July 22, 2021 at 11:24 a.m.
New mural at Pioneer Park created in memory of slain woman
Goal is to keep Miller's memory alive as search for suspect continues
New mural at Pioneer Park created in memory of slain woman
Andrew Egan, one of the organizers of the project, said the goal is to support the Miller family and let them know that "they are not alone."
"For me, I didn't know Hannah," Egan said. "It's a small town and this is kind of a crazy thing that happened. This is kind of a nice way to show support, and I'm all for anything that involves art."
Egan noted that at least one person in the group that worked on the mural knew Miller.
"Cooper Henckel, who came to me with the idea, his sister was best friends with her," said Egan.
Tom Barnett, owner of Tom's Drawing Board and District 1 alderperson, was asked to help the group as sort of an artistic advisor.
"They came in and asked if I would give some guidance, making sure the face is in proportion and how to draw a grid to basically put it together as far as accomplishing what they wanted to do," Barnett said.
He said he helped put the cups into the fence, but otherwise "let them have at it."
"These were just community members that wanted to keep it in people's heads so it doesn't get forgotten while they're still looking for her murderer," Barnett said.
He added that parks, buildings and grounds director Jeremy Biolo and mayor Chris Frederickson were consulted and all proper clearances were obtained ahead of time.
Henckel said the organizers have been working on some kind of commemorative piece since Miller was killed.
"But as far as actually getting out there and doing it, we got probably 20 to 25 hours into it, I'd say with (final) planning and everything," Egan said. "We had about 8 hours Saturday and 6 hours Sunday (doing the installation)."
He said Henckel heard from Miller's father after the mural was completed.
"Cooper told me that he reached out and (the family) said it was 'unexpected and appreciated," Egan said.
Members of the public are encouraged to write messages for the Miller family on the black sheets adjacent to the mural. The installation will be up for two weeks, organizers said.
Meanwhile, the search for Christopher Terrell Anderson, Miller's ex-boyfriend and the main suspect in the case, continues.
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.
A complaint charging Anderson with first degree intentional homicide was filed July 1 and there is an open warrant for his arrest. He is considered armed and dangerous, according to the sheriff's office.
According to the complaint, police responded to River Bend Road on the morning of June 30 after receiving a 911 call reporting a female 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.
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 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, 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.
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.
Over the Fourth of July weekend police arrested a 24-year-old Rhinelander man they believe helped plan the crime.
Seth Allan Wakefield has been charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) and is being held in the county jail on $250,000 cash bail.
According to the complaint filed against him, Wakefield 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 homicide, 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."
On July 13, Wakefield's public defender Breanna Magallones requested a competency examination of her client. A competency hearing in his case is now scheduled for Aug. 5.
To be found competent, a defendant must have the mental capacity to understand the proceedings and assist in his or her own defense
If convicted of the Class A felony, Wakefield could be sentenced to life in prison.
Jamie Taylor may be reached via email at [email protected].
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