Park County Judge Ups Murder Charge For Melissa Miller
FAIRPLAY, Colo. (CBS4) - An Arvada woman accused of murdering her roommate now faces first degree murder charges.
Melissa Miller was originally being held being held in the Park County Jail on second degree murder charges, but a judge told Miller on Monday that she will be facing the more serious charge.
It was what friends of murder victim Annie Meyer told CBS4 they were hoping to hear as they attended the Park County Court hearing in Fairplay.
"She was a great person. She didn't deserve this. And it would make us all happy if the person that did this to her got the maximum (sentence)," Colleen Haselhorst said. "I'm glad it came to (first degree murder) instead of second degree. To me with second degree she was getting off easy."
Meyer disappeared from her Wheat Ridge home in February and her remains were found on July 4 on private property near Bailey. Court documents indicate the murder took place between Feb. 10 and March 13.
In addition to the first degree murder charge with the potential for life in prison, Miller is also accused of tampering with evidence and stealing more than $1,000 from her former roommate. Miller allegedly tried to destroy Meyer's car, iPad and cellphone, according to court documents.
Outside of the announced charges, the rest of the case is sealed so it still isn't clear exactly what might have happened between the victim and her accused killer.
That has frustrated Meyer's friends.
"It's been like living in a murder mystery and I keep turning the page and I can't get to the end of the book," Haselhorst told CBS4. "I'm just wondering when we're going to find closure on this and actually hear what the person who committed this horrible crime is going to end of paying for doing it."
More will likely come out the day before Thanksgiving at a preliminary hearing.
