Scotland, S.D., man held for killing infant son

SCOTLAND — A Scotland man was charged Wednesday with killing his infant son.

Chris A. Miller, 37, was initially charged with felony child abuse and aggravated assault of a child younger than 3 years of age for a Friday incident in Scotland, but when the infant died Wednesday afternoon, Miller was charged with alternate counts of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and manslaughter in the first degree.

Court documents say Miller claimed his wife was lying on top of the child, but a later medical examination of the child revealed signs of abuse, and Miller’s wife also told authorities he abused her.

According to a report filed by Bon Homme County Sheriff Jason Bechtold, police and ambulance personnel were called to the residence of Chris and Stacy Miller at 410 Third St. in Scotland at about 12 a.m. Friday because the couple’s four-month-old son, Jacob, was not breathing.

When Bechtold arrived at the residence, he was informed that the infant had been transported to Landmann- Jungman Hospital in Scotland.

The baby was breathing on his own for a few minutes while at the hospital, but a ventilator was needed as Jacob was flown to Sioux Falls for treatment at Avera McKennan Hospital.

According to an affidavit filed by Todd Rodig, of the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, he interviewed both parents after the incident.

Rodig detected an odor of alcohol on the breath of both parents. He attempted to interview Stacy at the hospital, but she appeared somewhat incoherent and registered a 0.216 blood-alcohol content — about 2.5 times the legal driving limit — when administered a breathalyzer test.

Rodig then interviewed Chris Miller at his residence and Miller advised the officer that he and his wife had “a couple of stiff drinks.” Miller said his wife fell on the floor in the bedroom and urinated on herself before he helped her to bed.

Chris Miller then said their son Jacob was fussy, so he brought him to his wife to feed the baby. He said he went in the bedroom one hour and 45 minutes later and found Stacy lying on top of their son, according to court documents.

Miller then called police and started CPR, he told Rodig.

Agent Rodig received a phone call Friday from Avera McKennan Hospital noting that Jacob Miller had been diagnosed with a skull fracture and broken ribs, and that the injuries were indicative of child abuse.

A doctor described the skull fracture and broken ribs as the type of injuries that could occur from being in a highspeed car accident but could not be obtained from someone lying on top of the baby on a bed.

Agent Rodig conducted another interview with the Millers later that morning.

Stacy told Rodig that Chris Miller had “assaulted her approximately a week or two ago.” Stacy also noted her husband Chris gets frustrated with their son’s crying and “is rough with him.”

During the interview, Chris Miller was advised by Agent Rodig that the injuries Jacob had sustained were not consistent with the story Miller told.

Miller said nothing else happened other than what he had told Rodig the night before.

Miller was placed under arrest on Friday and taken to the Minnehaha County Jail before being transferred to the Bon Homme County Jail.

Miller had his initial appearance Wednesday in court in Bon Homme County and is being held on a $700,000 cash bond.

First-degree murder is a Class A felony punishable by death or life in prison. Seconddegree murder is a Class B felony punishable by life in prison. Manslaughter in the first degree is a Class C felony with a penalty of up to life in prison.

Chris Miller was previously charged with manufacturing a controlled substance in February 2009 when DCI agents found evidence of a meth lab at his residence in Scotland.

Miller was sentenced on Aug. 26 to a suspended 203-day jail sentence and 10 years of probation for felony meth possession.

A full examination was done on Chris and Stacy Miller’s other child, Elizabeth, and according to court documents, X-rays were performed and “there appeared to be signs of abuse.”

On Wednesday, the breathing tube was removed from four-month-old Jacob Miller at Avera McKennan Hospital, and he died at 3:31 p.m. His funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the United Church of Christ in Scotland.

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