November 4, 2021 at 11:09 a.m.
Search for attorney to represent Anderson in homicide case continues
Search for attorney to represent Anderson in homicide case continues
Anderson was in court Tuesday afternoon, via Zoom from the county jail, for what was scheduled as an adjourned initial appearance. However, he was without an attorney.
At his previous court appearance on Oct. 27, it was explained that Anderson is eligible for public defender representation but a private attorney will have to be appointed as the local public defender office has a conflict.
In court Tuesday, circuit judge Mike Bloom explained that he had received a communication from the local office of the public defender stating the office has "made multiple contacts with potential attorneys but no attorney has agreed to take the case as yet."
Bloom then set another adjourned initial appearance for 2:30 p.m. Nov. 22 to allow time for the office to secure representation for Anderson.
Anderson was arrested on Sept. 7, in Carol Stream, Ill., nearly 70 days after Miller's body was discovered on the side of River Bend Road in the Town of Pelican. He was transported to Wisconsin in late October and is being held in the county jail on a $1 million cash bond.
According to the criminal complaint, motorists traveling on River Bend Road discovered Miller's body on the morning of June 30.
A 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.
According to the sheriff's office, Miller sustained a gunshot wound or wounds.
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.
Following the Fourth of July weekend, Seth Wakefield, 25, of Rhinelander, was charged with one count of first-degree intentional homicide (as party to the crime) in connection with Miller's death.
According to the criminal complaint in his case, the state is alleging 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."
Wakefield is being held in the Oneida County jail in lieu of $250,000 cash bail. A competency hearing in his case is scheduled for December.
Both Anderson and Wakefield face the possibility of life in prison, if convicted.
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