'Damn you': Tim Miller confronts James Elmore during emotional Texas Killing Fields testimony
GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) -- Tim Miller took the stand on Tuesday and recalled the last words he said to his 16-year-old daughter Laura before she disappeared more than four decades ago.
"I kissed her and I said, 'Sis, I'll see you later tonight,'" Miller testified.
Within hours, he said, his nightmare began.
"The worst time in my life. The worst time," Miller told the jury through tears. "I begged. I pleaded for someone to do something. I knew something had happened. I just didn't know what it was."
Laura Miller never came home.
Her remains were found nearly two years later, on February 2, 1986, in an oil field off Calder Road in League City. The remains of another woman, later identified as Audrey Lee Cook, were found nearby the same day.
Miller capped off the first day of testimony in the manslaughter trial of James Elmore, 61, the first person to stand trial in connection with the deaths of Miller or Cook.
Elmore is charged with manslaughter and tampering with evidence in Laura Miller's death, as well as a separate charge of tampering with evidence involving Cook. He has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors allege Elmore prepared a vial of cocaine for his longtime friend Clyde Hedrick to give to Laura in September 1984 and later helped move her body.
Hedrick had long been considered a prime suspect in the deaths of Miller and Cook and was suspected in connection to the deaths of two other women--Heidi Fye and Donna Prudhomme--who were also found in the Calder Road field. He died by suicide while in TDCJ custody in March, shortly before prosecutors were preparing to take the cases to a grand jury.
That leaves Elmore as the only person suspected in Laura's death who is still alive, according to prosecutors.
During emotional testimony Tuesday, Miller looked directly at Elmore in the courtroom and then lashed out.
"I wanted Clyde Hedrick for capital murder on all the girls, and I wanted James Elmore for manslaughter for mixing up the dope and giving the needle to Clyde," Miller began. "He told me I handed it to Clyde. That's exactly Mr. Elmore. You handed it to Clyde Hedrick. You handed it. Damn you," Miller emphasized pointing at Elmore.
Elmore first surfaced in the renewed investigation in 2022 under unusual circumstances.
His own daughter was missing, and prosecutors say he contacted Miller, who founded Texas EquuSearch in Laura's memory, asking for help finding her. Elmore also told Miller he needed to discuss an old case and "get something off his chest."
Miller testified that the two would go on to meet numerous times.
During those conversations, prosecutors say Elmore began revealing details about Laura's disappearance and death that had never been released publicly, including information about a shirt found with her remains and the truck allegedly used to move her body.
"Tim will tell you that this was his 'oh my gosh' moment," prosecutor Katelyn Willis told jurors during opening statements. "Not a fraud. James Elmore knew things that were never made public."
Miller testified that over the years he gave Elmore approximately $33,000 in cash, describing it as reward money for information about his daughter. Miller told jurors he did what he believed any father desperate for answers would have done to keep Elmore talking.
Jurors also watched body-worn camera video from a Hitchcock police detective who interviewed Elmore last year.
In the recording, Elmore said he mixed drugs that prosecutors allege were ultimately given to Laura by Hedrick.
Elmore then described what he said happened afterward.
"Yeah, yeah, he put the needle and he turned around and she started floppin' back and forth," Elmore said.
When the investigator asked who he was talking about, Elmore responded, "Laura Miller. He shot her up full of dope."
Elmore said he did not actually see the needle go into Laura's arm but believed Hedrick had given her the drugs because of what happened immediately afterward.
The remains of Miller, Cook, Fye and Prudhomme were discovered in the Calder Road field between 1984 and 1991. The area became one of the most notorious sites associated with what became known as the "Texas Killing Fields."
Cook was 30 when she died. Although her remains were discovered near Laura's in 1986, investigators did not know her identity for more than three decades. Advances in DNA technology eventually allowed League City police to identify her as Cook in 2019.
The defense did not give an opening statement Tuesday but raised questions during testimony about the reliability of memories involving events that happened more than 40 years ago.
Miller, however, left no doubt about what he believes happened to his daughter.
"Do you believe what he's told you?" Willis asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Miller answered.
"And do you believe Mr. Elmore is responsible for Laura's death?" Willis asked.
"Yes, ma'am," Miller said.
Miller is expected to return to the witness stand when court resumes Wednesday morning. The defense is then expected to begin calling witnesses.
If convicted of manslaughter, Elmore faces up to 20 years in prison.
SEE ALSO:
- Police name 2 women found dead in 'Killing Fields', hope clues about them will help find killer
- Family of recently identified "Killing Fields" victim thankful to finally have closure
- Police launch new statewide billboard campaign to find murderer in "Killing Fields" case
