Benjamin Franklin Miller

Serial Killer

Benjamin Franklin Jr. Miller: The Stamford Bra Murders

Overview

Between 1967 and 1971, the city of Stamford, Connecticut, was gripped by a series of heinous crimes known as the "Bra Murders." Five women, predominantly Black sex workers, were brutally strangled, often with their own bras. These murders sent shockwaves through the community and led to the arrest of Benjamin Franklin Jr. Miller, a self-proclaimed preacher with a history of mental illness.

The Victims

• Rose Ellen Pazda ("Sissi Rush")
  • Age: 29
  • Date Reported Missing: August 4, 1967
  • Discovery of Remains: April 4, 1969
  • Details: Pazda's skeletal remains were found after being missing for nearly two years. Due to the advanced decomposition, the exact date of her death couldn't be determined.
• Donna Roberts
  • Age: 22
  • Date Reported Missing: May 2, 1968
  • Body Found: May 3, 1968
  • Details: Roberts was discovered strangled near the Merritt Parkway, a day after she was reported missing.
• Gloria Conn
  • Age: 21
  • Date Reported Missing: September 7, 1968
  • Body Found: September 8, 1968
  • Details: Conn's body was located approximately 60 yards from where Roberts had been found. She was the only victim not native to Connecticut, hailing from Mount Vernon, New York.
• Gail Thompson
  • Age: 19
  • Body Found: July 10, 1971
  • Details: Thompson was discovered strangled in an abandoned house.
• Alma T. Henry
  • Age: 34
  • Body Found: August 22, 1971
  • Details: Henry's body was found inside a trash can by two motorists. Unlike the other victims, she was not known to be a sex worker or drug user but was a married mother of four residing in Stamford.

Investigation and Arrest

The investigation into these murders faced significant criticism from Stamford's African-American community, who felt the police were negligent due to the victims' socio-economic status. In April 1969, the police received a call from a man identifying himself as "James Miller," claiming knowledge of Pazda's remains. This led investigators to Benjamin Franklin Jr. Miller, a 42-year-old white man from Norwalk. Miller had moved to Connecticut from Aurora, Illinois, in 1948. He held various jobs before becoming a postal clerk in 1962. Known for his introverted nature and religious zeal, Miller often preached in Stamford's African-American community. He had a documented history of mental illness, including schizophrenia, and had been institutionalized multiple times since 1951. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Rose Ellen Pazda Age: (29)

    ...View 4 additional victims

Benjamin Franklin Miller | Murderpedia

    ...View 2 additional sources