...
[Evelyn Miller's mother and her fiance] have been in court, most recently on Friday, over allegations that their poor parenting placed their two sons in danger. They have faced complaints from neighbors who called police about a loud party and about alleged abuse of a dog. Authorities also were contacted after a confrontation between Noel Miller and a friend who handed her computer hard drive over to investigators.
...
Also Friday, Dettmer, acting as a representative of state child welfare officials, asked a juvenile court judge to declare Miller and Casey Frederiksen's two sons "children in need of assistance." This ruling would give the court jurisdiction over the family and open up services for the children and parents.
...
Tanya Martinez, who lives in the same apartment building in Floyd from which Evelyn was snatched, called police Aug. 10 to report that Miller had come over to reclaim her computer hard drive. Miller, who gave Martinez the hard drive for safekeeping, became angry when Martinez said she no longer had it.

In early August, Martinez gave the hard drive to Floyd County sheriff's investigator Travis Bartz.

"Noel Miller freaked out on her and started to scream at her and accused her of murder and (a) whole bunch of other stuff," a sheriff's department report states. "Noel claimed that the pictures that she has of Evelyn are on that hard drive."

Martinez told the dispatcher she wanted Miller's behavior documented "in case Noel harasses her later on," the report states. "She thought it was strange that she freaked out about the hard drive and wanted investigator Bartz to know this."
...
Martinez is the ex-wife of Danny Slick. Slick and his friend Randy Patrie were among the last to see Evelyn alive when they stopped by at 2 a.m. July 1 to see Frederiksen. They have repeatedly stated they left the child unhurt.

I remain confident this murder will be solved. Something's going to break it open.

Prosecutor vows not to give up

CHARLES CITY, Iowa Floyd County Attorney Marilyn Dettmer says she will not give up her search for Evelyn Miller's killer.

The five-year-old Floyd girl disappeared from her family's apartment on July First. She was found dead in a river six days later.

Evelyn's death has been ruled a homicide, but details about how and when she was killed have not been released.

Meanwhile, Evelyn's mother and her fiance have been back in court over allegations that their poor parenting placed Evelyn's two brothers in danger.

Noel Miller and Casey Frederiksen were back in court yesterday. Dettmer, acting as a representative of state child welfare officials, asked a juvenile court judge to declare the two boys "children in need of assistance." The ruling would give the court jurisdiction over the family.

The boys were placed in foster care last month. The outcome of the hearing was not made public.

Some of Frederiksen and Miller's relatives have criticized the couple for having an "unstable lifestyle." Records show police had dozens of contacts with the couple during the past four years.
Frederiksen has returned to his part-time job at Kmart. Miller was working at a nursing home to become a certified nurse's aide but hasn't finished her training. Because of her daughter's homicide, Miller is entitled to up to $6,000 in lost wages from the Victim's Compensation Fund.
The weekend of Aug. 13, the couple moved to a larger home with a grassy yard on Charles City's E Street.

What a fine idea! Give the drug addicted mother and boyfriend $6000.00 to party on!

That's Vilsack's Iowa at its' best.

It is not a matter of finding the killers. I think everyone knows pretty much what happened. Whether it will ever be proven in court beyond a reasonable doubt is the question.

Evelyn Miller's Grandparents Want Release Of DHS Report

Girl's Death Ruled Homicide

POSTED: 2:40 pm CDT September 2, 2005

UPDATED: 2:45 pm CDT September 2, 2005

FLOYD, Iowa -- The grandparents of 5-year-old Evelyn Miller, who was killed in July, are criticizing the Floyd County Attorney's Office for withholding findings of an Iowa Department of Human Services investigation into the crime.

The girl went missing from her mother's apartment on July 1.

Her body was found six days later in the Cedar River, about two miles from her home.

Her death has been ruled a homicide, but details about how and when she was killed have not been released.

Evelyn's grandparents, Richard and Linda Christie, of Des Moines, wrote an e-mail to Floyd County Attorney Marilyn Dettmer this week asking why the file wasn't released.

They wondered if the office had a suspect in mind.

Dettmer did not respond directly to the family members' e-mail, but said her office requested a judge seal the file in relation to the ongoing investigation.

Dettmer said there is no way to release only some bits of the information, as the Christies have suggested.

Previous Stories:

August 27, 2005: Prosecutor Vows Not To Give Up In Miller Case

August 27, 2005: Floyd Gathers To Celebrate Miller's Birthday

August 12, 2005: Evelyn Miller's Mother Speaks Out

August 6, 2005: Boyfriend's Sister Defends Police In Evelyn Miller Case

August 4, 2005: Still No Answers In Evelyn Miller Case

August 1, 2005: DHS To Finish Assessment In Evelyn Miller Case

July 22, 2005: Small Turnout For Counseling In Evelyn Miller Death

July 19, 2005: Crisis Team To Help Evelyn Miller Volunteers

July 18, 2005: Family, Community Encouraged To Celebrate Miller's Life

July 15, 2005: DHS To Release Results Of Miller's Neglect Assessment

July 14, 2005: Pastor Calls On Friends, Family To Celebrate Miller's Life

July 13, 2005: $5,000 Reward Offered In Miller Case

July 13, 2005: Evelyn Miller Criminal Probe Continues

July 12, 2005: Vilsack To Review Files In Miller Case

July 12, 2005: DHS Had Contact With Evelyn Miller's Family Before Child's Death

July 11, 2005: Miller Case Now Called Homicide

July 11, 2005: Miller's Funeral Scheduled For Thursday

July 10, 2005: Men Who Last Saw Miller Speak Out

July 9, 2005: Vigil Held In Central Iowa For Evelyn Miller

July 8, 2005: Examiner Completes Autopsy On Body

July 5, 2005: Sheriff: Finding Floyd Child Is Mission

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.