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-10^th, 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)