In August 1972, 27- year-old Marine Sgt. William Miller returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina following a deployment in Okinawa. But when he arrived at the home he shared with his wife Vickie and Wendy, their 1-year-old daughter, he found that while he was away another Marine, George Hayden, had taken up residence in his house.
Hayden and Vickie were former high school sweethearts. With Miller gone they decided to renew their relationship. Hayden moved in. And according to Miller’s family, he was soon signing his name to Miller’s checks.
“He stole my brother’s home, wife and child, and money,†said Charlie Miller, the youngest of six in Miller’s family.
Sgt. Miller gave the interloper a beating and threw him out of his house. Vickie opted to go with Hayden, packed up the baby and moved out. Humiliated, Hayden told Miller he would get revenge with an M-16.
Miller had lost two daughters in a previous marriage and had no intentions of losing another one. He began to build a custody case against Vickie and a criminal fraud case against Hayden. He gave the alleged evidence to a neighbor for safekeeping.
On Sept. 16, 1972, Miller received a call from his estranged wife to meet him on Western Boulevard. Less than 20 minutes later, Miller was found dead in the street, shot twice with rounds from an M-16. A few days later, Hayden showed up at the neighbor’s house and took the alleged evidence Miller had collected against him. Detectives suspected Hayden of killing Miller, but couldn’t gather sufficient evidence for an arrest.
For nearly 40 years Miller’s murder remained unsolved. During that time Hayden did quite well for himself. He married Vickie. They later divorced, but kept in contact after the split. He retired from the Marine Corps and joined the Carteret County Sheriff’s Department. He went on to be police chief in Cape Carteret and Belhaven. But he couldn’t shake local, state and federal investigators who came around every few years asking the same question: Where were you the night William Miller died?
Sharron Aguilar, Miller’s sister, refused to let the case die. She spent years compiling documents in the case and eventually turned them over to a local newspaper. The Daily News ran two cold case articles in the summer of 2008 that resulted in new information from a witness previously unknown to law enforcement. A whirlwind investigation by the Onslow County Sheriff’s Department, Naval Criminal Investigative Services and the North.Carolina SBI, resulted in the arrests of Vickie, Hayden and Rodger Gill, another former Marine and friend of Hayden, on first degree murder and conspiracy charges.
The charges against Vickie and Gill were subsequently dropped. But relying heavily on circumstantial evidence, prosecutor’s brought Hayden to trial on the murder charge. Chief Assistant District Attorney Ernie Lee told the jury, “Miller survived two tours in Vietnam, then returned to Onslow County where he was not killed by the enemy with an AK-47, but by a fellow Marine with an M-16.â€
Nearly 38 years after the murder and after three days of deliberations, the jury convicted Hayden of first-degree murder. On May 26, 2010 he was sentenced to life in prison.
Following the conviction and sentencing, a jubilant Sharron Aguilar said, “I never lost hope; I always knew we’d get here.â€
But the relief the Miller family felt at having received justice for their loved one was relatively short-lived. Hayden appealed and on June 7, 2011, the North Carolina Appeals Court reversed the conviction, stating in its ruling, “Accordingly, we hold that the State failed to present sufficient evidence from which a rational juror could conclude that defendant was the perpetrator of the victim’s murder.â€
Onslow County has submitted the case to the North Carolina Supreme Court for review. Hayden remains behind bars pending a decision by that body. If they agree with the ruling of the Appeals Court, he could be a free man in a matter of months.
I recently spoke with Sharron Aguilar about her experience so far in dealing with the justice system. Her comments are below.
“Our family waited thirty-eight years for justice. We fought a long, hard, uphill battle. Finally, on May 26, 2010, we heard the word Guilty. And George Hayden was given life in prison. Our prayers were answered.  We started to breathe easier knowing he was locked up. And then, to our horror, on June 7, 2011, we heard that the Appeals Court reversed the conviction.“
“We put our case in the hands of twelve men and women who were selected to the jury, giving up their time to see justice carried out. Now those twelve people are told they were wrong to convict. The Court stated that, ‘A rational juror could not conclude that the defendant was the perpetrator of the victim’s murder.’ The jury verdict was unanimous, so all twelve jurors are irrational according to the Court.
“The ruling also states that a weapon was never produced. Yet defendants are convicted every day without the murder weapon being introduced into evidence. It further states there was not sufficient evidence to convict. That means the trial judge must also be irrational or incompetent because he denied the defense’s motion for a mistrial due to insufficient evidence.“
“I remember not long ago another murder trial with pretty much the same evidence. Scott Peterson was convicted and given a death sentence. His case was stated as purely circumstantial. No crime scene, murder weapon or cause of death. Yet his conviction stands.
“And I find it very strange that this appeal was heard and decided so fast. Most convicts have to wait years for their appeal to be acted on.
“I want to believe in our justice system. I know it has flaws, but I never knew what a nightmare it is for the victims’ families. How hard they have to fight to be heard. They have no rights, they cannot appeal a verdict, they cannot get a court appointed attorney. The list is endless. They have experienced the violent death of a loved one and their lives have been changed forever.
“September 16th will be the thirty-ninth anniversary of my brother’s death and we are still fighting for justice. Please pray that it is not denied.â€
20 users commented in " For the Miller Family, Justice May Be a Fleeting Thing "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackOur prayers are that the NC Supreme court will overturn the appeals court and keep Hayden behind bars for the murder. A rational jury heard the case and convicted.
What? Sounds like the good old boys system is at work..12 people found this disgraced police chief guilty of murder..Now a new court states he is innocent? Go figure!! Our justice system at work
Hope and pray that justice is givin to the Miller family after all these years. The Miller family deserves the justice being sought not only for the family but also for the Brother and Father that was taken from them.
My prayers are with the Miller family.
I hope justice will be served! This family needs closer and the guilty need to pay! My prayers go out to you and your family.
For the entire Miller Family, Our hearts feel your emptiness as you fight knowing the facts set in front of you. We hope that you will all be able to get peace and that justice will be served so the family can move on knowing you all have gotten this far! Shame on the ones that know right from wrong, but one day they will have to answer for the crimes committed.
I hope justice is served. I never understood why it took so long. Then to have a guilty verdict disregarded so quickly. I think you’re right Charlie, good ol boys club at its finest. To all the Millers, your strength, your love, has always been so powerful. Such an amazing group to be able to observe. I hope REAL justice is served and soon. This has gone on far too long.
Sharon Miller Aguilar is a personal friend of mine and I hope the Supreme Court will uphold the guilty sentence and do the right thing. N.C. is certainly a good ole boy state. I hope the Miller family can get some positive resolution from the coming decision and finally find peace. I will be remembering them in my prayers.
Bill’s daughters waited a very long time to see a guilty verdict handed to the man who robbed them of a life with their father. Many successful cases are built on circumstantial evidence; just because you have no eye witness (at least one that will testify to the truth) does not mean that the defendant is innocent. The jury heard only select pieces of the evidence and story and still felt there was enough evidence to find Hayden guilty. If they knew what had been secluded from their eyes and ears, they could have felt even more secure in their decision. Hayden had more than 38 years of freedom he did not deserve. A jury of carefully selected men and women found Hayden guilty based on the evidence presented by the prosecution and defended by the defense – the courts should not be able to just dismiss their findings. I am all for protection under the law, but it should extend to the victim and his/her family as well. I really wish EVERYONE could see ALL of the “circumstantial” evidence. The resulting “Guilty!” would be deafening.
I pray for peace and justice. The family needs to move on and live their lives. God knows the truth and we all must stand before him someday. Wendy April and I love you and we will continue to support you and your family.
It’s questionable how the main suspect in a murder investigating could even land a job in law enforcement, much less a police chief. The only personal who would have had access to an m-16 would have been an enlisted man. This case has brought much embarrassment to the community that allowed this individual to become embedded in their law enforcement, that they would rather see him freed then admit they harbored a murderer and obstructed justice for 38 years and are still resisting justice to be served. The truth weighs heavy on those who try to denounce it. If it were your sibling, wouldn’t you
My prayers continue for justice as Hayden is right where he belongs!! I also continue to pray that the Supreme Courts see through all the smoke and mirrors and really see this case for the truth and bring the hammer down!! I would have NEVER imagined an appeals court or ANY court that reviewed this case would over turn Hayden’s conviction!This has been dragged out far too long and our family needs closure. Thanks for all who continue to pray & support our family it means a lot to us.
We are going to profile this case on the Crime Wire show on Blog Talk Radio on Tuesday, October 11, at 9 p.m. Eastern. Sharron Aguilar, William’s sister, and Lendell Kay of The Daily News will be our guests.
OIt’s questionable how the main suspect in a murder investigating could even land a job in law enforcement, much less a police chief. The only personal who would have had access to an m-16 would have been an enlisted man. This case has brought much embarrassment to the community that allowed this individual to become embedded in their law enforcement, that they would rather see him freed then admit they harbored a murderer and obstructed justice for 38 years and are still resisting justice to be served. The truth weighs heavy on those who try to denounce it. If it were your family member, wouldn’t you want justice served? Seems like there’s one simple answer. Am I Right?
JUSTICE? Is it justice in the true sense when a court can overrule the decision of a 12 person jury. Why have a jury? What is happening to our so called “justice system”. This case has been proven. George Hayden is a cold blooded killer and now the courts question the right decision made by our jury system. This is unspeakable.
This case went unsolved, or should I say “un-tried” way too long. The family has waited for justice to be done long enough. Now lets get it right. The jury did!!!!!
Has the justice system lost sight of who the true victem in this case is?
Sergant William D. Miller USMC was denied due process, he was denied the right to face his accuseres, he did not have a fair and impartial trial before his peers. He was executed by a cold blooded teenage killer, while being cheered on by Miller’s manipulative wife to cover up their other illegal activities.
In my opinion, Hayden is where he belongs, and Babbit should be there too!
Hayden is where he needs to be and needs to stay there. Babbit should be there too. In my opinion as long as Babbit is walking free justice is not being served. She knows what happen and I pray that she tells the truth for once. Let Wendy and the family have the piece of mind. The truth will come out in the end.
How sad to have a killer finally brought to justice with a guilty verdict for life in prison only to have the family now fighting to try and keep him there? Where is the justice now?
I think that the N.C. Supreme Court will realize that the jurors made the right decision and that justice was served and keep him in prison. I will be praying for you all.
Time passes by all of us and some may think the Miller family has decided to let this murder pass.
Not so, we will continue to fight the fight, doing whatever is necessary to make sure Bill is not forgotten.
Wow! I have tried to keep up with this case and the outcome! I was hoping that finally your brother would get justice! I will check back and don’t give up! The truth always prevails and it will come out!
Happy Memorial Day and I thank your brother for his service!
Jennifer (active duty Marine spouse and Navy Veteran)
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