Miller fell 46 feet from Otter Creek Bridge on US 50
No foul play suspected in death of Ohio man
Wanda English Burnett - Editor

While an autopsy report is not conclusive, officials believe injuries William F. Miller, 70, of Cincinnati, sustained in a fall are the cause of his death.

"Dr. Garner, a forensic pathologist with the Hamilton County Morgue told me the injuries Miller received were consistent with a fall from a high place," noted Deputy Tom Grills of the Ripley County Sheriff's Department. Grills noted that the fall from US 50 to the bank area where Miller's body was located is a 46 foot drop.

That information was released about 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, January 5, two days after the body of Miller was recovered from a bank area by the Otter Creek Bridge just west of Holton.

Deputy Grills, who is the investigating officer, noted that the pathologist further commented that the injuries Miller sustained were not consistent with someone who had been in an altercation or a vehicle accident.

Miller's vehicle had been wrecked however and found near the Otter Creek Bridge on December 19. It was towed to Bob's Garage in Osgood. According to Grills, the car had damage to the driver's side and the left front tire had a huge puncture. However, officers have not been able to conclusively determine exactly where the accident took place. "All we have is theory, no witnesses, and no hard evidence," noted Sheriff Bill Davison.

The complete autopsy report will not be available for up to 90 days, but officers do not suspect any foul play in the death of Miller.

According to Ripley Publishing Co. files, the family of Miller reported him missing on December 18, but felt they didn't receive much help from the Cincinnati Police, where the initial report was given.

Calls were made from Bob's Service Station to Miller's apartment in Cincinnati, but they went unan
swered. Finally, a brother of Miller's came from Tennessee to help with the search. He was at the apartment and took the call that a wrecked car had been found and was at the Osgood service station.

The Miller family made a trip out
to see about the car. They also went to the State Police Post in Versailles and left a flyer they had been circulating trying to find their loved one. Then they made a trip over to the Sheriff's department on Monday, January 3, and according to Sheriff
Davison within a half an hour, Miller's body had been located.

The investigation is continuing, according to the sheriff, who noted, "Deputy Grills and officers from the state police have done an outstanding job with this investigation. This is an unfortunate accident that has claimed a life," he concluded.