Man charged in stabbing death of mother-in-law

James Miller Monday, April 13, 2009 By K.A. WAGONER - Staff Writer A Figsboro man has been charged with murder in connection with the stabbing death of his paraplegic mother-in-law early Saturday morning. James Cleveland Miller, 41, is charged with first-degree murder and using a knife in the commission of a felony in the death of Pamela Carmille Hall, 59, who lived at 1015 Muddy Fork Road in the Snow Creek area of the county, according to Franklin County Sheriff Ewell Hunt. The sheriff's department received a 911 call at 3:29 a.m. Saturday from the Hall residence during which Miller confessed to stabbing his mother-in-law, Hunt said. Miller, his wife and daughter lived with Hall, said Lt. Steve McGuire. Hall had been confined to a wheelchair since an automobile accident in 1998 left her paralyzed. Miller's wife was her mother's caregiver. When deputies and investigators arrived at the scene a few minutes later, Miller was waiting for them alone in the house, McGuire said. He immediately surrendered to the officers and again confessed to stabbing Hall, Hunt added. Hall's body was found in her bed with multiple stab wounds to her chest and torso, Hunt said. Hunt declined to comment on a possible motive because the incident is still under investigation. Miller is being held without bond in the Western Virginia Regional Jail, Hunt said. He is scheduled for arraignment at 8:30 a.m. in Franklin County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court today (Monday, April 13). This is the second homicide in Franklin County this year. The first was found to be a probable murder-suicide in Moneta on Jan. 18, when Giles K. Lochland of Florida is believed to have shot Mary Elizabeth Vogel multiple times in the chest with a semiautomatic handgun before turning the gun on himself.