July 15, 2021 at 1:29 p.m.
Defense requests competency examination of co-defendant in homicide case
Defense requests competency examination of co-defendant in homicide case
Seth Allan Wakefield, 24, appeared in Oneida County Circuit Court Tuesday morning, via video, for a preliminary hearing on one count of first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime). However, following a sidebar with district attorney Mike Schiek and circuit judge Patrick O'Melia, public defender Breanna Magallones announced that the defense was requesting a competency evaluation.
A competency determination is made after a psychiatrist evaluates the defendant and reports to the court an opinion as to whether he or she has the mental capacity to understand the proceedings and can assist in his or her own defense.
According to Magallones, the decision to request a competency evaluation in this case was the result of "conversations" with the defendant as well as a review of mental health records.
Wakefield is being held in the county jail in connection with 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, who is 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.
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 June 30 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." that morning, 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 in early June. 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 in his case, 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 over the Fourth of July weekend as part of a traffic stop, according to the sheriff's office. He is being held in lieu of $250,000 cash bail.
If convicted of the Class A felony, he 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.
Heather Schaefer may be reached at [email protected].
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