A 14-year-old Pennsylvania teen told a police officer that she “Michael Myers’d” her disabled sister, prosecutors said Tuesday during a Lancaster County court hearing, which will decide whether the suspect should be tried as an adult.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Claire Miller is charged with murder in connection with the death of her older sister, Helen Miller, 19. According to police, Helen had cerebral palsy, used a wheelchair and was completely defenseless against the suspect.
Claire Miller called 911 in February 2020 and allegedly reported that she had killed her sister. The 9th-grade student was said to be “hysterical” when officers arrived at the Manheim Township home and found Helen Miller lying on her back in a bedroom with a knife protruding from her neck.
During a court hearing this week, Lancaster County prosecutors argued that Miller should remain in adult court, while her defense attorneys argued that she would be better off tried as a juvenile.
According to Assistant District Attorney Amy Muller, the defendant was “a kid who had it all but was obsessed with homicide,” NBC 8 reports.
“[Helen] was an easy target. She couldn’t fight back,” Muller told the judge.
Defense lawyer Bob Beyer reportedly argued that Claire “suffered a psychotic first break” and never intended to harm her sister.
“Even our best and brightest children have demons. We need to deal with them,” Beyer said.
Judge David Workman will announce whether the defendant will be tried as an adult or juvenile by July 18.
What Happened to Helen?
“I stabbed my sister!” Claire Miller reportedly said over and over to police, following Helen’s murder.
A search warrant affidavit previously revealed that Claire Miller also told someone over the phone about “suicidal and homicidal thoughts,“ WGAL reports.
The document didn’t say when the conversation took place, but it did say police heard from that witness about 30 minutes after Claire called police to the scene.
Manheim Township detective John Martin previously told the court that after Claire was brought a fast-food breakfast, she replied, “Ooooh, McDonald’s. I’d have killed someone sooner if I knew I’d get McDonald’s.”
The court also heard that she texted her friends and said, “I’m so sorry guys. I just killed my sister.”
The affidavit confirmed that the suspect had blood on her pants; responding officers also noticed blood in the snow near the driveway. An officer said it appeared as if Claire tried to wash her hands in the snow.
The suspect and victim lived at home with their parents, who were sleeping when the incident occurred.
Beyer previously argued that the court should focus on rehabilitation at a juvenile facility, which he claimed would better benefit the suspect, who would remain under supervision until she turns 21.
Miller is currently behind bars at the State Correctional Institution at Muncy, without bond.
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[Feature Photo: Claire and Helen Miller/Handout]
