The Murder of Michelle Miller
For this case I watched an episode of Forbidden: Dying For Love. It’s season 2 episode 1, titled ‘The Sergeant and the Schoolgirl.’
A 17-year old with dreams of joining the U.S. Army, is killed by someone she thought she could trust.
Background
Michelle Lynne Miller was born on September 1, 1995. She lived with her parents Kevin and Pacita in Rockville, Maryland, an affluent suburb of Washington, D.C.
Michelle was just 17 years old, and a senior at Rockville High School, when she died. She was described as popular, kind and caring.
Michelle Miller
Michelle’s Dreams
From a very early age, Michelle wanted to join the U.S. Army. She wanted to go to school to become either a psychologist or psychiatrist for the Army, because she wanted to help people. She was planning to attend Arizona State University after she graduated.
In October 2012, Michelle met 31-year-old Sgt. Adam Arndt, when he came to the school to recruit students for the Future Soldiers Program. Adam had served overseas in Germany and Korea. Michelle was intrigued, and told her parents that she wanted to join. They were hesitant at first, but she was very convincing.
Two days after meeting Adam, Michelle attended the recruitment drive. Adam and Michelle had exchanged numbers, and they began sending flirtatious messages back and forth.
A Toxic “Relationship”
Two weeks after the drive, Michelle enlisted in the program.
Michelle’s friend Noreeza Khan, said Michelle “kicked ass,” and became the platoon leader. Michelle was in very good shape, and impressed everyone. She especially impressed Adam, and he asked her to spend some one on one time with him. She agreed.
Adam was 31, and Michelle was 17. He persuaded Michelle to visit him at his home. He also convinced her to drink with him. He was very good with his words, and over the next two months, they spent time together.
Kevin, Michelle’s dad, said it was very unlike her to keep secrets from them. Michelle was also keeping the same secret from her friends. However, they noticed her flirtatious relationship with Adam, and they warned her to be careful. Michelle always denied that there was anything romantic going on.
Adam Arndt
The Real Adam Arndt
Adam and Michelle had always been secretive about their “relationship,” it was obviously wrong for SEVERAL reasons. Michelle was underage, and it was forbidden for a sergeant to be in a relationship with a recruit.
After about six months, they became less secretive. Michelle even invited her friend Noreeza over to hangout with them at Adam’s house. Adam brought a friend over as well, and Noreeza remembers being very uncomfortable. At one point, she was left with the friend, when Adam and Michelle went up to the bedroom. Noreeza said that confirmed for her that Adam and Michelle were having a sexual relationship.
Adam seemed like he was a great and caring man, however, it turns out that he wasn’t what seemed. He was being investigated for another illegal relationship. He was married to this woman he had met in the same program where he met Michelle. Adam also had issues with alcohol and prescription drugs.
Michelle started to notice changes in Adam. He was moody, and he would single her out during workouts in front of the other recruits.
Adam, with his wife Kaitlyn.
The Murder-Suicide
Michelle was still very committed to the program, and hoped that things would go back to normal with her and Adam.
In March 2013, Adam’s mental health was deteriorating. He would text Michelle in the middle of the night, and ask her to sneak out to see him. She always went, and hoped that she could save him.
On April 7, 2013, Michelle left her home around 9pm. She had told her that dad that someone she knew was having suicidal thoughts. Kevin begged her not to go, but she said she’d be home by 10pm.
Michelle arrived at Adam’s. By 10pm, Michelle didn’t come home, and wasn’t answering her parents messages and calls. Pacita said she knew something was wrong.
Kevin and Pacita reached out to Michelle’s friends, and asked if they had seen her. No one had.
After about 4 hours, Kevin contacted the police, and went out to look for Michelle himself. He eventually found Michelle’s car in front of Adam’s house. He said he couldn’t see into the house, banging on the door, and making as much noise as he could.
The police arrived, and entered the home. Kevin said he knew something was wrong, when he saw the look on the officer’s face. They had to tell him that his daughter was dead.
What Really Happened?
To the police, it was obvious that Adam had shot Michelle once in the head, and then himself.
When Michelle’s autopsy was performed, it showed that Michelle had bruising to her lips and face, and had a fractured vertebrae in her neck. It’s believed that Adam became violent, threw Michelle into something, shot her, and then shot himself.
The U.S. Army took over the investigation. Three months after Michelle’s funeral, the Army contacted Kevin and Pacita, and told them that they believed the case was a double suicide, and they had ruled Michelle’s death as undetermined.
They were stunned. They took legal action against the U.S. Army, but in 2015, they were informed that the civil case couldn't be pursued. Michelle’s cause of death remains undetermined.
One of Michelle’s friends said that Michelle had texted her saying “goodbye.” Other than that, there is no proof that Michelle was suicidal.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Ugh, what the fuck. Sorry for my language, but undetermined seriously????? This man clearly preyed on Michelle, as well as previous underage girls. He was a troubled person, and had severe mental health issues. I don’t want to talk shit about the U.S. Army or the military, but I think they got this one wrong. Michelle was murdered, and you can’t convince me otherwise.
Sources
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108267029/michelle-lynne-miller
https://militaryjusticeforall.com/tag/michelle-miller/
https://wjla.com/news/local/two-dead-found-in-germantown-87223
