All
three women had been reported missing within a 2 month period.
The
police checked for other missing persons reports, they were
interested to find that many young women had been reported missing
from December 1976 onwards. Including Veronica Knight, the pattern
was too frightening to ignore. Young women had been abducted, the
police begun to investigate that the disappearance of seven women
may be the work of a serial killer.
A
profile was drawn up: A local man, sex offender, more than liekly to
have been released from jail just prior to the first abduction and
may have returned since the last one. Police kept investigating the
abductions and murders trying not to raise suspicions of the killer.
On
Ester Sunday 1979, the remains of Sylvia Pittman were discovered
near Truro, a mere two kilometres from the site where Veronica
Knight had been found a year earlier. Sylvia was on the list of
missing girls. Soon the media got wind of the case and the story was
splashed across the country. Newspapers offered rewards of $10,000
to catch the killer, and the Government increased its offered a
reward to $30,000.
The
reward offer brought some results. A man approached police to tell
them that a friend of his had had an unusual conversation with James
Miller. Miller had told the woman that he and another man
Christopher Worrell were responsible for the murders. The
conversation had taken place on February 22, 1977 two days after
Worrell had died in an automobile accident. This date was very
significant to police. It was eight days after the last abduction.
The
woman who Miller had told the story to, made a formal police
statement. She told police that Miller and Worrell would often pick
up gay men, go back to the man's house and rob them threatening to
tell others they were gay. The Miller went on to tell her that he
and Chris would pick girls up and kill them. She questioned Miller
further. He said that Chris was responsible for the actual murders,
but he felt he was to blame because he couldn't stop him. Worrell
would rape the women they had picked up and strangle them. Miller
admitted he only drove the vehicle.
Miller
told the woman that he could take her to a place near Truro and show
her the bodies of she didn't believe him. She thought he had said
there had been about 6 victims and that the killings had increased
just before Worrell had been killed. The woman decided not to tell
police, Miller had said that Worrell was responsible and he was
dead, so there wasn't anything that could be done anyway.
Worrell
profile fitted the police's description perfectly. He had been
jailed for attempted and rape and was released from Yatala Prison in
Adelaide in October 1976. And the car accident accounted for the
cessation of the murders.
In
April 1979 searchers at Truro found two more skeletons, the remains
of Vivki Howell and Connie Iordanies. They were found close together
and a kilometre from where Veronica Knight's body was found.
Police survellience of Miller spotted him in inner Adelaide and
asked him to accompany them to Police Headquarters to answer a few
questions. Miller was question for a while a mande no admissions.
The interview was completed and the police decided to take Miller to
the charge room. Miller conceded. He decided to show the police
where the bodies are.
Police
procedure made things difficult, but in the end they took Miller out
to Truro along with forensic and pathology that evening. Just to
make sure Miller didn't have time to change his mind. The media of
course found out and two reporters were waiting at the scene when
the police and Miller arrived.
Miller
first directed the police to the positions where the first four
bodies had been found.
The
further into the bush, Miller stopped at a large shrub and told
police that they may find another one there. Curled up under the
tree was another skeleton, that of Julie Mykyta.
The
party then drove to Port Gawler Beach, eventually after extensive
searching police discovered the body of Deborah Lamb. Her body had
been buried in a hole which was covered with wood. The forensic team
concluded that this victim suffered the most brutal attack. Her
ankles and wrists were bound with cord, her pantyhose were wrapped
around her neck and mouth. Sand and shellgrit found in her lungs
suggested she was buried alive.
The
final victim, according to Miller was buried at Gillman, an isolated
area on the outskirts of Adelaide. Police were unable to locate any
remains there for quite some time. They did in the end find the
skeletal corpse of Tania Kenny. The Police had located every girl on
their missing persons list.
Miller
was charge with four counts of murder, then the other three were
added after further examination.
On
March 12, 1980 after a six-week trial, Miller was found guilty of
six counts of murder. He was aquitted of the murder of Veronia
Knight. He was jailed for life. Miller however claims he is innocent
of murder. He said that his love for Worrell had made him keep quiet
about the killings.
