The father of a victim in the notorious “Texas Killing Fields” cold case recently revealed that he had unwittingly interacted with the newly indicted suspect numerous times prior to the arrest.
James Dolphs Elmore Jr., aged 61, faces charges of manslaughter and felony evidence tampering in connection with the death of Laura Miller, as announced by the Galveston County District Attorney on Tuesday, March 31. Additionally, he is accused of tampering with evidence related to the murder of Audrey Cook.
Tim Miller, the founder of Texas Equusearch and father of Laura Miller, recounted encountering Elmore multiple times over the past four years.
“I’ve probably crossed paths with him 20 or 30 times,” Miller shared with reporters, as reported by the Houston Chronicle.
In a statement from the Galveston District Attorney’s Office, Elmore is charged not only with manslaughter and evidence tampering in Laura Miller’s case but also with evidence tampering in Audrey Cook’s murder. (FBI; Source: FOX 36)
Miller, whose daughter was just 16 when she became one of the victims discovered in the “Texas Killing Fields,” mentioned that Elmore often approached him to discuss the case.
“He reached out to me,” Miller said. “For what reason, I don’t know.”
Miller said that some of those conversations included details about the killings that were not widely known.
“He knew things,” Miller said, according to the Chronicle. “Some of it wasn’t public.”
The remains of Laura Miller were found in an area along Calder Road, known as the “Texas Killing Fields,” in February 1986. (FBI; Obtained by FOX 36)
At the time, Miller said he did not suspect Elmore.
“You don’t think this guy could be involved,” he said. “You’re thinking, here’s somebody who wants to help.”
Only after the recent indictment did the conversations take on new meaning.
“Now you look back, and it’s like, wow,” Miller said. “Was he telling me what he did?”
“I trusted him,” he said. “I really did.”
The body of Audrey Lee Cook was found in the “Texas Killing Fields” in 1986. (FBI; Obtained by FOX 36)
The charges stem from the infamous “Texas Killing Fields” murders, in which the bodies of about 30 women and girls, including Audrey Cook, Laura Miller, Donna Prudhomme and Heidi Fye-Villareal, were found near Calder Road in League City between the 1970s and 1990s.
For decades, authorities have worked to determine who was responsible. In 2024, the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office reopened the case.
William Reece pleaded guilty in 2022 to murder stemming from the deaths of Laura Smither, Kelli Cox and Jessica Cain, according to FOX 26.
Clyde Hedrick, who died last month, was also long suspected in the murders of numerous women in Calder Road Field, according to the outlet.
Elmore was taken into custody and denied bond Tuesday evening.
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