Father, Son Who Killed Neighbor Over Discarded Mattress Re-Arrested

A father and son duo who were recorded fatally shooting their neighbor during a fight over a discarded mattress have been re-arrested after a judge ordered their bond to be increased to $250,000, Abilene police said Friday. 

"Both John and Michael Miller’s bonds were originally set at $25,000 each by a Justice of the Peace," said Abilene Police Chief Stan Standridge. "They then bonded out immediately, which was a great concern to both myself and our community. Taylor County District Attorney, Jim Hicks, filed a Motion of Insufficiency of Bond this afternoon to address the Department and public’s concern."

Video of the incident appeared to show the Millers shooting at their 37-year-old neighbor Aaron Howard, while the victim's fiancee, Kara Box recorded the confrontation on her cell phone. Box gave the recording to a local television station, helping it go viral. 

"People deserve to know what actually happened and you know they deserve to know John and Michael Miller are murderers," Box told KTXS.

In the video, the three men can be heard arguing with each other, making threats until at one point, John Miller pulls the trigger on his pistol, shooting Howard. Then, his son Michael shoots Howard using his shotgun. 

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO. DISCRETION IS ADVISED.

Police say at least five shots were fired during the incident between the neighbors. 

According to court documents, the fight between the Millers and Howard began because of "an argument about the placement of a box mattress." 

Howard was not armed with a gun, but was carrying a bat at the time of the confrontation. While standing about 7-feet away, he raised it and that's when John Miller fired two shots, police said. 

Howard threw the bat at John Miller and Michael Miller opened fire on Howard, firing on him with a shotgun. John Miller then shot the 37-year-old two more times.

Howard was taken to a local hospital where he later died due to a "gunshot wound of the chest and shotgun wound of the chest." 

Both John and Michael Miller have been charged with first degree murder.

Photo: Abilene Police Department


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content