13 yr. old, Jody Miller was a student at Garside Junior High in Las Vegas, NV when she went missing. It is believed that she crawled through the bedroom window of her house on June 21, 1971. She was reported as a missing juvenile. A female friend last saw Jody on June 23, 1971. Five months later, on November 2, 1971 her remains were discovered wrapped in a blanket, lying in a shallow grave in the desert area approx. 150' North West of Jones and Lone Mountain Blvd.
What happened to Jody was not what she had in mind when she crawled through her window that night. Maybe she had problems she couldn’t deal with. Are the words to the song below how she was feeling? Maybe, but we don't know. What we do know is SOMEONE knows who killed Jody and we need them to come forward.
Did you know Jody back in 1971? Did she talk to you about anything that seemed unimportant to you then, but might have some significance now? Did she talk about going to meet someone? Did she talk about having someone special in her life? Is there anyone out there who remembers something?
Anyone with information is urged to call Las Vegas Metro Homicide Cold Case Detail at 702-229-COLD
Case# 71-12531
This song was played at Jody’s Funeral. It is posted here in her honor. She still has a friend who remembers and cares. Sly, keep the faith.
Bridge Over Troubled Water
When you're weary, feeling small
When tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all
I'm on your side
When times get rough
And friends just can't be found
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
When you're down and out
When you're on the street
When evening falls so hard
I will comfort you
I'll take your part
When darkness comes
And pain is all around
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will lay me down
Sail on silver girl
Sail on by
Your time has come to shine
All your dreams are on their way
See how they shine
When you need a friend
I'm sailing right behind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Like a bridge over troubled water
I will ease your mind
Lyrics by:
Paul Simon, 1969
curious as to what specific day
ReplyDeleteand evening or morning hour she climbed out of window?
who was her very best friend at the time?
boyfriend?
as a young girl of her age when my best friend spent the night or we had sleepovers it was very popular to sneak out of our bedroom windows and meet somewhere. perhaps this was all that she was doing
It seems to me that she wanted to runaway and maybe hitchhiked to somewhere. Then someone pulled over and gave her a ride, but they wanted to kill her. This is what it looks like to me. She just caught the wrong ride with the wrong person.
ReplyDeleteHas anyone ever talked to her parents about her behavior?? What was she like a few days or weeks before you ran off?? Is it possible that she might have been a murder victim of Ted Bundy?? It has been said that he (Bundy) might have been murdering women since 1962, when he was a teenager. So, who knows, right??
This is just my personal opinion. I think she just wanted to runaway, hitchhike somewhere, and got in the wrong car or vehicle. And maybe it was Ted Bundy's car. Just my opinion...
I was the "friend" that was the last one to see her - we were at my house and I walked to the elementary school like we always did every time we were at each other's house. She didn't have a boyfriend - we were looking forward to being in junior high school. She was a free spirit and friendly, but I don't think she would have gotten into a car with a stranger. I do know she was having problems with her family but I think it was more that they wouldn't let her do what she wanted - just a growing up thing. It still haunts me today that she went missing and wound up murdered. I wish I would have not let her go home that night. Brenda G.
ReplyDeleteThank You Brenda for sharing your thoughts. I'm sorry for you loss.
DeleteHello there,
DeleteMy name is Esteban, and I'm a news producer with KTNV in Las Vegas. I'm currently looking into Jody Miller's case and wanted to talk to someone who knew her and could shed some light on the person she was and what you may remember about her. I was wondering if you would be willing to do an interview with us about her and the case. You can reach me at esteban.ramirez@ktnv.com.
There was a person of interest that the police had suspicions about, that guy has been in prison since 1973 for a murder charge. I would like to see this case solved, I did not know the victim, but I grew up in that area of Las Vegas and went to Garside also.
ReplyDeleteI was her best friend and I lived next DOOR. We were already in Junior High School and yes she did have a boy of interest in her life. There is more to her and this story than was put out there for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteThere was no DNA then so it ended up being a cold case for lack of evidence. So sad for her parents. It will never be solved. My dad also worked for Metro at the time. Seriously people this was very tragic her parents, her brother, me and my family. Just let it be. To this day I cannot listen to that song!!! As Jody always said to me Love you YOUR BEST FRIEND AND MINE!!
Blondie, why would you have NOT wanted your 'best friend's murder solved???
DeleteJust let it be!!! That's not want Mrs. Miller said in her email to me!!!
Jo Ann Sly
RIP Jody Miller
DeleteYou were one of the first girls that I met when I moved here. I will forever remember your smile. I hope one day justice can be served.
I grew up with mike & jody. The family problem was behind smoking. Jody was a severe asthmatic & shirley caught her smoking, they were very strict parents. Sadly Jody's family has passed, including mike. I wish & hope for justice
DeleteI was her best friend and I lived next DOOR. We were already in Junior High School and yes she did have a boy of interest in her life. There is more to her and this story than was put out there for obvious reasons.
ReplyDeleteThere was no DNA then so it ended up being a cold case for lack of evidence. So sad for her parents. It will never be solved. My dad also worked for Metro at the time. Seriously people this was very tragic her parents, her brother, me and my family. Just let it be. To this day I cannot listen to that song!!! As Jody always said to me Love you YOUR BEST FRIEND AND MINE!!
I've been the one putting Jody Marie Miller"s unsolved death on every sluth board since they began, although I've not been active in some years.
ReplyDeleteI always use Jody' s middle name since we had a singer in the Las Vegas lounges named Jody Miller during that same time.
I have never ever heard of a suspect and I've talked to the detectives until I was blue in the face.
Jo Ann Sly
Jo Ann Sly
DeleteI was her next door neighbor and we were close. I am not sure of the comments of who the rude person who said otherwise. I never said I didn't want her case solved. Far from the truth, I just don't like all of these reporters looking to make a story and a quick buck of her tragic death. There was more to her life than needed to be published. My dad worked for metro.. and under the sheriff at that time. I received prank calls saying she was in different states of her where abouts. It was just awful for me when they found her dead. Jody was a good friend. I was only 13 and her death traumatized me.
I am not here for anything other than saying she was beautiful and who ever did this to her will indeed one day get whats coming to them. This is not a competition of who knew her better. She was a human being who deserved to live and didn't get the chance.
I agree with you Witchy Sly - her next door neighbor was not her best friend - Jody always told me she tolerated her. And I believe her Mom would have liked her murder solved. Her family went through so much with her brother's illness, and their family issues - they also said she was only missing for 6 months, but unless my memory has left me completely I think she was actually missing for 13 months and yes while we were already in junior high school (technically), we were going to be 7th graders (we had to go there in 6th grade and then they took the 6th graders back out the year we were going to be in 7th grade). She was supposed to start candy striping at the hospital the next day - she was spending the night at my house and she had an asthma attack and wanted to go home - that's when I walked her to the elementary school. Yes, Jody had a "wild" streak and had issues with her family and there were several "boys" that she liked - would she get into a car with a stranger - we will never know.
ReplyDeleteI remember the detectives coming to my house and asking me so many questions my head was spinning but there were no answers that made any sense as to where she could have gone, or where she would have gone and I don't believe she ran away - if she did, she didn't tell me anything about it that night. There was no indication that she was going to - but again, you never know what's going on in people's minds. I do remember when they moved from the apartments into their house - it was always dark and never seemed like a happy home - that's why she liked to come down and spend the night at my house.
It was all around a tragedy for her entire family and tore her family apart. I, too, can't listen to Bridge Over Troubled Waters - she loved that song.
I was asked when I went to the funeral to look about and see if I noticed anyone that I didn't recognize - which of course I did because there were a lot of police present. Its hard to believe they could never solve this murder - it would have been some type of closure for her family - I just hope they found some peace in their lives.
That was very rude of you to say that Jody tolerated me. You don't know me or the time we spent together. I am not sure who you are insinuating. Jody was only missing for 6 months. We attended 6th, 7th 8th and 9th grade at Garside.
DeleteHer parents left the screen on the ground for quite a while below her bedroom window after she left . Yes, her parents had a lot of problems and Jody was upset because they were also talking divorce.
I never said the case should not be solved. But there is no DNA.
My dad was metro at the time.
Jody was talking to some sketchy guys. She was friendly and flirty. She had a very troubled home life.
Jody's mother Shirley is still alive. She also still lives in the same house down the road from garside. I have spoken to her on numerous occasions and my oldest son visits her almost daily ��
ReplyDeleteJody and her family lived two doors from me when they lived in Scottsdale prior to their move to Las Vegas. She was my sister’s best friend. We had a few visits from police officers and her brother actually came in person to let us know she was found. I remember her and think of her often!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't DNA now be extracted from the blanket she was wrapped in?
ReplyDelete