Aug. 11, 2007
Dangerous Reunion
Two Women Fight To Keep A Killer Behind Bars
-
Play CBS Video Video Wesley Wayne Miller Deposition See more of Wesley Wayne Miller's deposition, taken in Montgomery County, Texas.
-
Video Rapist Targeted Cheerleaders Susan Spencer gives Harry Smith a preview of a "48 Hours" story about the murder of high school cheerleader Retha Stratton and the rape of several other cheerleaders.
-
Interactive Forensics 101 Find out more about forensics, DNA and some cases in which DNA has made a difference.
-
Interactive Crime Beat Statistics and specifics on crime in America.
Miller’s lawyer Bob Mabry refused to discuss his strategy, and in fact went to extraordinary lengths to refuse. He even convinced the judge to close the actual hearing to cameras.
Before it starts, Lisa and Rona take seats just a few feet from Miller, who certainly knows that they are the main reason his freedom may be denied.
Wesley Miller never was charged with assaulting Susan Davis, but she is sure he did it, and has come to face him for the first time since high school. "When I saw him, I looked him straight in the eye. And just thought you know, 'What an awful person you are for all these things that you've done,'" Susan says.
Robertson argues that Retha’s murder was simply the last barbaric act of a serial rapist, one who, as the famous cheerleader photo shows, picked his victims carefully.
But Miller denies it, both in his testimony and in this earlier deposition, shot by the state.
Retha’s murder, Robertson continues, is the very definition of a sex crime. Robertson even enlarged the very gruesome crime scene photos of Retha to show the jury. "I had to. It's important those are her own blood-soaked panties that are stuck into her mouth," he explains.
On the stand, Miller admitted that he was sexually attracted to Retha. Miller claims that he went to Retha’s house for sex but that when they fought, she attacked him.
"We argued and it just led to her going to grab for the knife," he claims.
When it comes to the details of the actual murder, Miller’s memory fails him; he told the court he couldn't recall Retha's stabbing.
"I refer to it as a very convenient amnesia," says Dr. Randall Price, a forensic psychologist hired by the state to evaluate Wesley Miller. "He can remember the details. Up until the point that the details become, those that would add to his culpability. And then, he blacks out."
Dr. Price says he doesn't buy that story "at all."
"I think he was there to commit a sexual assault on her. To rape her. And he lost control of the situation," Dr. Price tells Spencer.
And, Dr. Price says, Wesley wasn’t used to that. "He was Mr. Castleberry High. He was football star. I think there was a certain sexual entitlement that he had. That he thought that he was, you know, in some way entitled to have sex with the popular cheerleaders of the school," Price explains.
Asked what he thinks is wrong with Wesley Wayne Miller, Dr. Price says, "I think he's a psychopath. I think he's a sexual psychopath."
And how does popular high school football star morph into a sexual psychopath? Are there clues in his childhood?
The oldest of three, his father Morris says he was athletic, and a good kid. He also idolized his dad, who worked for the railroad. "I was proud of Wes because he was a go-getter, and he tried to be number one all the time," his father explains.
Morris says when he was injured in a terrible train accident during Wesley’s junior year, Wesley took it very hard. "I had my right leg cut off. And extensive brain damage. They say I'm lucky to be even talking to you right now."
Speaking to prosecutor Joey Robertson, Wesley Miller told him his father's accident affect his home life drastically.
"I knew it mentally, it hurt my son Wes. As much as it did me, if you know what I mean. It seemed like he cried a lot," Morris remembers.
The accident also took a toll on the Miller’s marriage. "It seemed like my family –slowly—started drifting away," Morris says.
But he has no idea if the resulting family chaos somehow led to murder. "No matter what he's done, he's still my son. And I'll love him forever," Morris tells Spencer. "I feel like Wes has paid his debt to society. I believe he should get out, not one day more than the 25 year sentence at the most.
Produced By Ian Paisley and Jenna Jackson
© MMVII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Recent Segments
Scroll Left Scroll Right
I know it''s difficult to let things go sometimes. I have had 2, yes 2 brothers murdered as well as my mother was murdered by my stepfather. I can tell you unbelieveable stories of crimes you couldn''t imagine possible.
But that is not why I post my comment. I understand Wesley Miller''s sentence might have been light, but that''s the way justice works sometimes. I know a man that killed another totally in self defense and received a 12 year sentence. I know another man that killed a man by stabbing him in the neck 26 times...he was out of prison in 18 months. Is this fair?? of course not, but it is the way the justice system is designed to work.
By backing up the system causes more problems, more money from taxpayers, etc. When your prison term is up, then it is up. I believe this "civil commitmentment" rules he needs to abide by is a violation of his civil rights. Naturally, a prisoner loses many rights, but no one, NO ONE loses there civil rights, unless mandated by a couple of women who think they deserved to make his sentence, not the jury of his peers.
Yeah, really worked didn't it kids! just pray, too bad it didn't work BEFORE the attack thereby preventing it.
"and then that November, a man raped another young woman in the nearby town of Saginaw. "
I guess SHE didn't PRAY, or she didn't grovel enough maybe!
www.zeitgeist.com
evilbible.com
Posted by Beadazzle at 01:51 AM : Aug 12, 2007
*
Nice thought, but that could not help me when I was nine and raped by my brothers in my own bed.
I hope nobody in River Oaks was trying to cover for Wesley, being a small town probably very proud of their football team and thier star player...seems very strange that they didn't show the composite to the victims or question him until it was obvious that he was involved...
Why can't we deport our criminals to China? That would free up prison space...
Seriously, I'm so happy for these women for doing what they did. Still, I wouldn't want him within 1,000 miles of me much less 25.
It's injustice like this that makes me people take matters into their own hands when they have been assualted, raped, etc.
God help us all...
good riddance to that problem
Chemical castration makes more sense from an ethical standpoint. I don't want the state finding reasons to get into the business of deliberate maiming, no matter what the provocation. There are cases--Ted Bundy being the poster child--where the death penalty can be argued as the only protection for the community at large. It may well be that this is one of those cases, but the initial prosecutorial decisions rule out that option. Despite miscarriages of justice, the system should err on the side of caution against system abuse. A society's respect for rule of law has a direct effect on preservation of essential liberties. Justifying judicial vindictiveness risks broadening the range of crimes that can be rationalized to trigger retribution by the state. That's why the Constitution prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.
- by beadazzle August 12, 2007 4:51 AM EDT
- I'm glad these women got what they wanted. I know all to well what it's like to go through life after being raped,only to see that person again some years later,walking freely amongst us wearing one of those monitor bands.
- Reply to this comment
See all 13 CommentsWe just put away a serial rapist murderer called BTK a couple years ago,who started his reign in the 70's then got quiet till the 90's and it turned out it was someone I knew. When he started back up the city of Wichita Ks and Park City KS were on pins and needles once again.
I've learned a lot over the years on how to avoid becoming a victim again,but it's something that the once it happens to you,you'll never get over it,like people tell you to.
To all you women out there,get training in hand guns and martial arts and learn to change your comings and goings routes to places you frequent the most. You will be a lot safer in this world.