Town Marshal William Dean Miner, Jr.

William Dean Miner, Jr.

Town Marshal William Miner was shot and killed while struggling with a suspect after responding to reports of someone breaking into a vehicle. During the struggle a second suspect approached, disarmed Marshal Miner, and shot him in the back.

The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. In 1995, the Indiana Supreme Court affirmed the conviction, but overturned his death sentence which resulted in a resentencing to 60 years in prison. He was subsequently released in July 2012 after serving only 29 years in prison.

Marshal Miner had served with the Avilla Police Department for two years. He was survived by his wife and two small children.