Lucky Miller was the police chief of Mannford, Oklahoma, who was murdered by his subordinate, Michael Patrick Nealey, in a Pensacola Beach hotel room in 2019. The two men were attending a law enforcement conference in Florida when they got into an alcohol-fueled fight that ended in Miller’s death. Nealey was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2021. This article will explore the details of the case, the motive behind the killing, and the impact on the families and the community.
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The Fatal Altercation
According to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a call for a physical altercation at the Hilton on Pensacola Beach on the night of November 10, 2019. They found Miller lying on the ground, unresponsive and without a pulse, and Nealey lying next to him, mumbling. Miller’s face was battered, with a swollen eye and blood on his mouth. Nealey’s hand was also swollen and red. No weapon was found at the scene.
A hotel security guard told the authorities that he had entered the room after receiving multiple noise complaints from other guests. He said he heard someone “grunting” and saw Nealey sitting on top of Miller. He pulled Nealey off Miller and noticed that Miller was not breathing. He also said that he heard someone yell “stop it, Mike” and laughing and yelling from the room earlier.
The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, strangulation, and smothering. The forensic pathologist who performed the autopsy testified that Miller suffered at least five blows to his head, bleeding in his eyes, and injuries to his neck muscles. He also said that both men were severely intoxicated, with Miller having a blood alcohol level of 0.334 and Nealey having a blood alcohol level of 0.294.
The Motive Behind the Murder
The motive behind the murder remains unclear, as the two men were described as close friends and colleagues. They had worked together at the Mannford Police Department since 2007, when Miller became the police chief and Nealey joined as a detective. They had traveled to Florida to attend a conference organized by the Carterson Public Safety Group, Inc., a company that provides training and consulting services to law enforcement agencies.
According to some witnesses, the two men had been drinking and socializing with other attendees at the hotel bar before returning to their room. Some speculated that they might have had a disagreement over work-related issues or personal matters. However, no evidence of a specific argument or conflict was presented at the trial.
Nealey’s defense attorney claimed that Nealey had no memory of what happened that night and suggested that he might have acted in self-defense or under the influence of a drug. He also argued that the prosecution failed to prove that Nealey intended to kill Miller or that he acted with depraved mind. He asked the jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter.
The prosecution, however, argued that Nealey deliberately killed Miller in a brutal and prolonged attack. They pointed out that Nealey did not call for help or show any remorse after the incident. They also presented testimony from a former cellmate of Nealey, who said that Nealey confessed to him that he killed Miller because he was angry with him for not promoting him and for having an affair with his wife. The cellmate also said that Nealey planned to plead insanity and blame it on alcohol.
The jury deliberated for about three hours before finding Nealey guilty of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole by Circuit Judge Thomas Dannheisser, who said that Nealey’s actions were “senseless, inexplicable, and unforgivable.”
The Impact on the Families and the Community
The murder of Miller shocked and saddened his family, friends, and colleagues, who remembered him as a dedicated and respected leader, a loving husband and father, and a friendly and helpful person. He is survived by his wife, Amber, and his three children, ages 15, 10, and 4.
Miller’s wife spoke at the sentencing hearing and said that her husband was her best friend and soulmate, and that he was a wonderful father who adored his kids. She said that his death left a huge void in their lives and that they miss him every day. She also said that she forgave Nealey, but that he deserved to spend the rest of his life in prison.
Miller’s parents, Johnny and Jo Ann, also spoke at the hearing and expressed their grief and anger over their son’s death. They said that they could not understand why Nealey would kill their son, who had treated him like a brother. They said that they hoped that Nealey would suffer in prison and that they would never forgive him.
Nealey’s wife, Lisa, also spoke at the hearing and asked for leniency and mercy for her husband. She said that Nealey was a good man who loved his family and his job, and that he would never intentionally hurt anyone. She said that she believed that something went wrong that night and that Nealey was not himself. She also said that she still loved him and supported him.
The murder of Miller also affected the Mannford Police Department and the town of Mannford, which has a population of about 3,000. The department, which had 12 officers at the time, lost its chief and one of its detectives in one night. The town administrator, Gerald Haury, appointed officer Jerry Ridley as the interim police chief and said that the department would continue to serve and protect the community.
The mayor of Mannford, Tyler Buttram, said that the town was heartbroken by the news and that it was a tragedy for both families and the agency. He said that Miller was a great leader and a friend to everyone, and that he had made a positive impact on the town. He also said that he hoped that justice would be served and that the town would heal and move forward.
