Indiana Man, John Miller, Arrested For Murder Of 8-Year-Old April Tinsley In 1988

When the police arrived at John Miller’s home on Sunday, he allegedly said the name “April Tinsely,” the 8-year-old girl that was abducted, assaulted and murdered in 1988.

Thirty years after the case began, Miller finally made a statement admitting that he was responsible for the death of Tinsley.

An affidavit that was released by the Allen County prosecutor says that the investigators had DNA evidence that links Miller to the crime.

Tinsley’s body was found in a ditch three days after her disappearance only 20 miles away from her home in Fort Wayne. Back then police were able to determine that she was rape, and the unidentified killer left behind DNA. However, investigators at the time were not able to link it to a suspect.

Two years later the case was reopened when someone wrote on the front of a Fort Wayne barn: “I kill 8-year-old April Marie Tinsley. I will kill again.”

Then later in 2004, a note, nude photos and used condoms were found on the bicycles of three girls. The note read: “‘Hi honey. I been watching you. I am the same person that kidnapped, raped and killed April Tinsely. You are my next victim.”

The used condoms found matched the DNA of Tinsley’s murderer, but it was 14 years later that investigators reopened the case. That’s when they were able to match the case to Miller.

When he was arrested, he detailed how he killed her, he told investigators that he choked her to death after sexually assaulting her.

Miller is currently held at the Allen County Jail for the suspicion of murder, child molestation and confinement. It is currently unknown if he has a lawyer. The 59-year-old is expected to appear in court today.