GUILTY TX - Naomi Miller, 34, San Angelo, 2005 (remains found and identified)

The Tom Green Sheriff's Office found human remains around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday buried at the old San Angelo Speedway.

Tom Green County Sheriff David Jones said they believe the remains are that of 34-year-old Naomi Michelle Miller, who was reported missing in Dec. 2015, but had not been seen since 2005.

Miller’s husband, Robert, was arrested Thursday and charged with murder and theft of property. His bond was set at $501,000.

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A second suspect for the murder of Naomi Michelle Miller was arrested today in Brady following the investigation by the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office and Texas Rangers.

On Tuesday, March 14, Tom Green County Sheriff’s Deputy Billy Fiveash signed a complaint charging Ludonna Gail Yoder , 41, with the offense of Murder in the death of Naomi Michelle Miller. Judge Eddie Howard, Tom Green County Precinct Four Justice of the Peace, issued a warrant for her arrest.

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On March 8, the human remains of Naomi Miller was located and recovered on the property at 3613 East F.M. 2105 in Tom Green County. The location of the human remains were consistent with the area Robert Miller and LuDonna Yoder had identified during interviews with law enforcement.

Yoder described the disposing of Miller’s body on the night of the murder in a shallow grave at the residence where the murder occurred. Yoder further described the subsequent removal of the body from where it was first buried and the reburial at the location where the human remains of Naomi Miller were discovered on March 8, 2017.

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According to the affidavit, LuDonna Gail Yoder said she was living with Robert and Michelle (the victim went by her middle name) in December 2005. In her confession to Detective and Sgt. Billy Fiveash of the TGCSO, LuDonna admitted she and Robert premeditated the murder of Michelle. The plan was set into action on Dec. 3, 2005. According to LuDonna, Robert had briefed her a predetermined signal. Her role, she said, once the signal was given, was to place a pillow over Michelle’s face and suffocate her to death.

On the day of the murder, “LuDonna Gail Yoder stated on the predetermined signal, she readied herself as planned, and held a pillow to her chest in a ready position,” the affidavit states. Robert then violently grabbed Michelle and pinned her down on a bed, holding her arms down as well. LuDonna told Fiveash that she placed the pillow over Michelle’s face and the plan was for her to suffocate Michelle. However, LuDonna told Fiveash that instead, she removed the pillow from Michelle’s face but left the pillow within reach of Robert. LuDonna told the detective, “Robert Lamar Miller II then grabbed the pillow, lunged on top of Naomi Michelle Miller, 'and suffocated Naomi Michelle Miller until Naomi Michelle Miller ceased to move and had voided her bladder.’”

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After Michelle was dead, LuDonna told Fiveash how she and Robert hid the body. The scheme started at the home where the three were living on Glass Rd., between Grape Creek and Carlsbad. According to what LuDonna told the detective, she assisted Robert in hiding Michelle’s body in an area in the rear of the residence. This was where investigators found a modified kitchen floor to gain access to what was described as a “depression” consistent with storing a body. Fiveash stated that in 2015, in a consent search from the residents at the time, K-9 cadaver dogs alerted on the scent that indicated a body had been where LuDonna said she and Robert initially hid Michelle’s body.

LuDonna stated that in March 2006, she assisted Robert in removing Michelle’s body from the Glass Rd. residence and transporting it to the former San Angelo Speedway in the 3000 block of FM 2105. There, LuDonna said she assisted Robert placing Michelle’s body in a ditch. Then, LuDonna said she rode on a “maintainer” Robert drove, keeping lookout, while Robert buried the body on the south side of the racetrack.

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The couple accused of killing Naomi Michelle Miller, who disappeared 12 years ago, have been indicted on charges of murder and tampering with physical evidence.

Robert Lamar Miller, 45, and LuDonna Gail Yoder, 41, were indicted by a Tom Green County grand jury on June 1.

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January 16, 2018 is the trial date set for Robert Miller, the Brady man charged with murder and tampering with evidence in the more than 10 year-old missing persons case of Naomi Miller.

Court reports say the 45 year-old intentionally and knowlingly caused the death of then 34 year-old Naomi Miller by suffocating her with a pillow or duct tape back in 2005.

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During a hearing Wednesday, 340th District Judge Jay Weatherby had ordered Miller be released from custody on a promise bond because state prosecutors failed to indict Miller within 90 days of his arrest. The indictment was filed one day late.

The affidavit filed Friday alleges that Miller broke the terms of his release Thursday by communicating with codefendent LuDonna Gail Yoder, 41, while he was in jail waiting on release.

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District Judge Barbara Walther added Miller’s jury trial to the February 2018 docket. His request for a new PR bond wasn't discussed. His common law wife Yoder’s jury trial is expected to follow in April.

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Ludonna Yoder’s attorney attempted to get her final statement suppressed during a pretrial hearing Monday. That fourth written statement is where Yoder admitted her participation in the death and disposal of Naomi Michelle Miller.

After closing arguments in the hearing, District Judge Jay Weatherby denied the motion to suppress the statement.

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Miller’s court appointed attorney Brian Raymond filed a motion with the district court to suppress 18 interviews of Miller including confessions and a polygraph. That motion was heard by district Judge Jay Weatherby Thursday afternoon.

In the motion, Raymond says Miller kept asking for his attorney to be present and law enforcement officers ignored his requests violating his right to legal representation. District Attorney John Best told the judge Thursday that Miller never requested his attorney be present and law enforcement officers read him his Miranda Rights on several occasions and Miller waived those rights on video and audio and in writing.

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Miller has a final pretrial hearing set for July 10 and his jury trial for murder is set for July 23.

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42-year-old LuDonna Yoder went before District Judge Ben Woodward Tuesday for what was supposed to be her final pretrial hearing before her jury trial. Instead, Yoder’s attorney Jimmy Stewart told the judge he had two other jury trials on June 18 and would be ready for Yoder’s trial by July. Judge Woodward set Yoder’s trial date for July 23 with a final pretrial hearing on July 10.

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Robert Miller also has a final pretrial hearing on July 10 and a jury trial set for July 23.

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Robert Miller pleaded not guilty Tuesday on charges he murdered Naomi Miller and helped dispose of her body. Miller has until Friday to accept a plea deal offered by prosecutors or face a trial by jury that could begin as early as Monday, July 23.

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Ludonna Yoder is also charged with murder. Her jury trial has been moved to September.

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Standing before Judge Jay Weatherby, Robert Miller offered a plea of guilty on the charge he murdered his wife, Naomi Michelle Miller, who was found buried in a shallow grave at the former San Angelo speedway.

"Robert Lamar Miller, I find you guilty beyond reasonable doubt and sentence you to 38 years in (prison)," Weatherby said.

As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, the charge Miller tampered with evidence in moving his wife's body was dropped. Miller, however, will not be able to file an appeal or seek a new trial.

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A San Angelo woman was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to murder during a hearing Monday afternoon, July 16, 2018.

Standing before Judge Jay Weatherby at 3:40 p.m., LuDonna Gail Yoder offered a plea of guilty on the charge she, along with Robert Lamar Miller, killed Naomi Michelle Miller.

As part of a plea agreement with prosecutors, the charge Yoder tampered with evidence in moving the Naomi Miller's body was dropped. Additionally, Yoder will not be able to file an appeal or seek a new trial.

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After she was suffocated to death, Naomi Michelle Miller was buried in a shallow grave — twice.

It took almost 13 years — 10 of them before Naomi was even reported missing — but on Monday, July 16, 2018, both Robert Lamar Miller and LuDonna Gail Yoder pleaded guilty to charges they killed the San Angelo mother of two in December 2005, then hid her body.

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Close relatives of Naomi were “very relieved” after they were informed of Miller and Yoder’s sentences, Jones said.

“Now that it’s concluded, her remains will be released back to the family,” said Jones.

Then Naomi Miller can be properly laid to rest for a third and final time.

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"It's a big weight lifted off your shoulders, even though you know what you're doing and you know you did everything right. The district attorney's office did get on the ball and we got a quick closure to it. I've spoken with both the mother and the father, and they understood what the plea bargains were. They are both grateful for everybody's help and they hope this will bring closure to their family and they can finally lay Naomi Michelle Miller to rest so she can rest in peace,” Sgt. William Fiveash, investigator with the Tom Green County Sheriff’s Office said.

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