In the spring of 2016, the life of 36-year-old Brandon James Lenker, a White male from Pocatello, Idaho, came to a tragic and violent end. His body was discovered on the Fort Hall reservation after a resident near Rapid Creek Road, north of Inkom, alerted authorities. An autopsy would later reveal that Lenker had been shot in the head. His death, which occurred on April 27, 2016, set in motion a months-long investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding his murder.
The
investigation into Lenker's death led authorities to two suspects: 26-year-old Michael Angelo Miera and his 19-year-old cousin and girlfriend, Janeal Elizabeth Miera. In July 2016, charges were brought against the pair in connection with Lenker's shooting death. Michael Miera was charged with first-degree murder, which included a weapons enhancement, while Janeal Miera was charged with being a principal to first-degree murder.
Prior to the murder charges, both Michael and Janeal Miera were already incarcerated. They had been taken into custody in May following a multi-agency pursuit that spanned Bannock County and the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. During this chase, Michael Miera intentionally struck a Fort Hall police officer with his vehicle as the officer was deploying spike strips. The pursuit concluded when a Bannock County sheriff's deputy executed a PIT maneuver on their pickup, causing it to roll multiple times. At the time of this incident, Michael, a registered sex offender, had three outstanding warrants and was wanted for questioning in the theft of an SUV. Lenker was also considered a suspect in this vehicle theft. The stolen vehicle was later found in the Portneuf River.
