VA VA - Richard 'Pete' Miller, 20, Augusta County, 17 Nov 1983

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Trial in 1983 Aug. Co. homicide case next week

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/03/16/trial-1983-augusta-county-almond/81866210/

The defense attorney for an elderly Staunton man who is facing a charge of first-degree murder in a 1983 homicide case has filed a motion to bar testimony that would claim the suspect reportedly killed the victim after being confronted with allegations he molested a family member, court records show.

Charles L. Almond, 85, is charged in the death of his stepdaughter's fiancé, Richard "Pete" Miller, Jr., a 20-year-old Swoope man who went missing the morning of Nov. 17, 1983, and was never heard from or seen again.

Defense attorney Michael Hallahan also hopes to impeach Miller's father, who is expected to testify that he saw his son speaking to Almond before he disappeared, according to court documents.

Almond, long considered a suspect in the case, has been jailed since his surprise arrest in May. His two-day trial is scheduled to begin Tuesday in Augusta County Circuit Court.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

AG: Aug. Co. suspect 'obsessed' with ways to kill

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/03/18/almond-augusta-miller-murder/81901636/

The prosecutor handling the case of an elderly Staunton man accused in the 1983 homicide of his future son-in-law said the suspect was "obsessed with planning" ways to kill people, according to a court filing.

Almond's defense attorney, Michael Hallahan, recently filed a motion objecting to the expert testimony of a retired Virginia State Police trooper who is expected to take the stand during next week's murder trial and answer questions concerning a 1979 prison interview with Almond where the suspect reportedly discussed several ways to kill a person.

In a response to the motion, filed Tuesday, prosecutor Phil Figura of the Office of the Attorney General said the trooper's testimony will not be offered as expert testimony, but said Almond's statements to the trooper will be used to demonstrate his mindset in the years leading up to the alleged killing.

"He was obsessed with planning a variety of ways to kill people," Figura said in the court filing.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

The trial is currently underway and is expected to last two days.

Trial Begins for Augusta Co. Man Accused of 1983 Murder

Tuesday, the court seated a jury of 10 women, two men, and one male alternate.

The prosecution plans to call Almond's step-daughter to the stand, as well over a dozen other witnesses.

Almond on trial for 1983 homicide

Almond's step-daughter testified today; she said that he showed her a picture of a wooded area where she could "spend time with Petey".

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Petey's father and Almond's two sons also testified today.

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/03/22/almond-trial-1983-homicide/82109228/

In his opening statement, Assistant Attorney General Phil Figura said the evidence will show that Charles L. Almond bragged about killing his future son-law, and stated he told his son that he shot 20-year-old Richard "Petey" Miller, Jr., in the head, filled the hole with a crayon to stop the bleeding and placed a plastic bag over his head. Figura said Almond also bragged that he cut up the body with a chainsaw and dissolved the body parts in muriatic acid. Figura told the jury the evidence against Almond will be "overwhelming."

Charlie Almond's stepdaughter, Penny Wilson, testified that Almond "sexually bothered" her while a teen, and said Petey Miller and her stepfather argued about her sex allegation months before Miller went missing.

Wilson also testified that Almond showed her Miller's ID following his disappearance, as well as a lock of his hair. He also showed her a photograph of a bloody hand, claiming it was bitten by a dog.

Charles "Chuck" Almond, Jr., testified today that days after Petey Miller went missing his mother was cleaning the trunk of his father's car, which had a "really bad smell to it." Claimed his father said he spilled muriatic acid in the trunk.

Another son, Anthony Almond, born in 1983, said his father told him several times during his childhood that he killed Miller by shooting him in the head and stuffing his body in the trunk of a vehicle.

http://www.nbc29.com/story/31537447/day-1-concludes-in-charles-almond-trial-accused-of-1983-murder

“He's always intimidated us and done stuff to scare us, to beat us. It's been a life-long abuse,” said Chuck Almond, the son of Charles Almond outside the courtroom.

The memories haunt Chuck Almond so much that he testified against his own father.

“I really wouldn't want to say nothing to him, besides maybe he had a good family. It's a shame he didn't decide to love us instead of abuse us,” said Almond added.

Miller and Almond's families await the justice they never thought would come.

“Petey was only 20 years old. He lost his life. Mr. Almond is 85, even life I don't think is good enough,” said Wilson.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Found Guilty!

http://www.nbc29.com/story/31546685/almond-trial-day-2

An 85-year-old Augusta County man is headed to prison for a murder that happened more than three decades ago. Wednesday evening, a jury found Charles Almond guilty of first degree murder in the death of his stepdaughter's fiancé back in 1983.

Wilson says she found her stepfather along the highway with another car next to his truck.

“Petey was probably in the trunk of the car that I drove away. It just kills me that maybe I gave him his last ride,” Wilson said.

Prosecutors believe Almond shot Miller then chopped up and dissolved his body in acid. The 20-year-old has never been found.

“For the Miller family, we would like to see that they would have something to bury,” said Charles Almond Jr., Almond’s son.

Even though the jury recommended Almond spend the rest of his life behind bars, he could petition for geriatric release in just five years at the age of 90.

Almond's attorney says because of his client's age, he's not sure if he will appeal the verdict.

http://www.whsv.com/content/news/Valley-man-faces-first-degree-murder-charge-in-33-year-old-cold-case--373165751.html

It's been nearly 33 years, but some people said justice was served --including Charles Almond's son.

"It was a long time coming; we never thought this day would actually get here," said Charles Almond, Junior.

Others like Penny Wilson, who was the victim's fiance, broke down in tears when a verdict was read. "I can't imagine how that family feels with the loss and not having something to bury or remember by," said Wilson. She said she hopes this brings some closure. Wilson talked about what's next: "Try to heal now, you know we have had it buried for so long just hopefully we can bury it now and move on."

Almond will be formally sentenced on July 21.

 

[JusticeWillBeServed]

Life sentence upheld in Augusta County killing

http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/local/2016/07/21/almond-murder-miller-augusta/87388500/

Defiant until the very end, 86-year-old Charles L. Almond Sr. continued to maintain his innocence Thursday in the 1983 killing of his stepdaughter's fiancé.

"Every one of them has told a lie," Almond said of the witnesses who testified against him at his March trial, some of them family members and friends. "They done turned against me."

Although there was no physical evidence linking the octogenarian to the crime, Almond's defense was weakened by witnesses who said he bragged about the killing for years. Testimony revealed Almond told some he used a chainsaw to cut up Miller's body, grinding the parts in a homemade wood chipper of sorts. Others said he used muriatic acid to dissolve the body.

Pete Miller's father passed away soon after the trial.

 

[Dylansmom08]

Not finding anything new on the case but after reading through everything I wonder if LE ever looked into any of the statements from witnesses. Like the one that said Almond told them about putting him under his shop or scattering him all over his yard. I know his family was glad to get justice but I really wish he could have been found so they could lay him to rest properly.