NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio (WJW) — An Amish woman is facing charges of two counts of aggravated murder in connection with the deaths of her 4-year-old son and her 45-year-old husband.
According to the Tuscarawas County sheriff, Ruth Miller, 40, of Millersburg, Ohio, visited Atwood Lake with her family on Saturday, Aug. 23.
Initial reports indicated the woman had thrown her 4-year-old son, Vincen Miller, into the lake. Her 45-year-old husband was also reported missing. Divers recovered the boy’s body on Saturday and the body of the father, Marcus Miller, on Sunday.
Tuscarawas County Coroner Dr. Jeff Cameron on Monday said the cause and manner of death for both the boy and the father were still pending autopsies by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office.
Sheriff Orvis Campbell told reporters on Monday that the mother told investigators she had “given her son to the Lord” by throwing him into the lake.
Authorities said they believe the woman was experiencing a “spiritual delusion” throughout an unusual chain of events, which ended with her crashing a golf cart into the water with her 15-year-old daughter and twin 18-year-old sons on board.
Other charges include two counts of domestic violence and one count of endangering children.
The family is part of the Old Order Amish Church, investigators determined.
On Tuesday, Campbell said Miller was in a locked mental health facility. According to court records, she is set to appear in New Philadelphia Municipal Court for arraignment on Thursday.
