October 28, 2021 at 2:29 p.m.
Anderson appears before local judge, bail set at $1M
Anderson appears before local judge, bail set at $1M
A first-degree intentional homicide charge was filed against Anderson on July 1, however he eluded police for nearly 70 days after Miller's body was found. He was taken into custody on Sept. 7, in Carol Stream, Ill., after a reward was announced for information leading to his arrest. He initially refused to waive extradition to Wisconsin, leading to a delay of several weeks.
According to Oneida County district attorney Mike Schiek, Anderson agreed on Monday to return to Wisconsin. According to the daily jail log, he was booked into the Oneida County jail Tuesday evening.
On Wednesday afternoon he appeared from the jail via Zoom for his initial appearance before Oneida County circuit judge Mike Bloom.
When asked for a bond recommendation, Schiek argued for $1 million cash. He cited the severity of the allegations as well as the defendant's decision to flee the area as a basis for a high cash bond. He also noted the defendant's lack of ties to the community.
Bloom agreed that a high cash bond was warranted for a number of reasons, including that the complaint indicates Miller's death was "premeditated." He also described the information in the complaint as relatively "straightforward and compelling" and noted that Miller's death appears to have been an "execution-style murder."
Public defender Breanna Magallones appeared for Anderson, but noted that her office has a conflict and another attorney will have to be selected. Anderson declined to speak when asked if he had anything to say regarding bond.
Bloom scheduled an adjourned initial appearance for 1:15 p.m. Nov. 2 and asked Magallones to advise the court when an attorney is selected for Anderson.
According to the criminal complaint, motorists traveling on River Bend Road discovered Miller's body on the side of the road on the morning of June 30.
The motorists were 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.
River News reporter Jamie Taylor contributed to this report.
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