Grand jury indicts Millersburg woman for son’s drowning death

NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) (Sept. 5, 2025)  – A grand jury has now indicted the mother jailed for the drowning death of her four-year-old son at Atwood Lake on August 23^rd.

The charges in the new seven-count indictment against 40-year-old Ruth Miller of Millersburg include aggravated murder, murder, felonious assault, endangering children, and two counts of domestic violence.

Authorities say the latter charges are in connection to driving a golf cart into the lake with her three other teenage children as passengers.

Miller was not charged for the drowning death of her husband earlier that day, which was believed to have happened accidentally during a swim where he was testing his faith.

Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell has said Miller was experiencing a mental health crisis that weekend that led to spiritual delusions.

Miller’s bond hearing that was scheduled for this morning in New Philadelphia Municipal Court was canceled because of the indictment.

She is now scheduled to be arraigned in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court on the new charges Monday afternoon.

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