
News
Brittany Miller Found Dead Two and a Half Years After She Went Missing
January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
Two and a half years after she went missing, the body of 31-year-old Brittany Miller was found Saturday by two hunters in a wooded area off Man Hill Road in the Snow Hill community.
Sheriff Patrick Ray, in an interview with WJLE Tuesday afternoon, confirmed that it was Miller’s body that was found and that the state medical examiner made a positive identification Tuesday through dental records, etc. Miller’s family has been notified.
According to Sheriff Ray this missing person case now becomes a death investigation led by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The cause of Miller’s death has not been disclosed.
“We are not disclosing how the body was found or the cause of death due to the sensitive nature of the investigation,” said Sheriff Ray.
Miller went missing on July 4, 2022 from her home on Hurricane Ridge Road and the family had not heard from her since that day. The location where Brittany’s body was found is approximately one mile (as the crow flies) from her home on the opposite side of Highway 70.
Although investigators had prayed Miller would be found alive, Sheriff Ray said he hopes the sad news of her death will bring closure to her family.
“Our department has prayed many prayers that Brittany would be found and on Saturday the Lord made a way for that to happen. To Him (God) we give the praise,” said Sheriff Ray.
In the months since Miller’s disappearance, the sheriff’s department launched an investigation and spearheaded several search efforts for her.
“Since she went missing we have done multiple search warrants, subpoenas, interviews, etc. trying to find Brittany’s whereabouts without success. The TBI and DA’s office were called in from the beginning to assist us in this missing person investigation,” said Sheriff Ray.
A massive day-long controlled ground and air search effort occurred in March 2023 led by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office which also involved the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and teams of local, regional, and state law enforcement officers, K-9 units, search and rescue volunteers among others.
The search that day covered 187 acres of mostly rugged terrain near Miller’s home on Hurricane Ridge Road where Brittany was last seen but not where her body was actually found. The place where Brittany worshipped, the Indian Creek Memorial Baptist Church, served as the command post for the search effort.
At the time of her disappearance, Sheriff Ray said Brittany was wearing a black tee shirt, possibly saying “DCHS Tigers”. She was also wearing black shorts knee length, and black tennis shoes with black “no show” socks. Brittany was 5 feet, 4inches tall and weighed 150 pounds. Her eyes were blue and she had dark brown shoulder length hair. She also had a tattoo of “Adam” across her forearm and “Tyler” on her right ankle.
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS CLOSED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15
January 15, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOLS CLOSED WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15
Woman Accused of Bringing “Pot” to the Jail in a Coffee Pot
January 14, 2025
By: Dwayne Page
A woman is charged with bringing a coffee pot to the jail containing pot (marijuana).
23-year-old Caitlin Lynn Clouse of Students Home Road is charged with bringing contraband into a penal institution. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 4 Clouse entered the front office of the jail offering to donate a free coffee pot to the jail annex. Correctional officers took the coffee pot and reported smelling marijuana. They searched the container and found inside a mixture of a green and brown leafy substance believed to be marijuana and tobacco which weighed 78 grams.
A convicted felon has been arrested after accidentally shooting himself with a handgun.
50-year-old Eric Trent Johnson of Joines Road, Smithville is charged with unlawful possession of a weapon. His bond is $3,500 and he will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on December 24 Johnson, a convicted felon, had possession of a handgun which accidentally discharged, wounding him. Johnson is on state probation on a Cannon County methamphetamine conviction, and he is not supposed to have possession of a weapon.
47-year-old Brandy Mae Murphy of AB Frazier Road is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $2,500 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 11 a deputy was summoned to a residence on AB Frazier Road and upon arrival he spoke with Murphy and a man, her alleged victim. Both said they had been arguing over a necklace.
Murphy claimed that the man pushed her out the doorway to the home. He said Murphy scratched his back leaving marks before he moved her away from the door. The officer noticed visible scratch marks on the man’s back.
Witnesses said they saw Murphy grab the man by his neck and back during the argument. She was determined to have been the primary aggressor.
26-year-old Dakoda Lane Vance of Cookeville Highway is charged with two counts of violating bond conditions. His bond is $5,00. Sheriff Ray said that on January 7 Vance allegedly made contact with his victim in a domestic assault case in violation of his bond conditions. The next day, Sheriff Ray said while in jail a correctional officer discovered that Vance had made several phone calls over a period of seven days to the same victim in violation of bond conditions.
35-year-old Kelli Michelle Bess of College Street, Smithville is charged with aggravated assault. Her bond is $5,000 and she will be in court January 23.
Sheriff Ray said that on January 8 a deputy was called to Woodbury Highway, Liberty due to an unwanted guest. Upon arrival the officer spoke with the complainant who reported that Bess came to his home in her white Chevy SUV and pulled into a parking lot extremely quick nearly hitting him with her automobile.
