Judge will decide on Friday what’s next for mother found not guilty of son’s murder by reason of insanity
NEW PHILADELPHIA – A Judge will decide on Friday what’s next for the Holmes County mother who drowned her 4-year-old son at Atwood Lake in August after finding her not guilty by reason of insanity last week.
Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Mike Ernest made that ruling last Tuesday morning at a bench trial after three mental health evaluations concluded she had a “severe mental disease” and “did not know the wrongfulness of her actions.”
Miller had been charged with aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, endangering children and domestic violence. Sheriff Orvis Campbell back in August said Miller appeared to be experiencing spiritual delusions when she threw her son into the lake in the early morning hours of August 23 as a gift to God. After that, she put her three other kids on a golf cart and drove it into the lake. Officials say prior to all that, Miller’s husband drown in the lake as he attempted a long-distance swim to test his faith. Ernest read an evaluation that described Miller’s behavior leading up that day, detailing how she thought she could walk on water and said God wanted her to be swallowed by a fish.
Prosecutor Fred Scott says the court will have jurisdiction over Miller for the rest of her life. He says he will recommend Miller be placed in a mental health facility where regular evaluations will help determine how long she stays there.
Miller’s attorney, Ian Friedman, says he aims to have her eventually released from any facility. He said his goal is to have her home with her family as soon as possible.
The placement hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, March 13.