Esta Iona Weathers Millwee, aged 52, tragically lost her life on September 8, 1986, in Riverside County, California. The cause of her death was a gunshot wound inflicted by her son, Donald Millwee. Esta had been living with disabilities, including hemiplegia, following a stroke. On the day of the incident, Donald, who had a history of alcohol abuse, came home intoxicated and got into an argument with Esta's husband.
After the husband left the house, Donald shot his mother, resulting in her untimely death.
Following the incident, Donald Millwee was arrested and charged with the murder of his mother. The case proceeded to trial, where he was convicted of first-degree murder, with additional charges for the use of a firearm, robbery, and first-degree burglary. The court sentenced Donald to death in 1990. At the time of his conviction, Donald was already serving a prison term for voluntary manslaughter and other serious offenses in San Diego County.
The legal proceedings surrounding Esta's death were extensive. Donald's conviction and death sentence were upheld through various appeals. He remained on death row until his death from natural causes in 2021, while still awaiting execution. The case drew attention due to the tragic nature of the crime and the involvement of a family member as the perpetrator. Donald's actions and subsequent conviction highlighted issues related to familial violence and the impact of substance abuse on criminal behavior.
