NEW PHILADELPHIA, Ohio (WJW) An Amish woman from Ohio, charged with murder following the deaths of her 4-year-old son and 45-year-old husband, was present Monday afternoon at the Tuscarawas County Courthouse for an evidentiary hearing.
Ruth Miller, 40, of Millersburg, was indicted earlier this month by a grand jury on seven counts, including aggravated murder, child endangerment, and domestic violence. She has entered a plea of not guilty due to insanity.
Monday’s hearing was to determine if bail should be established in Miller’s case.
Several law enforcement officials testified on Monday regarding their observations of Miller’s mental state both at the scene and throughout the investigation.
After hearing nearly four hours of testimony, Common Pleas Court Judge Mike Ernest said he was denying bail and that Miller would stay in jail.
On a family trip to Atwood Lake on Aug. 23, Miller is accused of throwing her son, Vincen, into the water. Investigators reported she was experiencing a “spiritual delusion” at the time.
Investigators said Miller’s 45-year-old husband, Marcus Miller, also entered the lake as part a religious test and also drowned.
Dive teams recovered the bodies of Marcus and Vincen Miller from the bottom of the lake.
Body camera footage obtained by affiliate WJW showed Miller being questioned by officials. When asked about her son, she replied, “I gave him to God.”
Miller is currently in the custody of the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Department. She is facing life in prison if convicted.
