Trio charged with first-degree murder in Newfoundland man’s abduction

ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Residents are “more at ease” since police charged three men in the abduction and death of Steven Miller, says the mayor of nearby Conception Bay South.

The trio — a 19-year-old from Paradise, and two St. John’s men aged 26 and 35 — are charged with first-degree murder, forcible confinement, robbery and arson, police announced Friday.

Mayor Stephen Tessier says the arrests came as a relief after Miller’s body was discovered in a local driveway last Saturday morning.

“People up in the neighbourhood where the event happened were a little on edge,” Tessier said in an interview Friday. “I think they’re feeling a little bit better now this morning.”

The town of about 25,000 people, about a half-hour drive southwest of St. John’s, was shaken last weekend by Miller’s death, under circumstances Tessier describes as being like “something out of a movie.”

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The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says officers were called to a burning house in town’s Seal Cove neighbourhood at around 4 a.m. on Saturday. According to police, a witness said several armed people wearing masks had forced their way inside the home and dragged the man out against his will.

Police were called to a home in the nearby Bayview Heights area around four hours later, and found Miller’s body lying in a driveway.

“These types of things always have rumours swirling about,” said Tessier. “I think most people understand that it was an isolated incident and there’s no real threat to the general public.”

The mayor said a counselling session was held in the local fire hall on Thursday evening to give locals an opportunity to talk about the “traumatic” events.

A funeral for Miller was held on Friday morning at a chapel in St. John’s.

“I think the community’s gone back to being a great community,” Tessier said. “We’re a very tight-knit community, so I think people pull together.” 

Police say the three accused were due to appear in court on Friday morning.

The Canadian Press