Jury in Retrial Finds Martin Miller Guilty of First Degree Murder

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson announced today a jury found former Lawrence resident Martin Miller, 56, guilty in the retrial of the 2004 first degree murder of his then wife, the late Mary Miller.  The retrial was a result of a February 2014 decision by the Kansas Court of Appeals that ruled Miller must be provided a new trial due to a jury instruction error during the original 2005 trial.

Following the verdict DA Branson said, “When this case was tried almost ten years ago I said it was a tragedy. Not only had Mary Miller been murdered, but her two children were now parentless. One was dead and one was convicted of murder. Today it is still a tragedy.  It is almost incomprehensible to me how Martin Miller thought this was a way out of his life and equally incomprehensible how he could put his children through this not once but twice. I hope this is the final chapter and Melodie and Matthew can once and for all move on with their lives.”

Investigation with the case began when officers with the Lawrence Police Department were dispatched to the Miller home in the 2100 block of Carolina Street shortly after 6:00 a.m. on July 28, 2004.  Mr. Miller called 911 and claimed that he found his wife dead in their bed.  Officers with LPD arrived at the home and quickly determined it was a potential crime scene.  The coroner was called to the home to complete an on-site investigation prior to removing the victim’s body from the home.  The coroner ultimately concluded Ms. Miller was the victim of homicide by asphyxiation.  In tandem with the coroner’s investigation, detectives with the Lawrence Police Department continued their investigation into the circumstances of the victim’s death.  They learned Mr. Miller and another woman, that he was actively involved with at the time of the victim’s murder, had two years earlier participated in a “commitment ceremony’ to each other and they had been involved in the secret relationship for a total of four years.  Detectives also learned Mr. Miller had active memberships on multiple online dating websites where he portrayed himself as single.  They also found a list of pros and cons of divorcing the victim, that among other issues, focused on the potential loss of his perceived status in his church and school involvements if he proceeded with a divorce.

During the trial Mr. Miller’s defense attorney and paid experts for the defense claimed the victim died of natural causes.  Their various theories included heart attack induced by stress, anaphylaxis or a seizure from epilepsy.  The victim had no medical history of suffering from any of those medical disorders.

The new trial began on Monday, March 30.  Jury selection took two full days and opening arguments were given on Wednesday, April 1.  The case was presented throughout the week and into the following Monday and Tuesday.  Closing arguments were delivered Wednesday morning and the jury began deliberation at about 10:40 a.m.  They jury deliberated for approximately four and a half hours before returning its verdict. 

The Court set sentencing for May 20 at 4:00 p.m.  He faces lifetime imprisonment with no possibility of parole until he has served a minimum of 25 years.

The Honorable Paula B. Martin presided over the case.  The case was investigated by the Lawrence Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Mark Simpson and Andrew Bauch.

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