By Emilie Parten, The Roving Reporter
John Wayne Miller was charged with causing serious bodily harm by causing Doris Anderson Miller’s head to strike an unknown object. Miller and Anderson had been in on and off relationships for thirty years before they finally married in 2018. In July of 2019, Anderson underwent open heart surgery and was placed on Plavix, an anti-platelet medication, to prevent blood clots.
In the week prior to the incident in this case, Anderson and Miller had separated with Miller moving out of their shared home. On January 20th, 2020, in the early hours of the morning, Miller visited a lover at the Northwood Apartments. Anderson found her husband at his mistress’s apartment and a physical altercation ensued.
Anderson held up her phone to take a photo, for proof of infidelity that she claimed she was going to show her lawyer. Miller approached Anderson, grabbed the phone, threw it on the ground, then grabbed her and threw her on the ground, according to the State.
The defense’s story was a bit different, claiming that Miller did indeed grab her coat collar, but when Anderson attempted to turn away from Miller, her knee, which had previously been replaced, gave out and Miller “gently lowered her to the ground” before he walked away.
Anderson contacted the police who met her at Northwood Apartments. The State’s prosecution team, DA Will Thompson and First ADA, Andrew Wolf submitted redacted bodycam footage in order for Anderson’s side of the story to be heard. During the initial interview with patrol, Anderson began rubbing her jaw and one responding officer noted a bit of swelling to the area. Though Anderson initially denied needing medical assistance, when the responding officers discovered she was on antiplatelet medication, they strongly advised her to be seen by physicians. Anderson was transported by ambulance to Navarro Regional when she quickly underwent a head CT scan which found a subdural hematoma.
During the CT scan, Anderson quickly went from alert to confused to unconscious. She was immediately transferred to Medical City Plano to undergo a craniotomy. Sadly, Anderson did not recover. She was taken off of life support and passed away on February 2nd of 2020.
The jury was tasked with a difficult job, to answer the following questions: What role did Plavix play in Anderson’s death? Did Anderson strike her head on something? Was Miller responsible for causing the injury that ultimately killed her?
The State provided the 911 call and bodycam footage with Anderson’s own testimony as evidence against Miller. The NCSO Dispatcher and both first responders testified in court.
Anderson’s granddaughter testified that Miller and Anderson’s relationship was “toxic and challenging”. The court heard from multiple experts who treated Anderson for her injuries, everyone stating that some force had to have happened in order for a subdural hematoma to form, whether by a strike or a sudden jolt of some kind. Plavix, according to expert witnesses, would have made the hematoma more severe.
The medical examiner who performed Anderson’s autopsy made note of various bruises including a pair on the upper chest, elbow, and wrist, consistent with someone attempting to catch themselves. The medical examiner did not see any evidence of a head strike, stating it could very well have been hidden by the craniotomy that was performed.
After just over seven hours of deliberation, the jury found John Wayne Miller not guilty.