Kingston, NY—On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, Stephen Miller, age 85, of Tucson, Arizona, was convicted of Manslaughter in the Second Degree with a five-year probation sentence before the Honorable Bryan E. Rounds.
The conviction arises out of an incident on November 9, 2023, during which an individual was found unresponsive by the cleaning staff of the Super 8 Motel in the City of Kingston. Kingston Police Department, Fire Department and other Emergency Personnel responded to the scene and determined that the death by homicide. The ensuing investigation uncovered that Miller had traveled from Arizona and had been with the victim a short while before and at the time of death and had procured the instruments used to cause the death of the victim.
A collaborative investigation by the Kingston Police Department and Ulster County District Attorney’s Office resulted in Miller’s arrest, followed by extradition proceedings and his subsequent appearance in Ulster County Court from Arizona for his arraignment.
District Attorney Emmanuel C. Nneji said: “This defendant has taken accountability for his conduct in this County. His actions led to the death of another person in this community at her most desperate time. Death by any means is not an appropriate answer or response to the despair that some or many of us experience. The rationale for his actions do not take away from the fact that they are criminal under our laws. The New York State Legislature has not passed a law authorizing ‘assisted suicide’, and as DA I cannot close my eyes to that fact regardless of any mitigating considerations lest we open a pandora’s box for subterfuge and ill motives to excuse homicides as assisted suicides. It is best to direct or assist the person to the resources that are available through medical, psychiatric, and family interventions.”
The victim’s name has been withheld at the request of the family for privacy and anonymity in this loss; the District Attorney requests that their wish be respected.
For anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, and for families with loved ones who are struggling with pain or substance use disorder, please reach out for help by contacting Ulster County Department of Mental Health at (845) 340-4110, reviewing resources in Ulster County by following https://bit.ly/3Xh0B2W or by dialing 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
This case was prosecuted by Special Victims Bureau Chief Assistant District Attorney Jenna Hastings. The defendant was represented by Jeffrey Lichtman and Jeffrey Einhorn of New York City.
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