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October 29, 2009

Not guilty plea in Miller murder

Chateaugay woman pleads not guilty in Miller death

By ANDREA VanVALKENBURG

PLATTSBURGH — The prime suspect in the strangulation death of Ravin Miller has pleaded not guilty.

Kathryn A. Shoemaker, 33, didn't utter a word during her brief court appearance in Plattsburgh Town Court Thursday afternoon and had her attorney, Allan Cruikshank, enter the plea on her behalf.

At the request of District Attorney Andrew Wylie, she was then sent back to Clinton County Jail without bail, as her parents solemnly watched.

As the Chateaugay woman left the courtroom handcuffed and shackled, under close watch by several Clinton County sheriff's deputies, she hid her face and wouldn't comment on the allegations against her.

Shoemaker was charged with second-degree murder this week, more than two months after Miller was found dead in his Churubusco home.

Authorities believe Shoemaker, who was once romantically involved with the 51-year-old contractor, killed him Aug. 19 around 10 p.m. and then staged his death to look like a suicide.

Miller's father, Harold, found his body the following day, but his death wasn't formally deemed a homicide until this week.

Police believe Shoemaker and Miller had made financial agreements for the purchase of expensive equipment while they were dating and that somehow those dealings led to the Clinton County Highway Department employee's death.

Shoemaker allegedly confessed to police about her involvement in Miller's death and, as of this week, police were not looking for other suspects in the case.

Wylie has said that he expects to present the case to a grand jury within two weeks, but as of Thursday it remained in Town Court, where she is tentatively schedule to reappear Nov. 12.

The district attorney said additional charges are likely.

Before his client was escorted from the packed courtroom, Cruikshank reserved the right to later argue for a change in Shoemaker's bail status.

He declined to comment on the case Thursday.

E-mail Andrea VanValkenburg at: avanvalkenburg@pressrepublican.com

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