Legal proceedings continue ahead of the March murder trial of the Millersburg woman charged in her four-year-old son’s drowning death at Atwood Lake last August.
Sheriff officials at the time said 40-year-old ruth miller was experiencing spiritual delusions when she allegedly threw her son off a dock and left him to die. She has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Tuscarawas county prosecutor Ryan Styer says a Monday court hearing focused on his request that the court give a jury instruction at the upcoming trial on the definition of ‘wrongfulness’ as it relates to the insanity defense.
Court records show Miller going to Cincinnati for an independent forensic examination after being competent to stand trial back in November. Styer says this evaluation is in regard to assessing miller’s sanity at the time of the offense.
Miller is also charged with domestic violence and endangering children for driving a golf cart into Atwood Lake with her three other kids as passengers. They were not hurt. She is not charged for the death of her husband. Authorities say he drowned during a swim testing his faith.
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