[PA] Tragic farewell to Robin Lee Prentice Miller (after "history of domestic altercations" with her police officer husband)

...A Northumberland County police officer shot and killed his wife and then shot himself early this morning at the couple’s Sunbury home... [Sunbury Police Officer] Cpl. Michael Miller, 37, was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, as of 9:30 p.m. Saturday. State police, however, listed the incident as a double fatality due to gunfire by 7 a.m... The search warrant said the couple had a history of domestic altercations... [Sunbury Police Chief Steven] Mazzeo also declined to talk about Miller's employment record... "There was no reason" anybody knew for the incident, [Sunbury Mayor Dave] Persing said...

POLICE OFFICER KILLS WIFE, SHOOTS SELF IN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY, INVESTIGATORS SAY
Reading Eagle
Originally Published: 3/20/2010 1:50:00 PM
[Excerpts] A Northumberland County police officer shot and killed his wife and then shot himself early this morning at the couple’s Sunbury home... William Miller, 37, whom officials identified as an 11-year veteran of the Sunbury Police Department, fatally shot his wife, Robin L., 38... Robin Miller was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting... William Miller, 37, was listed in critical condition in Geisinger Medical Center in Danville... Investigators said William Miller shot his wife three times following a dispute. She was shot in the arm, body and head in a breezeway leading from the house to the backyard... Investigators said the couple have two children, who were home at the time... [Full article here]

DEADLY SHOOTING IN SUNBURY
WNEP
By Renie Workman
March 20, 2010
[Excerpts] ...Police were called to the home on [X] Avenue around 2 a.m. for what they said appeared to have been a domestic dispute. Neighbors told Newswatch 16 they heard several shots fired... Charles Williams lives next door to the Miller's. He was shocked to hear about the shooting. "Very nice people. He was nice, he worked hard on his home. He'd come over here and bring his dogs and we'd talk to them. And she helped my wife carry groceries in sometimes. They were always helpful," said Williams. Even though police have not said much about what happened inside the Millers' home, neighbors were surprised to hear a dispute between the two ended deadly. "They were a very nice family. You just never know nowadays and it's a shame, it really is," added Williams... [Full article here]



SUNBURY STUNNED BY DOMESTIC SHOOTING, MANY ARE SADDENED
Newsradio 1070 WKOK
Sara Bartlett
Saturday, March 20, 2010
[Excerpts] A neighborhood is in shock and the City of Sunbury saddened by a violent, deadly, domestic dispute this morning. Sunbury police tell us they got a call about a domestic incident and multiple gunshots around 2a.m... A deputy coroner pronounced Mrs. [Robin Lee] Miller dead around 3a.m... Family members and friends were seen Saturday afternoon gathered, crying in front of the home, packing and taking boxes from the home... Sunbury Police Chief Steven Mazzeo says it is a tragedy, and thoughts and prayers go out to the family. Corporal Miller and his wife had been married since 2008, and took care of three young children. Miller had worked with the Sunbury Police Department since 1999, and had been very active in the community with DARE and Crimewatch. Sunbury Mayor David Persing says Miller was even ready to take his test to become a sergeant next week, so that’s what makes the incident even more senseless and puzzling. Persing says he doesn’t know if anyone will ever understand how this could happen, but hopes there could be insight into a reason after an investigation. He says there were no prior warnings or inclinations that this would ever happen... Ralpho Township and Mt. Carmel Police were able to help provide police coverage in the city while Sunbury Police were on the scene. Numerous other crews from surrounding counties also helped at the scene, as did the Northumberland County DA’s and coroner’s offices. For a time this morning, police coverage in Sunbury was provided by outside police agencies--Mt. Carmel Township police, Ralpho Township police, and others. Shamokin Dam officers also assisted for a time today. [Full article here]

SUNBURY POLICE OFFICERS ALLEGEDLY SHOOTS, KILLS WIFE; TURNS GUN ON SELF
The Pottsville Republican & Herald
By Mark Gilger mark_g@newsitem.com
Published: March 21, 2010
[Excerpts] ...[Sunbury police officer Michael William] Miller allegedly shot his 38-year-old wife, Robin Miller, three times, including once in the head, left leg and torso, at 2 a.m. in a narrow walkway between their residence at [X] and a neighboring home. Miller then reportedly shot himself in the head with the same Ruger 9mm pistol... A search warrant for the Miller home and surrounding property was issued for a criminal homicide investigation. The search warrant said the couple had a history of domestic altercations. The couple's two daughters, ages 18 and 4, were home when the shootings occurred... According to a search warrant issued Saturday morning by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin, to Trooper James A. Hansel II of state police at Milton, a call was received at 2 a.m. at Northumberland County Communications Center about a domestic disturbance at [X]. The caller, who identified herself as an 18-year-old female, believed to be Miller's daughter, said she heard four gunshots fired. Sunbury police were then dispatched to the scene and found Robin and Michael Miller outside to the rear of the home, suffering from severe head trauma... Her husband was found lying on a small back porch... A Ruger 9mm pistol was located between the two victims and several spent shell casings were found in the immediate area. [Full article here]

COP’S WIFE SHOT, DIES
The Daily Item
By Diane Petryk
Published March 20, 2010 10:05 pm
Updated: March 21, 2010 09:50 am
[Excerpts] Robin Lee Miller, 38, was pronounced dead at their [X] home at 2:50 a.m. by Northumberland County Coroner's Deputy James Gotlob. Her daughters, ages about 5 and 18, were home at the time. Cpl. Michael Miller, 37, was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, as of 9:30 p.m. Saturday. State police, however, listed the incident as a double fatality due to gunfire by 7 a.m... [Sunbury Police Chief Steven] Mazzeo also declined to talk about Miller's employment record... "There was no reason" anybody knew for the incident, [Sunbury Mayor Dave] Persing said... The eldest teen is Mrs. Miller's daughter from a previous marriage. Another daughter from that marriage, about age 13, was staying that night at her father's home... According to Robin Miller's Facebook page, she and Miller were married in 2008. It was her 18-year-old daughter who called 911, Persing said... Police searched the property until nearly noon Saturday, from the back door to the rear of the pool area... Persing said the city has made counseling available to all officers. "We're very concerned about the families of the victims as well," Persing said. "We extend our deep sympathy to their families, particularly the children"... Friends of Robin Miller and her father, Dave Prentice, at American Legion Post 201, were also perplexed Saturday. Prentice is a Post 201 member and officer and Robin Miller worked there at times as a cook, bartender and waitress. "She was bubbly and vivacious and well-liked," said Legion Cmdr. Tony Steimling. "Everyone was her friend." Michael Miller was also very happy-go-lucky, he said. "It just floored us...mWe never expected such a thing"... Robin Miller was a 1989 graduate of Shiklellamy High School. She had begun, in January, as a part-time student at Central Susquehanna LPN Career Center, according to administrator Beverly Krieger... "It's a sad situation," Sunbury Councilman Jim Eister said. Michael Miller, he said, "was a perfect gentleman and a good friend of mine"... The incident is being investigated by Stonington and Milton state police. Sunbury, Selinsgrove, Northumberland Borough, Mount Carmel Borough, Mahoning Township and Point Township police assisted Saturday morning, along with the Northumberland County District Attorney's office and the Northumberland County Coroner and Americus Hose Company... It was also the first homicide in Northumberland County involving a police officer, or former police officer, and his wife since Richard C. Curran shot Tina Curran multiple times in the parking lot of Shamokin Area Community Hospital in August 2005. [Original article location here & Updated version here]

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