On May 26, 2022, Judge Jessica E. Brewbaker sentenced John Miller, age 79, to life in prison without the possibility of parole following his plea of guilty but mentally ill to Criminal Homicide – Murder in the First Degree. On April 10, 2021, Miller murdered his wife, Melissia Hinton-Miller, age 65, and daughter, Joanna Miller, age 51, by intentionally shooting them both with a handgun. Miller will spend the rest of his life in a state correctional institution. Due to his plea of guilty but mentally ill, he will receive mental health and psychiatric care through the Department of Corrections.

During sentencing, the victim’s sister and daughter presented emotional statements to the court about the devastating effect of this crime. They emphasized how they lost three family members that day and the difficult task of moving forward. The case was prosecuted by First Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hair LaRue. The charges were filed by Detective Sergeant Adam Shope and Detective Shane Cohick of the East Pennsboro Township Police Department. Special thanks to Detectives Shope and Cohick, the entire East Pennsboro Township Police Department, the Cumberland County District Attorney’s Forensic Lab, and Victim Services for their assistance in finding justice for the family.

First Assistant District Attorney Courtney Hair LaRue commented after sentencing: “This was a very difficult and emotionally charged case. Although nothing can bring the victims back, I happy that their family can get some closure knowing the court process is over. Our office is thankful for the East Pennsboro Township Police Department for their investigation and for the detectives that attended the sentencing proceeding to support the family.”