December 7, 2021 at 9:23 a.m.
Wakefield found competent to stand trial in Miller homicide case
Wakefield found competent to stand trial in Miller homicide case
By Heather Schaefer and Jamie Taylor-
Seth A. Wakefield made an appearance in Oneida County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon at which time his attorney attempted to withdraw her request for a competency evaluation.
Public defender Elizabeth Svehlek indicated the expert she retained to assess her client had provided an oral report in which they "reached the same conclusion" as the state's expert that Wakefield is competent to proceed.
Oneida County district attorney Mike Schiek noted that technically the defense cannot withdraw the request for a competency evaluation but the court could make findings based on the report submitted by the state's expert.
Circuit judge Patrick O'Melia made the findings and scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for 10 a.m. Dec. 13.
To be found competent, a defendant must have the mental capacity to understand the proceedings and be able to assist in their own defense.
Wakefield was arrested over the Fourth of July weekend, about five days after the body of Hannah Rose Miller, 26, was found on the side of River Bend Road in the Town of Pelican.
He is charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) and is being held on $250,000 cash bail.
According to the criminal complaint, Wakefield is alleged to have assisted the main suspect in the case, Christopher Terrell Anderson, with the planning of the homicide. Among other things, the complaint alleges Wakefield rented a U-Haul to conduct surveillance of Miller and her relatives. When asked why he did not contact law enforcement to report Anderson's alleged plans and activities, Wakefield allegedly told investigators he didn't think it was any of his business and that he was expecting some sort of compensation in exchange for providing assistance.
According to the criminal complaint charging Anderson with first-degree intentional homicide, police responded to River Bend Road in the Town of Pelican on the morning of June 30 after receiving a 911 call reporting a female, later identified as Miller, lying on the side of the road.
"It was apparent that she was deceased from a gunshot wound or wounds," sheriff Grady Hartman later reported. According to the complaint, a couple traveling on River Bend Road discovered Miller's body.
In an interview with police, Miller's mother reported that Miller and Anderson had been in a dating relationship for approximately four years and were the parents of a young child. She indicated that the couple moved to the Rhinelander area in the spring of 2020 and broke up in early June. She also reported that her daughter had expressed concern for her safety but offered few details about the relationship.
Anderson, 30, was at large for nearly 70 days before being taken into custody in DuPage County, Ill on Sept. 7. He is being held in the Oneida County jail on $1 million cash bail.
A preliminary hearing in Anderson's case was scheduled for Monday afternoon, after this edition went to press.
Both men face life in prison if convicted.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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