Miller died of apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound

By Brandi Makuski

The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) says the suspect in last week’s armed standoff in Amherst died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

After a 24-hour standoff, which included a shelter-in-place order for villagers who live in the Mill St. neighborhood and a sheriff-ordered power outage, SWAT teams entered the home at 450 Mill St. on July 26 to find the body of Jeffery E. Miller in the attic.

Miller was an armed fugitive wanted for the attempted murder of a sheriff’s deputy in Sauk Co. on July 23. Following two days of surveillance by law enforcement and U.S. Marshals, Miller was determined to be in the Amherst residence.

Five people inside 450 Mill St. surrendered when law enforcement approached the home on Thursday evening. All were issued a cash bond in Portage Co. Circuit Court.

But Miller barricaded himself in the house, firing at officers several times, according to witnesses and a press release from Sheriff Mike Lukas. No officers were injured.

A firearm was found next to Miller’s body, according to a news release from the DCI. Preliminary autopsy results suggest Miller died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The DCI is leading the investigation, with assistance from multiple agencies, including the Wisconsin State Patrol, State Crime Laboratory, Department of Natural Resources, and Wood County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation’s findings will be submitted to the Portage County District Attorney.