On July 15, 2019, 24-year-old Savannah Anne Millner was found deceased in her Las Vegas apartment from a shotgun wound to the neck. Her boyfriend, 25-year-old Steven Clifford, also known as Steven Kyle, initially reported the incident as a suicide, claiming that after an argument, he left the apartment and returned to find Millner had shot herself.
However, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department found inconsistencies in Clifford's account.
Investigators conducted a forensic analysis, positioning the Remington Model 870 shotgun to match the gunpowder stippling on Millner's body. They concluded that it was physically impossible for her to have inflicted the wound herself, based on the angle and location of the injury. Additionally, Millner had multiple bruises, including facial marks indicative of slapping and an abrasion below her sternum consistent with being struck by the shotgun's butt.
These findings led to Clifford's arrest on July 17, 2019, on charges of murder with a deadly weapon. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center without bail. The Clark County coroner's office officially ruled Millner's death a homicide caused by a shotgun wound to the neck.
Millner's mother, Debra Meola, described her daughter as a smart, caring woman who faced challenges with mental illness and addiction. Despite these struggles, Millner was known for her outgoing and adventurous spirit, always smiling and willing to help others. She had a deep love for her 3-year-old pit bull, Bella, whom she rescued and considered her child.
The tragic circumstances of Millner's death highlight the complexities of domestic relationships and the importance of thorough investigative work in uncovering the truth behind such incidents.
