In the early morning hours of June 9, 2021, 19-year-old Nathaniel M. Miller was fatally shot inside his Pittstown, New York, home on Jay Herrington Road. The incident occurred at approximately 3:35 a.m. when multiple intruders attempted to enter the residence through a window. Someone shot into the house, striking and killing the young man. Following the shooting, the suspects fled the scene, disappearing into the woods surrounding the rural property. Investigators from the New York State Police responded to a 911 call made at 3:46 a.m. reporting a home invasion in progress.
The investigation into Nathaniel's death, who was a graduate of Hoosick Falls Central School and a standout football player, was extensive. State Police believed the attack was a targeted event and that the assailants and victims may have known each other. Early in the investigation, authorities released images of a distinctive black sweatshirt with a white graphic of a kneeling angel that was left at the scene, believing it belonged to one of the suspects. They sought the public's help for any information related to the garment. The motive for the killing was later described by authorities as a potential robbery that was drug-related.
In August 2021, the investigation led to the arrests of three men from Schenectady. Devin N. Van Patten, who was 19 at the time, 24-year-old Carlos M. Lewis, and Kyle A. Hutchinson, 21, were all charged with second-degree murder. Van Patten faced an additional charge of felony weapons possession. The legal process that followed saw convictions for all three men. Kyle Hutchinson was found guilty of murder and burglary in 2023 and was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. In February 2024, Carlos Lewis received the same sentence of 25 years to life after a jury found him guilty of second-degree murder and first-degree burglary. Devin Van Patten pleaded guilty to his role in the crime and was expected to be sentenced to 20 years in state prison.
