Hugh Miller

Case record: Hugh Miller

Status

Hugh Miller was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison on June 12, 1998.

Background

Hugh Miller was a 33-year-old maintenance worker. He murdered his former girlfriend, his best friend, and his mother within six hours in 1995.

Michael E. Riley, the first assistant Burlington County prosecutor, said the killings were among the deadliest rampages in Burlington County history.

The offence

Hugh Miller beat and strangled to death his former girlfriend, Corrine Cochran-Ball, after arguing with her because she ended their relationship.

After killing Corrine Cochran-Ball, Hugh Miller visited his best friend, Keith S. Tiesman. He shot Keith S. Tiesman in the head after Keith S. Tiesman taunted Hugh Miller about his failed relationship.

Hugh Miller then drove to the home of his mother, Charlotte Simcox. He confessed to her about the previous killings. When Charlotte Simcox urged Hugh Miller to turn himself in, he shot her in the head.

Investigation

Michael E. Riley described Hugh Miller’s sentencing for the three murders in 1995.

Jack Smith, spokesman for the Burlington County Prosecutor’s Office, described the early stage of the investigation into Charlotte Simcox’s death, saying: “Certainly our concern was that three people had died, and our concern was certainly to locate him (Miller).”

The hunt for Hugh Miller began like any other inquiry into the homicide of a 49-year-old Burlington City woman, which became increasingly urgent during the next 14 hours.

Investigators discovered a second body, then a third, with close connections to one missing man: Hugh Miller Jr., 30, of Burlington Township.

Jack Smith also said: “Certainly our concern was that three people had died, and our concern was certainly to locate him (Miller).”

Timeline

• 1995 — Hugh Miller beat and strangled Corrine Cochran-Ball after an argument connected to their ended relationship.
• 1995 — Hugh Miller shot Keith S. Tiesman taunted him about his failed relationship.
• 1995 — Hugh Miller confessed to his mother, Charlotte Simcox, and then shot her in the head.
• April 10, 1995 — An inquiry into Charlotte Simcox’s death continued, with investigators searching for Hugh Miller.
• April 1998 — Hugh Miller pleaded guilty to the three murders.
• June 12, 1998 — Hugh Miller was sentenced to three consecutive life terms in prison.

Arrest

On Friday night, around midnight, Charles Simcox arrived home and found his wife face-down on the floor of an enclosed patio. Police arrived at the residence of Hugh Miller, Charlotte Simcox’s son by a previous marriage.

Hugh Miller was not home, but investigators found the corpse of his ex-girlfriend, Corrine Cochran-Ball, 23, of Willingboro, lying on a bed in his apartment.

After discovery of Corrine Cochran-Ball’s body, police searched for Hugh Miller as a bona fide suspect, not just a family member or friend.

By about 11 a.m., nearly 12 hours into the investigation, officers found Keith S. Tiesman, 25, of Burlington City, with a bullet wound to the head from a .45-caliber weapon. Police believed he was killed shortly after 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Officers sent out a general radio broadcast about Hugh Miller, who was reportedly driving Corrine Cochran-Ball’s car.

Investigators distributed a list of locations in and out of state where Hugh Miller, described as a sometime drug abuser, could have been.

Investigators tracked Hugh Miller down Saturday at 1:30 p.m. in Pitman, at the home of a woman friend. He was arrested without incident.

Charges and disposition

Michael Newton - An Encyclopedia of Modern Serial Killers - Hunting Humans described disposition as “Three consecutive life terms, 1998.”

Stephen J. Raymond, Burlington County Prosecutor, said Hugh Miller would be charged with three counts of murder and possibly other charges. Stephen J. Raymond called the murders “a night of carnage” and said the triple homicide was unprecedented in his 20 years as county prosecutor.

Trial and plea

Hugh Miller pleaded guilty to the three murders in April, avoiding a potential death sentence, Michael E. Riley said.

Sentencing

Judge Donald P. Gaydos of State Superior Court told Hugh Miller that his crimes would haunt him for the rest of his life.

Outcome

Hugh Miller received three consecutive life terms in prison.

Aftermath and victims

Hunt for the killer continued as investigators assessed the impact of the triple homicide on connected lives.

The killings destroyed the lives of:

• a young mother who was trying to pull her life together,
• a high-school dropout who took pride in his stable job,
• and a woman whose two grown children were out of the house, but not forgotten.

Other details

Names and relationships:

• Corrine Cochran-Ball was the former girlfriend Hugh Miller beat and strangled to death.
• Keith S. Tiesman was Hugh Miller’s best friend, whom Hugh Miller shot in the head.
• Charlotte Simcox was Hugh Miller’s mother, whom Hugh Miller shot in the head after confessing.
• Charles Simcox arrived home and found his wife face-down on the floor of an enclosed patio.
• Hugh Miller Jr., 30, of Burlington Township, was referenced during the investigation.

Case details provided:

• SEX: M
• RACE: W
• TYPE: T
• MOTIVE: PC
• DATE(S): 1995
• VENUE: Burlington City, N.J.
• VICTIMS: Three
• MO: Shot his mother, ex-girlfriend, and a male acquaintance.