Mar 8, 2007 6:29 pm US/Central
Fort Worth Cheerleader Killer Set To Be Released
by Mary Stewart
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ―
For nearly a quarter of a century he's been one of the most infamous criminals in North Texas history. Now, Tarrant County residents are bracing for the release of Wesley Wayne Miller, the man who killed an 18-year-old cheerleader in 1982.
Miller is set to be released Friday, but because of efforts by the victim's family he'll be one of the most closely scrutinized criminals in recent memory.
Parole officers will keep tabs on Miller until next February, when he would have completed his sentence for killing Retha Stratton, who was stabbed 38 times.
According to officials with Texas Department of Criminal Justice, after Miller's release, he will be taken under guard to the North Texas Intermediate Sanction Facility in Fort Worth. Just last week a 46-year-old convicted robber escaped from the same facility. After more than four days on the run authorities captured the man in Corpus Christi.
This isn't the first taste of freedom for Miller. Over the past two decades, the convicted killer has been released from prison on mandatory supervision several times under the terms of a state law in effect when he was convicted. Each time, he has been sent back because he refused counseling or was accused of committing another crime, including stalking a Wichita Falls woman in 1991.
"I don't feel I'm a danger to society," Miller told CBS 11 News in a past interview. "I refuse [counseling] because I've never been convicted of a sex crime."
After serving most of his 25 year sentence for the murder of Retha Stratton and complying with six months of counseling, Miller is about to be released.
Using a global positioning device, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice will monitor Miller's every move in
real time. The Texas Department of Public Safety will have a second monitor to also keep watch on Miller.
Tarrant County Sheriff Dee Anderson says Miller can't leave the half way house unescorted. "He's going to have a little more freedom this time and that's a little unnerving for some of the people, particularly the victim's and their families. It's a tough situation."
Retha Stratton's sister, Rona Stratton Smith, has fought Miller's release for 25 years. Miller is the first convicted killer to be civilly committed under Texas' sexual predator law, which was passed in 1999.
"If he had total freedom yeah, I'd be afraid of him. Anybody should be afraid of him," Rona said, talking about Miller's latest release date. This time, she says, he won't have total freedom. "Wesley did the most horrible thing to me in 1982. I didn't let that ruin my life," Rona said. "And I'm not going to let him getting out, ruin my life."
CBS 11 News asked to speak to the officials who will be supervising Miller to find out how he'll be monitored, but they said this case is so sensitive, they won't discuss the details until Friday.
If Miller does not comply with treatment or violates any condition -- which includes not drinking alcohol, not driving and not accepting employment that requires him to enter a home -- he could be charged with a third-degree felony and could face life in prison.
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