Budd Miller

Linda Miller and Lawrence Turley's Story

UPDATE: Double murderer Budd Miller died in prison on December 8, 2017. Thank you to everyone who submitted a petition to help ensure he fulfilled his entire sentence. Justice has been served.

A Violent Precursor To Murder

At 11:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve 1980, Linda Miller pulled into her driveway. Her 17-year-old daughter, Dixie Jean Ray, was sitting next to her in the front passenger seat with Mrs. Miller’s seven-year-old daughter on her lap. Her 16-year-old son, Gregory Ray, was in the rear passenger seat. Immediately after Mrs. Miller pulled into her driveway, her ex-husband, Budd Miller, approached the vehicle with a gun in his hand. Budd Miller said he wanted to talk to her and ordered her out of the car. When Mrs. Miller saw the gun, she refused to exit the car. Mr. Miller then stated, “I’m going to kill you,” and then started firing bullets into the windshield. Mrs. Miller was able to back out of the driveway. After realizing Dixie Jean was shot in the head, she drove immediately to the hospital.

Police were called to the hospital and found five shots had been fired into the windshield with three shots penetrating. Budd Miller was arrested and charged with Attempted Aggravated Murder and was released after posting bond. Although Mrs. Miller’s daughter was seriously wounded, she would survive.

An Jealous Ex-Husband Makes Good On His Promise To Kill

On April 19, 1981, while still out on bond, Budd Miller again confronted his wife and her children with a gun. He forced Mrs. Miller and her children to go to Mrs. Miller’s home. After arriving at the home, Budd Miller shot both Mrs. Miller and her boyfriend, Lawrence Turley, in the head.

Youngstown Police Officer Tom Perry and Youngstown Police Sgt. Palmer arrived at Mrs. Miller’s home after it was reported that shots were fired there. When Officer Perry arrived, he opened the rear door and he identified himself as a police officer. He asked if anyone was hurt inside. Budd Miller the told him to “get away.”

Officer Perry then positioned himself on the side of the doorway from the kitchen into the dining room. He saw Mr. Turley lying on the floor in a pool of blood. He could see Mrs. Miller’s feet were sticking out. He saw Budd Miller standing behind a wall between the living room and dining room with a small gun in his hand. Officer Perry again identified himself as a police officer and ordered Miller to put down the weapon.

Budd Miller told Officer Perry to leave the house and not come in. Officer Perry heard Mrs. Miller moaning and asked her if she was hurt badly. She said, “Get him, please get him.” Officer Perry then again ordered Miller to put down the weapon. Mrs. Miller cried out, “I’m hurt.”

After he was ordered again by Officer Perry to put down the weapon, Budd Miller stepped out from behind the wall and fired a shot at Officer Perry. Officer Perry ducked and Miller shot at him again. Then Budd Miller fired twice more.

Officer Perry was unable to determine if he was firing those two shots at him or the victims on the floor. When Miller reappeared from behind the wall, Officer Perry fired two shots. Miller then ducked behind the wall and appeared to be putting a new clip in his gun. Miller opened fire on Officer Perry again. Officer Perry observed Miller drop his weapon and rushed him. A struggle ensued, and eventually, both Officer Perry and Sgt. Palmer subdued Budd Miller and handcuffed him.

Budd Miller was taken to the hospital, where it was determined that he had shot himself in the chest. Hospital staff found several live .25 caliber rounds in Miller’s clothing. Budd Miller survived his wounds. Mrs. Miller and Mr. Turley were not as fortunate. Both died from the gunshot wounds to their heads that were inflicted by Budd Miller.

A Double Murder Conviction and Poor Rehabilitation

Budd Miller was convicted of two counts of murder for killing Linda Miller and Lawrence Turley and one count of felonious assault for shooting at Officer Perry. He was sentenced to two consecutive (back to back) life sentences for the murders, plus 5-15 years for shooting at Officer Perry. In 1983, The Seventh Appellate District Court of Appeals ruled that, under current law, Budd Miller could not receive consecutive life sentences and ruled that the sentences should be served concurrently (at the same time).

Although Mr. Miller has served over 30 years in prison, he still refuses to take responsibility for his actions. According to the Ohio Department of Corrections records, “Miller was last heard by the Parole Board in August 2010. He denied shooting the victims and claimed that he was set up by police. Miller took no responsibility for any of his actions. Due to the fact that Miller killed two victims, while on bond for attempting to kill one of those same victims, and his failure to take any responsibility for his actions, he was deemed unsuitable for release.”

Despite Budd Miller’s poor rehabilitation, The Ohio Parole board granted parole to Inmate Miller in 2012 and wanted to place him in a nursing home. The parole was halted after our organization discovered the pending parole. A Full Board Hearing was held and thanks to input from the victim’s family, and The Mahoning County Prosecutor’s Office the parole board reversed their decision.

No Parole

The first step to rehabilitation is taking responsibility for your actions. Per the Ohio Department of Corrections records, in over 30 years, Budd Miller has taken NO responsibility for ANY of his actions. In addition, Miller attempted to kill a police officer and is still blaming police for his incarceration. Miller also knowingly shot a handgun into a vehicle containing children. Budd Miller is a danger to society and a threat to law enforcement. Considering Inmate Miller committed his crimes at the advanced age of 49, we believe he remains a threat to the community.

Budd Miller killed two innocent people in cold blood and tried to kill a police officer while he was out on bond after being charged with attempted aggravated murder for shooting his 17-year-old stepdaughter in the head. Based on all of these facts, we believe Mr. Miller should be required to serve his maximum sentence of LIFE in prison.