DAUPHIN COUNTY, Pa- Joseph D. Miller pleaded guilty to the first-degree murders of Kelly Ann Ward in 1986 and Jeanette Thomas in 1990. In his confession video it says he decided on his own to confess.
"I want to clear the record and get this out of the way. I don't want it coming back, ya know, what I mean. Another 5-6 years later, have to go through all this. I want to put it rest once and for all," he says.
Judge Andrew H. Dowling accepted his guilty pleas and sentenced him to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment that are to be served consecutively to three other life terms he is serving.
"He's a very, very dangerous person, at any age, so we are pleased to not only get closure for two families, but absolutely make sure that he doesn't get out," said First Assistant District Attorney, Francis Chardo.
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This result brings long overdue closure to the families of Kelly and Jeanette.
District Attorney Marsico commended the outstanding work on this case by the Swatara Township Police and the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. In particular, Detective Lieutenant Darrell Reider, Detective Tim Shatto, Detective Kirk Aldrich, and former Chief County Detective Tom Brennan performed outstanding service in achieving justice in this case.
"The satisfaction of seeing a family get some measure of closure is absolutely important and insuring that he never ever gets out again is very, very important," added Chardo.
**WARNING; VIDEO CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE**