The Murder of Maxina Danner
For this case, I watched an episode of On the Case with Paula Zahn. It’s season 13 episode 9, titled ‘Mixed Signals.’
A popular 17-year-old high school senior disappears from her home.
Background
Maxina Danner was born on March 25, 1987. She lived in San Fransisco with her family, and was a very good athlete and straight-A student.
Maxina played softball, and had dreams of playing at UC Berkley after she graduated. Maxina also wanted to become a teacher, and help students with disabilities. Maxina was described as funny, vibrant, and had a larger than life personality.
Maxina Danner
The Discovery
On September 27, 2004, a woman was driving home around midnight. The woman spotted something just off the roadway. It was a body wrapped in a blanket. The woman had also seen a brown colored car leaving the area at a high speed. The woman called the San Fransisco police.
It was pitch black when they arrived. The victim was a young woman found wearing her pajamas. The clothing was disheveled, so it’s believed she had been dragged. She was found lying face up with a quilt style blanket over her. The young woman had been strangled, and had blood on her face and in her hair.
There was no blood around the area, so the police believe she had been killed somewhere else. The police didn’t find any tire tracks or shoe prints at the scene.
The 911 caller said she didn’t get the best look at the occupants of the vehicle. But, she said the car was a brown colored four door Sedan. As the woman was giving the description of the car, the car actually came back to the scene. The police chased after the car, and were eventually to determine that the car had seen the body in the road, and got out to take a closer look. Even though returning to the scene was suspicious as hell, they weren’t involved, and were ruled out as suspects.
Identifying the Victim
The police learned that there was a missing persons report for a 17-year-old high school senior named Maxina Danner. Maxina seemed to match the description of their vicitm.
The police did eventually identify Maxina. They learned from her mom, Laurie, that Maxina had last been seen in her pajamas, and had a distinct crucifix around her neck. Maxina’s drivers license was also found, and her fingerprints were used to positively identify her.
Laurie said she had last seen her daughter when Maxina told her she was going to bed. They had watched a movie, and Laurie went to bed a few minutes later. Laurie said she stopped by Maxina’s bedroom the next morning before she left for work. But, she didn’t hear anything, which wasn’t unusual as Maxina often was slow to wake up. Laurie said she didn’t feel the need to check on her, but became concerned when she learned that Maxina hadn’t shown up for school.
The medical examiner was able to determine that Maxina had not been sexually assaulted. Maxina’s chain on her necklace had left an imprint on her neck, as it had stuck to her skin as she was being strangled.
The Secret Rendezvous
The police continued with their investigation by speaking to Maxina’s close friends. Maxina was very popular and well-liked, and had a lot of friends.
One of Maxina’s friends told the police that Maxina had confided in her that she had a secret meet up planned with a mysterious man. This meeting had taken place on the night she died.
The friend said she didn’t ask for many details, but Maxina did say the meeting was with ‘Dante.’ Dante was described as a black male around 25-years-old. He was also short, stocky, and drove a SUV. The friend told the police that she believed Dante was married.
Maxina had meet this Dante about a month earlier. She and a friend had been waiting at the bus stop. Dante had pulled up in his car, and they exchanged phone numbers.
The Cell Phone
The police obtained Maxina’s phone records, and learned that the phone had still be in use in the days after Maxina’s murder.
The U.S. Marshals were called in to assist with tracking the cell phone. The police were able to track the phone to a local park in the Bay View District of San Fransisco, which wasn’t far from where Maxina was found.
The man that had been using Maxina’s phone was identified as Maurice Powell. Maurice was known to the police. He had a criminal history of theft, burglary and drug use.
Maurice was questioned about the cell phone. Maurice told the police that he had been given the phone in exchange for crack. Maurice was eventually asked about his criminal history, but he ended the interview.
The police still believed he was hiding something, but they had nothing to hold him on.
The Other Suspect
The police turned back to Maxina’s cell phone records for more information.
They learned that Maxina had been in frequent contact with a man named Royce Miller, who was 21-years-old at the time. Maxina and Royce had 148 different phone calls between them. The conversations varied in length, but Royce was often the one calling Maxina. Royce and Maxina had spoken several times on the night that Maxina died.
Royce was picked up by police at the local youth center, where he worked as a youth counselor. During his interview, Royce downplayed his relationship with Maxina, and said she had a crush on him.
Royce was asked if he knew anything about Dante. Royce said no, and he didn’t ask her about other people. Royce couldn’t seem to remember what he and Maxina had spoken about.
Royce was asked if he had seen Maxina on the night she died. Royce said no, as he had no transportation. He had been living with his mom, and he said she was out of town. Royce was also released, as the police didn’t have anything to hold him on.
The Star Witness
It wasn’t long after Royce left the police station, when an attorney contacted them. The attorney said they had a client who had information about Maxina’s case.
An immunity deal was created for this person. The witness said his best friend had been the one who had killed Maxina. He said he did go with his friend to leave Maxina’s body on the side of the road. He said he couldn’t get the image of her being left there, and covered with a blanket. He had told his mom about this, and she then contacted the attorney.
The witness said his best friend was Royce Miller. He said he went to Royce’s house on the night of the murder, and saw Maxina’s body in the garage. He admitted that he hadn’t tried to stop Royce, and was in a complete fog when he helped put Maxina’s body near the road.
The friend also was able to connect Maurice Powell to that night. He knew Maurice from the neighborhood, and had seen Maurice leaving Royce’s house.
Maurice was questioned again. Maurice said that Royce had called him for a ride. Maurice had driven Royce to pick up Maxina, and then driven the two back over to Royce’s, and left. Maurice said he was given the cell phone the next day, and was asked by Royce to help him load Maxina’s body. Maurice said no, and that he didn’t want to be involved. Maurice then saw Royce’s friend pull up in the driveway, and left.
The Conviction
Royce was also identified as Dante by Maxina’s friends. The police confronted Royce, but he denied being involved in the murder. The police told him that they could place his phone and Maxina’s phone together. Royce’s cell phone could be traced heading in the direction of Maxina’s, and the both of their phones pinged on towers leading back to Royce’s.
Royce Miller was arrested and charged with murder. His trial began in March 2007.
Royce’s friend was the star witness. The prosecution also used the cell phone evidence against him.
Royce’s defense blamed the crime on Maurice Powell. They described Maurice as being from the streets, and that Royce only helped Maurice place Maxina’s body on the side of the road.
The jury deliberated for 5 1/2 hours. On March 18, 2007, the jury found Royce guilty of second degree murder. He was sentenced to 15 years to life.
Royce Miller
FINAL THOUGHTS
There was no true motive presented in this case. It seems as if Royce was maybe more interested in Maxina than she was in him. But, for all we know Royce could just be evil, and decided to take Maxina’s life for no reason. Royce then tried to pull his best friend into it, and blame someone who clearly has a long criminal history. Maurice and the other friend are to blame to some extent, but Royce was the true mastermind and killer. Maxina deserves to be here today, and my heart breaks for her family.
Sources
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Killing-suspect-admits-dumping-2695034.php
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/SAN-FRANCISCO-Jury-convicts-man-in-death-of-2608181.php
