Sheriff to question son in murder

STEUBENVILLE - Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla and deputies headed to Anderson County, Tenn., Friday to interview the son of a man suspected in the shooting death of his father.

Abdalla said Shelby F. Miller, 56, of 102 Boyce St., East Liverpool, was shot once in the back of the head. His son, Travis N. Miller, 27, was lodged in the Anderson County jail on a fugitive from justice warrant.

Abdalla said Travis Miller had waived extradition back to Ohio but court personnel in Anderson County were unable to confirm if Miller waived extradition.

Shelby Miller's body was found Thursday evening at a fishing spot along Yellow Creek off state Route 213 in Hammondsville.

Family members had reported to East Liverpool City Police they hadn't heard from Shelby Miller since Monday. The Jefferson County coroner's office reported the autopsy performed in Cuyahoga County showed Shelby Miller was probably shot on Monday.

Jefferson County Prosecutor Thomas Straus said Travis Miller was charged Friday with theft of a credit card and theft of a vehicle. Straus noted that as the investigation continues, Travis Miller may be charged with murder.

Abdalla said he received information from East Liverpool Police and the Columbiana County Sheriff's Department that Travis Miller's mother lived in Tennessee. Abdalla contacted the Morgan County Sheriff's Department in Tennessee about checking the residence for Travis Miller. The mother told Morgan County sheriff's deputies that her son was at a hospital in Oak Ridge, Tenn., Abdalla said. Oak Ridge Police went to the hospital and arrested Travis Miller.

Morgan County sheriff's deputies went back to the mother's house and found Shelby Miller's vehicle behind the house.

Abdalla said agents with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation will be traveling to Tennessee today to process the truck for evidence.

The sheriff said additional evidence was found at the scene off state Route 213, about two miles from state Route 7, but he wouldn't elaborate on the evidence.

Family and friends of Shelby Miller went with the Saline Township Police Department to the fishing spot frequented by Shelby Miller on Thursday evening. Abdalla said they smelled a foul odor and found Shelby Miller's body covered with weeds and brush.

(Law can be contacted at mlaw@heraldstaronline.com.)