On October 25, 1977, Martha Ryan, a 31-year-old Caucasian woman, was reported missing in Chicago. Martha Ryan, also known as Martha E. Kowalski, had prior convictions related to sex work. Witnesses last saw her in the company of an unidentified young man driving an orange Chevrolet Vega. Eight days later, her body was discovered wrapped in a blanket and abandoned in bushes outside a liquor store in Skokie, Illinois.
Authorities noted the proximity of the crime scene to the residence of Joseph Robert Miller, a local pizza delivery man.
Investigators soon connected Miller to the case after his vehicle matched the description provided by witnesses. While questioning Miller, police uncovered another homicide: the body of Ann Iecile Maxham, a 22-year-old Caucasian woman, was found the following day. Maxham, like Ryan, had prior convictions for prostitution. A sex worker familiar with both victims informed authorities that Miller and his wife, Marsha Miller, frequently solicited their services. She also claimed to have personally interacted with the couple on multiple occasions.
Based on this testimony, law enforcement arrested Joseph Robert Miller on November 5, 1977, charging him with the murders of Martha Ryan and Ann Iecile Maxham. While in custody, investigators obtained a search warrant for Miller’s apartment and vehicle. The search yielded evidence linking him to additional crimes, including an armed robbery in Skokie, a kidnapping in Cook County, and an aggravated battery case in DuPage County. These findings further solidified the case against Miller, leading to his conviction the following year. Initially sentenced to death, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.
The tragic deaths of Martha Ryan and Ann Iecile Maxham were part of a broader pattern of violence perpetrated by Miller, who was ultimately convicted of multiple murders spanning from 1977 to 1993. His crimes left a lasting impact on the communities affected, highlighting the dangers faced by vulnerable individuals in society.
