Sunday,
March 21, 2010
Police corporal passes away after deadly domestic dispute
SUNBURY – A
nursing supervisor says 37-year-old Michael Miller of Sunbury passed
away at 7:49 a.m. Sunday. No other details were provided by
Geisinger Medical Center. The police corporal was taken there with
critical injuries early Saturday morning after an apparent domestic
dispute. Meantime, his neighborhood is in shock and the City of
Sunbury saddened by the turn of events that led to Miller’s death
and the death of his wife, 38 year old Robin Miller.
Neighbors for
the most part, avoided the gathering of news reporters on Saturday.
Those who did talk to us indicated their shock and dismay at the
tragedy, indicating that Cpl. Miller was a good neighbor and an
excellent police officer. Several neighbors adamantly declined to
speak with us, one displayed a 'middle finger' as our reporter
approached, and another posted a sign indicating that 'news media'
were not welcome.
Additionally,
police from Sunbury and several neighboring communities stood
shoulder to shoulder, guarding the sidewalk, as people who appeared
to be family members, gathered belongings from the house. Family
members and friends were seen Saturday afternoon gathered, crying in
front of the home, packing and taking boxes from the home. They said
they had nothing to say about the incident.
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
active in the community with DARE and Crimewatch.
Sunbury Mayor
David Persing says Miller was 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.
Sunbury police
tell us they got a call about the domestic incident and multiple
gunshots around 2:00 a.m. at 454 Catawissa Avenue. They found
38-year-old Robin Miller dead, apparently from several gunshots, and
Corporal Miller gravely wounded. Investigators would not confirm
reports that officer Miller shot his wife, then turned the gun on
himself. A wide area near Catawissa Avenue and Reagan Street was
cordoned off while numerous local and state police agencies
investigated the incident.
Deputy Chief
Coroner James Gotlob pronounced Mrs. Miller dead around 2:50 a.m.,
and was assisted by Deputy coroner Barry Leisenring. A release from
the coroner’s office cites multiple gunshot wounds as the cause of
death, and says an autopsy and toxicology tests will be performed
Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.
Stonington State
Police are continuing their investigation. Professional counselors
have been summoned for anyone in the Sunbury Police Department or
elsewhere who may need them. The response and investigation has
been extensive, with police, paramedics and outside help from a wide
range of agencies converging on Sunbury. 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
Saturday morning, police coverage in Sunbury was provided by outside
police agencies, including Mt. Carmel Township police, Ralpho
Township police, and others. Shamokin Dam officers also assisted for
a time. (Sara Bartlett)
Two of three Snyder County crash survivors still hospitalized
MIDDLEBURG – One
of the Snyder County teens injured in a Friday afternoon crash that
killed two schoolmates is now out of a local hospital. A nursing
supervisor at Geisinger Medical Center says 16-year-old Ethan Miller
has been released after treatment. 18-year-old Patrick Sullivan,
and 14-year-old Brooke Shwope remain in fair condition at
Geisinger. 14-year-old Kylie Hummel and 16-year-old Jacob Kemble,
both students in the Midd-West School District, were killed in the
crash.
Police say
Sullivan was driving along Sale Barn Road in Middlecreek Township
around 2:50 p.m. when his vehicle left the roadway, struck and
severed a utility pole. The vehicle then rolled over, and police
say at least four of the occupants were ejected. (Matt Farrand)
Carney favors health care bill, will vote “yes”
WASHINGTON –
As the US House of Representatives inches toward a vote on health
care reform, Congressman Chris Carney (D-10th, Dimock) is
no longer among the undecided. A release from his Washington office
says he is now in favor of the bill that he expects to vote on
Sunday afternoon. He says the bill will decline insurers the option
of rejecting patients with pre-existing conditions, and claims it
will lower the federal deficit by $138 billion dollars in the first
ten years after it takes effect. He also says it continues a ban on
public funding for abortion. (Matt Farrand)