63 - A Blaze on Banyan

Lucille Miller was a California housewife who, in 1964, was accused of murdering her dentist husband in a fiery accident on a lonely road through a lemon grove. The ensuing case is one of the most muddled and morally-unclear I have ever come across.

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Opening music from https://filmmusic.io. "Giant Wyrm" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Dark Child" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com). License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Closing music by Soma.

SOURCES

“Another death factor in murder trial.” Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, December 7, 1964.

“Attorney Hayton tells trial of affair with Mrs. Miller.” Los Angeles Times, February 5, 1965.

“Attorney to ask federal hearing in Miller case.” Redlands Daily Facts, December 10, 1964.

“Attorneys keep vigil in auto fire death case.” Los Angeles Times, October 11, 1964.

“Civil rights of arrested woman said violated.” Eureka Humboldt Standard, December 16, 1964.

“Coroner declares Dr. Miller murdered.” San Bernardino County Sun, October 16, 1964.

“Cremation in a car; murder quiz of wife.” San Francisco Examiner, October 11, 1964.

“Decision due today on dentist's auto death.” Los Angeles Times, October 13, 1964.

“Defense presses for Mrs. Miller's release.” San Bernardino County Sun, October 23, 1964.

“Dentist dies in auto blaze; wife arrested.” Los Angeles Times, October 9, 1964.

“Dentist dies in flaming car, wife held.” San Bernardino County Sun, October 9, 1964.

“Dentist's wife indicted after jury hearing.” Santa Cruz Sentinel, October 21, 1964.

“Dentist's wife indicted for car fire death.” Los Angeles Times, October 21, 1964.

“Exam indicates suspect pregnant.” Santa Maria Times, December 21, 1964.

“Hearing for wife held for murder.” Eureka Humboldt Standard, October 14, 1964.

“Miller trial loses juror; 'discharged.'” San Bernardino County Sun, February 26, 1965.

“Motel romance loveless on his part, Hayton says.” Los Angeles Times, February 9, 1965.

“Mother of three faces indictment.” Ukiah Daiy Journal, October 20, 1964.

“Mother to go on trial.” Roseville Press-Tribune, November 5, 1964.

“Mrs. Miller arraigned in dentist's car death.” Los Angeles Times, October 22, 1964.

“Mrs. Miller loses another freedom bid.” San Bernardino County Sun, October 17, 1964.

“Mrs. Miller to enter plea on Friday.” Redlands Daily Facts, October 28, 1964.

“Mrs. Miller's defense may seek trial delay.” Los Angeles Times, November 30, 1964.

“Murder charges filed against Mrs. Miller.” Redlands Daily Facts, October 13, 1964.

“New trial scheduled.” Hanford Sentinel, December 9, 1964.

“New trial set Jan. 11 in Miller murder case.” Redlands Daily Facts, December 8, 1964.

Hartsfield, Jack. “Attorneys clash during Miller trial arguments.” San Bernardino County Sun, February 26, 1965.

─. “Debbie Miller, friends take witness stand.” San Bernardino County Sun, February 10, 1965.

─. “Doctor Miller's funeral first quiet in case.” San Bernardino County Sun, October 16, 1964.

─. “Foley tears into Turner and Mr. Hayton.” San Bernardino County Sun, February 26, 1965.

─. “Lucille Miller may gain freedom.” San Bernardino County Sun, February 6, 1972.

─. “Lucille Miller's 5-year fight for freedom.” Ontario Daily Report, October 18, 1970.

─. “Miller murder trial goes to jury today.” San Bernardino County Sun, March 2, 1965.

─. “Mrs. Miller's murder trial opens tomorrow.” San Bernardino County Sun, December 1, 1964.

─. “Turner claims defense using double talk.” San Bernardino County Sun, March 2, 1965.

─. “Turner says Mrs. Miller's story baloney.” San Bernardino County Sun, February 26, 1965.

─. “Uproar sweeps court as verdict announced.” San Bernardino County Sun, March 6, 1965.

─. “Was wife of S.B. attorney murdered?” San Bernardino County Sun, December 5, 1964.

Didion, Joan. “Some Dreamers of the Golden Dream.” The Literature of Reality (Gay Talese & Barbara Lounsberry, eds.). New York: Harper Collins, 1995.

Hertel, Howard. “Mrs. Miller takes witness stand to deny killing mate.” Los Angeles Times, February 17, 1965.

Hertel, Howard and Henry Sutherland. “Mrs. Miller had two love affairs, prosecutor implies.” Los Angeles Times, February 11, 1965.

─. “Mrs. Miller's fate rests with jury.” Los Angeles Times, March 3, 1965.

Miller, Debra J. “A Mother's Crime.” https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-apr-02-tm-dreams14-story.html

Murphy, Mike. “Supreme Court to review Lucille Miller's S.B. trial.” San Bernardino County Sun, December 5, 1967.

"People v. Miller (1966).” https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2d/245/112.html

Yetzer, Carl. “Policewoman 'plant' may get new trial for Lucille Miller.” San Bernardino County Sun, June 8, 1969.