Additional Coverage:
- Authorities say ‘spiritual delusion’ played role in deaths of Ohio husband, child who drowned in lake (nbcnews.com)
Tragedy at Atwood Lake: Mother Faces Murder Charge After Deaths of Husband and Son
A weekend outing at Atwood Lake turned tragic after a woman crashed a golf cart into the water, leading authorities to discover the bodies of her husband and 4-year-old son. The woman, who has not yet been formally charged and therefore remains unidentified, is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation at a local hospital. Authorities plan to charge her with aggravated murder in connection with her son’s death.
According to Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell, the incident began Saturday morning with a 911 call reporting a golf cart crashing into the lake near Atwood Marina West. Witnesses described seeing the cart, carrying the woman and three teenage children, speeding erratically across the grass before plunging into the water.
The teens escaped unharmed, but the woman’s behavior immediately raised concerns. She reportedly discouraged a bystander from helping her, urging him to pray instead.
Further unusual statements to responding rangers, including claims that she had “given her son to the Lord,” led authorities to suspect more than just an accident.
The investigation revealed the missing husband, 45-year-old Marcus J. Miller, and 4-year-old son, Vincen.
The mother allegedly confessed to throwing Vincen into the lake as an “offering to God,” and described a series of “tests” she and her husband believed God had instructed them to perform, including walking on water and swimming challenges. She claimed Marcus drowned while attempting to swim to a sandbar after failing one of these tests.
Sheriff Campbell stated that “spiritual delusion” appeared to be a significant factor in the tragedy, explaining that the woman believed she and her husband had to prove their worthiness to God through these tasks, and that Vincen became the “price to pay” for their failures. She also allegedly made her teenage children perform similar tasks in the water and pray for their deceased father and brother.
The bodies of Marcus and Vincen Miller were recovered from the lake on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. The teenage children are now in the care of relatives.
The Miller family, members of the Old Order Amish Church from Holmes County, were on a weekend trip to the lake. A statement released by the family and church emphasized that the tragic events do not reflect their beliefs but are the result of mental illness.