Housemate charged in Waterport woman's death

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CRIME SCENE: According to to the Orleans County Sheriff's Office, the altercation between Rachel and Frederick Miller began at their Oak Orchard River Road residence and continued onto the roadway. Sheriff's Deputies and State Police blocked the roadway not far from the area where Miller's body was observed Monday morning. --
Photos by JIM KRENCIK/STAFF WHAT THEY KNOW: Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess, second from left, and District Attorney Joe Cardone, third from left, discussed the OSCO's investigation into a Waterport woman's death at a press conference Monday. Frederick C. Miller, Rachel A. Miller's house-mate and boyfriend, was charged with second-degree murder Monday. --

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March 4, 2013

Housemate charged in Waterport woman's death

By Jim Krencik Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Tue Mar 05, 2013, 12:04 AM EST

Niagara Gazette — CARLTON — A Waterport man was arrested Monday in connection with the death of his house-mate.

Frederick C. Miller, 61, 1542 Oak Orchard River Road was charged with second-degree murder following an investigation into the death of Rachel A. Miller, 53, also of 1542 Oak Orchard River Road.

According to the Orleans County Sheriff Department, officers responded to a call at 6:56 a.m. after the driver of a passing school bus observed Rachel’s body along Oak Orchard River Road about 150 yards west of the residence.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Hess said at a press conference Monday that some type of physical altercation between the two Millers, who were not related nor married to one another.

Hess said that the cause of the altercation is not known. It began in their house and continued outside and then along the road to the area where her body was located.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said that Rachel was unresponsive when police arrived, and was probably already deceased when she was discovered. Neither Hess nor Cardone would comment to the extent of the injuries suffered by Rachel.

“There was a great deal of blood on the body,” Hess said.

The Sheriff’s Office, which is leading the investigation of the death, is not aware of any ongoing issues or previous domestic abuse calls at the residence. Both the residence and the roadway are being treated as crime scenes.

Frederick was apprehended at his residence and arraigned in Town of Carlton Court Monday, where he was remanded to the Orleans County Jail without bail.

District Attorney Joe Cardone said a preliminary hearing may be held Friday in Carlton.

The deceased has been transported to the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office in Rochester for autopsy. The New York State Police Forensic Indentification Unit is assisting the local investigation.

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