July 8, 2021 at 1:23 p.m.
$250,000 cash bond set for co-defendant in Pelican homicide case
Complaint indicates crime was planned weeks in advance
$250,000 cash bond set for co-defendant in Pelican homicide case
Seth Allan Wakefield, 24, made his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in Oneida County Circuit Court at which time circuit judge Patrick O'Melia increased the cash bond set over the weekend.
Wakefield is charged with first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) in the death of Hannah R. Miller of Rhinelander.
Miller, 26, was found dead on the side of River Bend Road in the Town of Pelican on the morning of June 30.
Police responded to the scene after receiving a 911 call reporting a female lying on the side of the road, according to the Oneida County sheriff's office.
"It was apparent that she was deceased from a gunshot wound or wounds," sheriff Grady Hartman said during a July 1 press briefing on the investigation.
Meanwhile, the search continues for Miller's former boyfriend, Christopher Terrell Anderson, the main suspect in the case. A complaint charging Anderson with first degree intentional homicide was filed July 1 and there is an open warrant for his arrest.
Over the Fourth of July weekend police reported they had located two vehicles associated with Anderson - a 2015 white Mitsubishi Outlander and a white 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser - but he remains at large.
Anderson is described as a black male, 5'10", 245 pounds. Police say he is sometimes called "DJ Bravo" or just "Bravo" and is known to have distinctive tattoos including an owl on his chest, the letters G.M.F.B. on his right hand and a Celtic skull with a halo on his left hand.
According to the police report attached to the Anderson complaint, a couple traveling on River Bend Road last Wednesday morning discovered Miller's body.
The couple was headed from the Town of Pelican toward the City of Rhinelander when they realized they forgot something at their residence and decided to turn around, the complaint states. While traveling back toward their residence, the couple saw a black male and a white female "standing in or near the ditch line" on River Bend Road near a small white SUV. After retrieving the forgotten item, the couple headed back toward Rhinelander at which point they passed the same location where they saw the man and woman. However, "the small white SUV and black male were gone and the female was lying in the ditch line," the complaint states.
In addition, a separate witness advised they heard "two to four gunshots" coming from the direction of River Bend Road between 10:45 and 11 a.m.," according to the report.
Detectives on scene also located three spent 9mm shell casings and three live 9mm rounds of ammunition located in close proximity to the body, the complaint states.
In an interview with police, the victim'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 approximately one month ago. She also reported that her daughter had expressed concern for her safety but offered few details about the relationship.
Friends of Miller interviewed by police also reported that she had confided in them in the past and indicated there was "a history of domestic violence" between the two and that she had sent photographs of injuries reported to have been sustained in physical altercations with Anderson.
According to the complaint filed Tuesday, Wakefield has told police that Anderson had been planning the murder for several weeks and had intended to abduct the couple's daughter. (The child is safe). The complaint also indicates Anderson was also planning to kill some of Miller's close family members.
According to the complaint, Wakefield "assisted in some of the planning" of the homicides, including renting a U-Haul to conduct surveillance of Miller and her relatives.
When asked why he did not contact law enforcement to report Anderson's 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.
"Seth stated that on the night prior to the murder, Christopher stayed overnight at Seth's apartment (he had been staying there intermittently, according to the complaint) and the following morning when Christopher left, Seth was aware Christopher was leaving with the intent to commit a homicide," the complaint states. "Seth stated Seth simply waited to hear news of a homicide occurring."
Wakefield was arrested Friday as part of a traffic stop, according to the sheriff's office.
In court Tuesday afternoon, assistant district attorney Jillian Pfeifer argued for a higher cash bond than the $100,000 cash set over the weekend.
"Based on his role in this crime, I think a higher cash bond is justified," Pfeifer said, adding that in statements to law enforcement, which were made against his own interests, Wakefield admitted to playing a significant role in planning Miller's murder.
"He was aware that the co-defendant had been planning the homicide for several weeks, they had discussed this," she said, adding that it was Wakefield's understanding that "when the opportunity presented itself" Anderson would commit the crime and on more than one occasion he conducted surveillance of Miller's apartment to determine if she was home.
Public defender Breanna Magallones argued that an increase in bond would have no practical effect because Wakefield is unable to post the $100,000 cash bond and surely cannot raise $250,000. She also noted that he has no criminal history (a criminal damage to property charge filed in 2020 was ultimately dismissed) and does have ties to the community.
"Having a higher cash bond will not impact Mr. Wakefield," she said. "He will be sitting in the jail."
After reviewing the complaint, O'Melia increased Wakefield's bond to $250,000 cash. He also scheduled a preliminary hearing in the case for 9:30 a.m. July 13.
If convicted of the Class A felony, Wakefield could be sentenced to life in prison.
Anderson is considered armed and dangerous. Members of the public are asked to call 911, or the sheriff's office at 715-361-5201, if they see him.
A complete obituary for Hannah Miller is published on Page 3.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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