip on his mom? We will have to wait to find out.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin: An arm washed up on an Illinois lakeshore this past week and Sade Robinson’s family was notified, though it will take DNA testing to confirm if the arm was the victim’s. Other confirmed body parts of Sade Robinson have been recovered in the surrounding area over the past month. Maxwell Anderson has been arrested for murdering and dismembering Robinson, who was reported missing April 2nd. Robinson’s phone was tracked to Anderson’s home during the time of what was to have been Anderson and Robinson’s first date on the night of April 1st. In the time since Robinson went missing, the home where Anderson lived— and where Robinson’s phone was for several hours on the night of April 1st— has been sold, but authorities attest that they got all the evidence they needed out of it beforehand, and they have complete access to it in the future, if needed. Anderson’s next hearing is set for July 12th.
The trials of Christopher Gregor and Karen Read continue, and we will update here when there is pertinent news/a verdict. Otherwise, that’s it for this week and we will see you back here next Wednesday, since Monday is Memorial Day and we will be out welcoming summer, which will put us behind a day. As always, we hope that as you read these updates, they will serve as a reminder to keep these victims’ families close to your heart, and in your prayers. This is just an update for us, but for them, it’s their very lives. And, as always, may justice prevail.