ERIE (AP) – An Ohio kidnapping suspect has been charged with criminal homicide following the death of a woman critically injured in a home invasion at her northwestern Pennsylvania residence.
Kyle Johnson was arraigned Saturday afternoon in Erie County on charges of homicide and murder in the death of Kum Miller, 58, which occurred hours earlier. Johnson, 25, of Warrensville Heights in suburban Cleveland, was earlier charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault.
Authorities allege that Johnson kidnapped a former girlfriend Monday in Oakwood Village and had her in his car trunk when he broke into Miller’s home in an upscale Erie neighborhood on Tuesday.
Officials allege that after using a crowbar to pry open a door of the home, he then beat Miller with the crowbar and also stabbed her in the neck with a box cutter. Her husband arrived home later, encountered Johnson, fought with him and screamed for help, authorities said. A neighbor who responded shot Johnson in the right shoulder and left leg when he tried to flee as police arrived, officials said.
The kidnap victim, Brandi Shakir, told police that Johnson “was looking for a place to collect his thoughts and possibly get a different vehicle, as his vehicle was too well-known to law enforcement,” Deputy Chief Donald Dacus told The Erie Times-News.
Johnson, who remains in the county prison in lieu of $500,000 bond, is also charged with animal cruelty in the death of a dog reported missing from the Millers’ home Tuesday. Dacus said the dog was found dead by police inside the home Thursday, and Johnson is accused of having killed the animal.
More than 300 people attended a prayer vigil for the Millers on Wednesday evening at the Sandbar Draft House & Grille in Millcreek Township, which is owned by the couple.
