CROMWELL, Conn. (TCD) — Police arrested a 24-year-old woman on suspicion of drowning her 2-year-old child and engaging in a destructive car pursuit.
Connecticut State Police announced Devoni Miller’s arrest on Thursday, Dec. 21. She was charged with murder, first-degree reckless endangerment, interfering with an emergency call, reckless driving, evading responsibility in operation of other vehicles, and risk of injury to a child.
According to the arrest warrant, on Sept. 11, at around 5:20 p.m., troopers responded to the area of Route 9 South Exit 25 in reference to a car accident. Police later learned Miller caused the accident.
The car crash victim reportedly said Miller “never slowed down before striking her vehicle.” After hitting the car, the victim said Miller “proceeded to back up and strike her vehicle two more times while attempting to evade the scene.”
According to the warrant, Miller fled toward the Route 9 South Exit 25 on-ramp and hit another car in front of her. She fled at a high rate of speed and eventually ended up hitting a metal beam guardrail near the Connecticut River.
At approximately 5:31 p.m., a 911 caller said she saw Miller pull over with a child in her arms. The victim reportedly got out of her car to check on Miller. Miller allegedly went up to the witness and hugged her, stating “You can’t call 911, I can’t go back there. They are going to take me back there.”
According to the warrant, the witness told police Miller kept trying to pull away her phone. The witness eventually called 911 from her car, but Miller reportedly made her way into the vehicle and ended it. Miller then exited the witness’ car and reportedly drove off with her child.
According to the warrant, Cromwell Police and Connecticut State Police K-9 units responded to the area to find Miller and her child. They reportedly found her walking near Route 9 North toward the car crash site.
At the time, Miller was allegedly only in her underwear, but she “appeared mostly calm and uninjured.”
Police asked about her clothes, and Miller reportedly said, “I had to get rid of it.” She also said that her child was “floating.”
According to the warrant, Miller pointed toward the water and said police should look for her child there. She reportedly “made statements that included ‘just kill me’ when asked if she wanted to stay warm and sit in a car.” Additionally, the warrant alleges Miller told police “I’m not crazy, just a little depressed,” and “Just take me to jail.”
Portland Fire Department personnel found the child on a pile of rocks in the Connecticut River. The victim was transported to a hospital and pronounced dead at around 9:23 p.m.
During an interview with detectives, the warrant alleges Miller’s family said she “began acting strange” around the time of her child’s birthday, and she seemed “disinterested and emotionless.”
Miller allegedly made “multiple physical and emotional outbursts towards family” before the drowning death of her child.
Police said Miller’s bond was set at $1 million, and she is in the custody of the Connecticut Department of Corrections pending her arraignment on Dec. 22.
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