Amish Lake Deaths: Body Cam Footage Shows Ruth Miller’s Strange Statements, Behavior; Lawyer Suggests Insanity Defense. UPDATE: Miller Indicted On Seven Charges

Amish mother Ruth Miller was booked into jail Monday, charged with aggravated murder in the death of her young son Vincen, among other charges. This followed a weeklong stay at a mental health facility.

Today, it appears news outlets were able to acquire body cam footage from August 23, when authorities were called to Atwood Lake after Miller allegedly intentionally drove a golf cart carrying her children into the water.

In an initial press release, Tuscarawas County, Ohio Sheriff Orvis Campbell described “concerning statements” made by Ruth Miller after she was retrieved from Atwood Lake. Later at a press conference, he noted statements which “were not rational”.

Statements from the Body Camera Footage

In the 2-minute video clip below, compiled from bodycam footage (via FOX8), we hear and see some of those statements. Here’s the first one:

On video from a deputy’s body camera, Miller was asked where her son was and she told a ranger, “I gave him to God.”

“You gave him to God?” the ranger asked.

“Yes, I threw him in the lake and I gave him to God and people are going to tell me I’m crazy, but he is real and he loves you,” Miller responded.

At this point in the video, she reaches over and touches the officer on the shoulder.

Here’s the second snippet – a strange answer when asked where her husband is:

“I need to know where your husband is,” a ranger told Miller.

“He’s at the bottom of the lake in a fish,” Miller responded.

“He’s in a fish?” the ranger asked.

“Yes,” Miller responded.

“There is no fish large enough on Atwood to swallow your husband,” the ranger said.

In the third snippet, Miller appears to try to get an attending paramedic to kneel down and pray with her.

Here’s the full video:

Yea, she doesn’t seem right. To state the obvious. Especially knowing now what happened, it’s just a sad watch.

A note on the head covering

A note, because this will come up somewhere – the covering she is wearing is not the commonly seen white pleated kapp common to Holmes County Amish women, but a piece of fabric or “veiling” covering only the back of the head.

I know it looks more like a Mennonite-style covering, but Amish women in some communities do wear these. Here’s an example from a display at the Behalt Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center, in Berlin, Ohio, with description.

The attached description reads: “Veiling (black or white). Worn by some Amish & Mennonite women when doing tasks that might damage the shaped white covering.”

Miller’s Attorney Speaks

Ruth Miller’s lawyer, Ian N. Friedman, had this to say to People magazine:

“It is immediately apparent that Ruth, at the time of the tragic incident, suffered from a severe mental ailment that unequivocally prevented her from appreciating the wrongfulness of her conduct,” Miller’s attorney Ian N. Friedman tells PEOPLE.

He went on to say: “I expect that this case will center around whether Ruth should be found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. We are confident that she will be.”

So it sounds like an insanity defense will be a big part of the strategy in this case.

Cleveland-based attorney Friedman is described on his website as “one of the most sought after criminal defense lawyers in the country.”

He appears to have had a lengthy and successful career, receiving many honors. He also appears to have made a good number of media appearance, on radio, in print, and on national television networks.

Update: Formal Indictment on Seven Charges

It was also reported that a grand jury has returned a formal indictment. Ruth Miller faces charges of aggravated murder in the death of her son, as well as child endangering and domestic violence.

If convicted of aggravated murder, Miller faces “a minimum of a life sentence with parole eligibility after 20 years and a maximum sentence of life without parole.”

Ruth Miller was indicted on seven charges. Here’s the list via WKYC:

• 1 count of aggravated murder of her four-year-old son, citing prior calculation and design
• 1 count of murder related to her son
• 1 count of felonious assault related to her son
• 1 count of child endangering involving her 15-year-old daughter
• 3 counts of domestic violence affecting her 15-year-old daughter and two adult sons, ages 18

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