News : Suspect jailed for truck theft; 'under investigation' as murder probe continues

David Miller: Arrested for vehicle theft, probation violation as murder probe continues.

The Benton County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a stolen truck approximately 4:00 am Sunday October 25, 2015 from a residence on 59th street trail north of Shellsburg. Reporting party advised they observed a white male take the vehicle and head south.

The vehicle was subsequently located about 1 ½ miles south of where it was taken on a closed road that is currently under construction. The vehicle had crashed into some construction equipment. While deputies investigated at the scene, a neighbor close to the accident reported that his Ford pickup was missing from the residence.

A short time later, Linn County Sheriff authorities were notified of a man walking along Lewis Bottoms Road bleeding from the head. This area would be about 2 miles east of where the accident occurred and the second truck was reported missing. The man was taken to a Cedar Rapids Hospital where he was later interviewed.

Around noon a second call was received of a person lying in the yard next to a vehicle in the same area that the first truck was taken. The person was deceased. The residence subsequently turned out to be the same residence of the person located in Linn County that was being investigated on the vehicle thefts.

Iowa State Patrol aircraft had been called to assist in locating the second vehicle believed to still be in the area. Patrol aircraft located the second vehicle in a densely overgrown area just north of Pleasant Creek Park. The vehicle had been driven down an old trail and crashed into a tree in a deep ravine.

Benton County authorities had requested the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation for processing of the scene where the body was located and assistance in the investigation. That investigation remains on going. An autopsy will be performed to establish the cause of death.

David Charles Miller age 31 of the Shellsburg area was charged Sunday afternoon with the theft of a motor vehicle from the first reported incident. He remains under investigation for other charges. He is currently being held in the Benton County Correctional Facility with no bond on a Violation of Parole warrant that was also filed awaiting initial appearance.

Investigation is ongoing with the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Iowa State Patrol, Linn County Sheriff’s Office, with assistance from Shellsburg and Urbana Police Departments.