Joseph Daniel Miller

Serial Killer

Joseph Daniel Miller: A Detailed Account of His Crimes

Overview

Joseph Daniel Miller, born on September 2, 1964, in Steelton, Pennsylvania, is an American serial killer and rapist. Between 1986 and 1990, he committed a series of heinous crimes in the Harrisburg area, targeting young African-American women. Miller's modus operandi typically involved offering victims a ride, taking them to secluded locations, and then assaulting and murdering them. His actions led to the deaths of at least five women, and he is currently serving multiple life sentences without the possibility of parole.

Victims

• Kelly Ann Ward (26) - Disappeared in February 1986. Her skeletal remains were discovered in 1997 near Chambers Hill Road in Swatara Township, Dauphin County. She was identified in 2014 through DNA analysis. In 2016, Miller confessed to her murder.
• Selina Franklin (18) - Last seen on May 16, 1987, accepting a ride from Miller along with friends. After dropping off her friends, Miller took Franklin to a secluded area where he raped and murdered her. Her remains were found in August 1992 in a landfill in Swatara Township.
• Stephanie McDuffey (23) - Eight months pregnant at the time, she disappeared on November 6, 1989, after leaving her mother's house to meet a man she had recently met. Miller took her to the same landfill, where he assaulted and murdered her. Her skeletal remains, along with those of her unborn child, were discovered in August 1992.
• Jeanette Thomas (25) - Disappeared on January 11, 1990, after leaving a bar in the Allison Hill area of Harrisburg with a man fitting Miller's description. Her body was found days later at a dump site. Miller confessed to her murder in 2016.
• Kathy Novena Shenck (also known as Phoenix Bell) - Her body was discovered on February 27, 1990, at a roadside dump in Penn Township, Perry County. She had been run over multiple times by a car. Miller was convicted of her murder and received a life sentence.

Apprehension and Convictions

On August 5, 1992, Miller offered a ride to Clara Johnson, a young African-American woman, from a bar in Harrisburg. After dropping off his friend, Miller drove Johnson to a secluded Conrail train yard in Susquehanna Township, where he assaulted and raped her. He attempted to kill her by beating her and placing duct tape over her nose and mouth. Fortunately, a Conrail security guard arrived, prompting Miller to flee, leaving Johnson bound and injured. She survived and provided crucial information to the authorities. The following day, on August 6, 1992, police traced Miller to his residence in Steelton. Upon their arrival, Miller fled to a nearby three-story building and threatened to jump, leading to a six-hour standoff before he surrendered. While in custody, Miller waived his Miranda rights and confessed to multiple murders. He led investigators to the burial sites of Selina Franklin and Stephanie McDuffey in the Swatara Township landfill. In March 1993, Miller was convicted of the murders of Franklin and McDuffey, as well as the kidnapping and rape of Clara Johnson, resulting in a death sentence. Later, he was convicted of the murder of Kathy Shenck and received a life sentence. In 2016, Miller confessed to the murders of Kelly Ann Ward and Jeanette Thomas, leading to two additional life sentences. ...Read More

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Selina Franklin Age: (18), Date of Death: 1987-05-16

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Joseph Daniel Miller - Wikipedia

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