Texas father-to-son accused of killing his neighbor in jail

A Texas father and son accused of killing a neighbor over a mattress were back in jail on Saturday after the authorities reviewed a video of the deadly shooting and their bail had been increased.

Originally, a justice of the peace had set the bail amount at $ 25,000 after the arrest of John Miller, 67, and Michael Miller, 31, on September 1 in Abilene. They went out shortly after their arrest.

But Abilene police recently reviewed the video of the shootings recorded by Howard's common-law wife, Kara Box. Box released the video a few days ago because she wanted to show what happened that September morning.

Abilene police chief Stan Standridge said in a statement Friday that the immediate release of the Millers was "a concern for him and our community."

On Friday, Taylor County Attorney Jim Hicks filed a request for insufficient bail and the bond was raised to $ 250,000.

The Millers were arrested on Friday without incident and remained in custody on Saturday in Taylor County Jail.

Box told the Star-Telegram that they had moved to this Abilene home in April, but they had never spoken to the Millers before the morning of September 1st. The Millers were neighbors.

"We had thrown a double mattress and placed it in a garbage bin in our alley a few days before the shoot," Box said. "You must have the mattress in the dumpster or they will not carry it."

On the morning of September 1st, Box and Howard were in their yard when they saw the mattress on their property. Howard threw it into the dumpster.

Box said that when John Miller arrived in the alley, he pulled the mattress out of the dumpster and threw it on Howard's property.

Howard told Miller to put it back in the dumpster. Miller swore to Howard and told him that he was not going to do that, Box said.

"That's when John (Miller) took a gun out of his shorts," she said. Box noted that Howard's nieces and nephews were with them in the yard.

"Aaron goes into daddy mode," Box told Star-Telegram. "A man has just shot a gun at his wife, brother, nieces and nephews."

A tense conversation ensues between Howard, who is not armed, and John and Michael Miller, who arrive on the scene armed with a shotgun.

Howard threatens to kill the Millers, and the Millers repeatedly insult Howard, according to the video.

While the spirits get confused, Box intervenes between her husband and John Miller. Howard's brother gave him a baseball bat at that time, but he never launched it, his wife said.

"If you come within 3 feet of me, I'll kill you," Miller told Howard. Seconds later, two shots are heard. The video also shows that Michael Miller fired the rifle after the first two shots were fired.

Box begins to shout, "No, no, Aaron!" After her husband was shot in the chest and head.