Oh my >> Lord have mercy. >> Police are at the home of 81-year-old Howard Beerman. Just minutes earlier, his daughter-in-law called officers after finding Howard unconscious, fearing that he passed away. >> Is it a visit? >> We don't know. We don't. It almost looks like he was like beat here, cast off over there, picked up and staged there. >> Somebody went up against an old man like that. >> Initially, officers were confused. The scene was brutal. But the cause of Howard's death wasn't immediately clear. As police began searching the house, more and more clues pointed towards a carefully staged murder scene, eerily similar to a recent unsolved homicide case with a selfish motive at the center of it all. >> We know you killed him. We're going to be able to prove that. It's just why? Around 7:00 p.m. on a Wednesday, Ohio police received a call from Carla Beerman, reporting that she had found her elderly father-in-law, Howard Beerman, unresponsive. She told dispatchers he had recently undergone surgery for colon cancer and she was visiting to deliver his medication when she made the discovery. Officers arrived within minutes, thinking Howard died from his illness. But what awaited them was the start of a very puzzling murder investigation >> in here. [Music] >> Pennsylvania 13 for sure. >> Okay. Oh my god. Is it a Is it a >> We don't know. We don't >> I see a firearm anywhere. >> H there a firearm anywhere? >> Do we know a name or anything yet? >> I have not. >> Hello. Uh homicide. Absolutely. I mean the guy's covered in blood. He's got huge gashes in his head. An older guy. Maybe Howard Beerman. >> Um it looks like the door might have been forced open. Clear. >> What the hell? >> The jail, >> right? >> Like if you were going to comment somebody, why are you there? >> It's got a lot. >> I believe 25's in round. He'll pick it all up from there. >> Lacerations actually hole in his head swollen up >> on the far back side. There's a lot of >> 12 to three. As officers took a closer look at Howard's body, they quickly realized this was no natural passing. He had numerous head wounds that ripped his skull and one of his eyes was completely blue. But what stood out even more were the strange details that didn't quite add up. The front door showed clear signs of forced entry. Yet Howard's valuable firearms were still left untouched and nothing else appeared to be missing, suggesting he might have been targeted for reasons beyond simple theft. >> I mean, there's just that's straight through. You can see brain matter and everything. >> Somebody have against the old man like that. It almost looks like he's like here cast off over there and then picked up and staged there. >> You called the hospital on coming in the back doors. I >> think I was here the other day just doing a well-being check on him. >> As officers continued examining the scene, someone recalled they had been to this house before during a welfare check just weeks earlier after Howard wandered off and couldn't remember how to get home. The family told officers he had dementia and often carried large amounts of cash on him, sometimes lending it out to people he trusted. It made him both vulnerable and potentially a target. But there was something even more concerning that officers realized. Howard's death wasn't the only violent mystery the town had seen recently. Just over a month earlier, 68-year-old John Strickland was found shot to near his home roughly 5 mi away. His body was left on a neighbor's porch and no arrests were ever made. And now with Howard's case on their hands, police couldn't ignore the unsettling similarities. With this in mind, officers secured the scene and went to speak with Howard's daughter-in-law, Carla Beerman, where they would learn of the suspicious timeline leading up to his murder. >> Hi. We were out here a couple weeks ago, right? >> Yes. Yes. >> We're working on a timeline here. Figure out what what's going on. We we don't know yet. We didn't find anything, a gun or nothing where it was self-inflicted. We don't know anything else at this point. >> Do you know what time they would have left the the Legion? >> 584. He usually goes up about um about when they open. Um around 11:00 and has a couple years of >> leaves like early afternoon. >> Yeah. Um and we were here, my husband had a doctor's appointment and blood work and we were here between 11:30 and 12. >> He was here though when you guys stopped. >> No, he was not. And I couldn't find his medicine and he was up there having a couple beers. >> Okay. >> According to Carla, at around 11:30 a.m., she went to Howard's house to deliver his medication. However, he wasn't home and she assumed he was still at the bar where he usually spent time. At 7:00 p.m., Carla returned expecting Howard to have come back from the bar by then. Instead, she found him deceased. This placed the time of the murder sometime between her first and second visit that day. But then, Carla remembered something strange from 2 days earlier. Something she hadn't thought twice about until now. >> Anybody that any girls that hang around and try to >> get my Now that you mentioned that, he called me. I need some help. I said, okay, I'm on my way. What do you need? He said, "Money, my money's all screwed up." I said, "Okay, I'll come get you. We'll go to the bank." Anyway, we're at the bank. He said, "I need you." They printed him out a thing. He said, "I need $600." I said, "What?" >> What day was that? >> On Wednesday. >> It's Wednesday now. >> So, just yesterday. >> Two days ago. >> Just yesterday. Two days ago. Two days ago. Okay. Okay. >> He said, "I need $600." And I said, "Why? Well, I don't know." >> When he said he needed this money, has he ever said anything like that before? >> No. Did he act like frantic about needing that money or anything? >> He just acted really I need 600 hours. Jackie like across the street and mentioned Jackie Miller has been down a couple of times which she's >> so she checks on him occasionally and nobody else comes around and checks on him. >> Not much. He had somebody doing some plumbing today. Couple months ago, we pulled in the backyard and he was like looked real funny at us. >> Howard's sudden need to withdraw $600 and his refusal to explain why just days before his death led investigators to reconsider robbery as a more likely motive. Carla also mentioned a woman named Jackie Miller, a neighbor who occasionally checked in on Howard, as well as a guy he'd hired to do some plumbing work. Initially, they both were simply people officers thought might have seen something useful. Maybe not. But not long after this, someone else came forward with troubling claims about one of them. >> They said that lady's been still in the neighborhood. I guess >> who? >> Jackie. >> She's been breaking out, too. >> They said she's been stealing people. She's been bringing out her last name. >> Yeah, I know. When was the last time he brought she brought him food? >> Probably a month ago. But Rhonda Park across the street said >> that Jackie was here today. >> Did you tell one of the detectives that information? >> Rhonda just >> they were talking to Rhonda already. >> She's already talked to somebody. >> Did Jackie ever come down with anybody else? She's only been here like once when we've been here. >> So, did you guys like have any beef with her? Had you run her off before? >> No, she like I said she she had brought food. >> She owes him money. >> She was she That's I forgot she was borrowing money off him. He said uh the bank's about to close. I remember that now. This was couple months, three weeks when he was >> um two, three months ago. >> He was lending money to Jackie Miller. And >> she stays in a tent, though. >> He started to just recently tell his daughter-in-law that he was going to stop giving her money because she wasn't paying enough. Officers would go on to speak with Howard's son, Mike Beerman, who confirmed that Jackie Miller often borrowed money from Howard and still owed him. They also tried to track down the man Howard had hired for plumbing work, but no one could provide valid information, forcing them to focus on Jackie for now. Neighbors also said Jackie was struggling financially and was no longer living in her home, instead staying in a tent somewhere in the neighborhood. But the most troubling detail came from an eyewitness who claimed she saw Jackie enter Howard's home at around 400 p.m. but never saw her leave. That placed Jackie among the last people to see Howard alive. With suspicion mounting, officers quickly secured a warrant to search her residence. Inside, it became clear why she had abandoned it. [Music] Police department search warrant. You're in the house. Announce yourself. >> Keep moving. Looks like there's a set of stairs right here. Police department search warrant. [Music] Goodness gracious. We got one more room. Check that one there. Boss, we're done. The house was in complete chaos and unfit for anyone to live in. With no sign of Jackie at the house, officers considered the possibility that Jackie might be staying in someone else's home in the neighborhood. So, more units were deployed to help locate her. Unbeknownst to anyone at the time, Jackie was hiding at a house just outside the neighborhood. >> Have you seen her since, Mom? She was here around 12:30. Well, she was here today at 12:30. >> I didn't see her. Okay, I saw her. >> Ask for money all the time. I don't know what she does with it. I promise you she ain't here. Huh? Like I said, >> we got to cover her bases, dear. >> I swear on our dear, I was not hiding from you. >> Oh, no. We're not saying you did, honey. We're not saying that at all. We're saying she broke games cuz she has no place to go. >> Well, I promise you she shows up here, I'm bringing her to you. We're looking for Jackie Miller. >> She lives on UNER Avenue. >> Okay, we know that. >> Okay, >> we're investigating a homicide. >> She was the last person seen with the victim, so we need to find her. >> Oh my god. I seen Jackie a week and a half ago walking down West Center Street. >> Yeah, she's in bad shape. >> Did she somebody? >> We don't know. >> Oh my god. >> At this point, it seemed Jackie Miller had vanished. Officers searched every house in the neighborhood, but there was no sign of her. A few hours later, police received a call from a man saying his friend inside his home was acting strangely and making disturbing comments that left him uneasy. When officers arrived at the address and searched the house, they discovered the friend was actually Jackie Miller hiding inside one of the bedrooms. >> If you want, okay, >> you're going to be asked to answer some questions. Okay, you understand that? >> If you answer start answering questions without a lawyer present, you can stop at any time. Do you understand that? >> Okay. >> Can I get my stuff? Where do you get my stuff? >> What is your stuff? >> My money on the floor and that drink right there. >> Okay. >> The whatever it is. >> Okay. We'll get it for you. >> All right. >> So, >> and the lighter. The purple lighter. >> Where'd you get the money from? >> Pardon me. >> Where'd you get this money from? >> I borrowed it >> from who? >> A friend of mine. >> Who? >> Um, actually her name is Courtney. >> Did you borrow any from Howard? >> Me that. Did you borrow any money from Howard today? >> No, not today. >> Just we're going to go outside and we'll get the rest of them. >> Just leave your hands behind your back. All right. >> What's up? >> Huh? >> I didn't want her to see me. >> Okay. Sorry. Tell me. Talk to me. >> I said I didn't want her to see me. I told her. >> No, it's fine. >> You know me. I don't like the lie. >> You guys, what what' she talk about today since you've been with her? She said she talked about something that she might kill somebody. >> The caller turned out to be a friend of Jackie, claiming she told him she might have someone earlier that day. Following Jackie's arrest, officers found a container of cocaine in her possession and transported her to the police station for questioning. Jackie had already denied that the money found in her possession belonged to Howard, insisting it came from someone else. A sign that if she was guilty, getting a confession out of her wouldn't be easy. But detectives had a strategy. One designed to get Jackie to confess without even realizing she was doing it. >> Hello. >> Hi, Jack. Remember me from down there? I talked to you. >> Yeah. Talk to you in the background. I remember that as a second page. >> Everybody says that. >> What did they tell you when they arrested you? >> Nothing. >> Nothing. >> That's why I kept on asking what I did. I mean, what the charges was, all that. >> Right now, uh, >> dispossession of cocaine, >> right? I'm asked if that was a felony or misdemeanor or what that was. It >> was felony. The investigator withholds the real reason for Jackie's arrest to keep her calm and prevent her from becoming defensive by avoiding any mention of a murder charge. He creates a false sense of security, hoping she'll lower her guard once the questioning begins. But Jackie had other plans in mind. >> Walk me through your day today. Start. Let's start. It's time we wake up. >> Fed my dog. >> What time you say you woke up around him? >> Right. fed the dog. I got home. >> Went to Howard's to use a phone. >> Uh, what time was that? >> About 2, I guess. 1:30, 2. >> Who's Howard? Howard Beerman? >> Yeah, he's my neighbor. >> Okay. And that was around 2:00. You were there? >> That was like >> Anyone else there? >> Yeah, there was a guy. He came up on the porch when I was leaving. >> Who was that? >> I don't know him. >> This guy that comes and he was coming there as you were leaving. >> Yes. >> And you don't know this guy that came up to the door? No. >> He You seen him go into Howard's house? >> Yeah. >> The detective finds Jackie's story unlikely. No neighbor reported seeing the man she described, and it's clear she's attempting to shift the blame preemptively. Despite not yet being formally accused, Jackie never asks why she's being questioned about Howard, especially since she was brought in on unrelated charges. If she didn't know Howard was dead, it would be natural for her to ask what happened or why the police were questioning her. This is when the detective decided to confront Jackie about a clue she unknowingly brought with her from the crime scene. >> Do you mind hopping up standing? >> Do you mind standing up? Ouch. >> Listen to me. This is your opportunity to tell me what happened in Howard's house. >> What do you mean? >> Let me see this. Hold on. Can you show me? Turn it the other way. Yeah. What you got? What is this? What's this stuff from? >> Um I believe on your pants. >> This is from my bike. >> Hold on. What is >> all this stuff is from like my bike to me? It appears >> my knees are scratched down. >> Blood on your shoe. >> No, that's pink. That's poly urethane. >> That's something like that. Yes, >> that's blood on your shoe. While Jackie's bloodstained clothing wasn't definitive without a DNA match, it was enough for the detective to press her further and get a confession. But for the next 2 hours, Jackie didn't budge and kept denying everything. So, another detective was brought in with a new strategy to encourage her to admit to the killing, but frame it as self-defense. It almost seemed absurd given Howard's age and health condition, but surprisingly Jackie would play right into it. >> Hey, Jackie. >> I'm Lieutenant Ashley. I uh work for the investigative unit just lost. You mind talking to me just for a minute? I may be able to answer some of the questions that you have. >> I guess I don't know. Well, the only reason I'm I'm asking that is is I know you came in here and he talked to you about the aggravator possibly being a charge, right? Okay. You know that's not a given and he doesn't have to charge you with that. >> If there's circumstances which led to what happened inside that house that makes a difference between involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicides and they go down and down and down and down down not go up in seriousness, they go down in seriousness. But what I can tell you is is the only picture that we're going to be able to paint for a jury is that he was brutally murdered for no reason. I don't know. We know him. We're going to be able to prove that. It's just why? What caused this to happen? What caused this sudden just accident to happen? >> Right. This one's family thinking bad of him. >> Everybody's got skeletons in their closet. Would you agree? Oh yeah. >> Okay. Would I be lying if I said that you use drugs occasionally? >> No. >> Are you saying I'm down there to kill him because I need drugs? Is that >> I don't blame that. >> He was trying to be like a sugar daddy kind of thing. >> Is he giving you money? >> No. I mean I borrowed money off of her in the in the past. >> All right. >> I guess not. Sugar daddy's not much right thing to say. uh on different things instead of like me doing his dishes or laundry, stuff like that. >> And he wants you to have >> [ __ ] >> Okay, now we're getting somewhere. >> Step it up. >> Okay, >> I was sitting on the couch. >> He just started coming up further and further. >> This area or the chest area? >> Okay. >> Okay. C area. Then what? I moved his hand away. I mean, he wouldn't he wouldn't stop. He wouldn't take no from me. >> This got you good, huh? >> So, what did you end up having to hit him with to get you off of him? >> I don't even know. >> You don't know? >> I don't know what it was. >> Was it Where was it at? >> Um, he found it on his coffee table. Some tools. It was on his coffee table. >> And can you describe it to me? >> What they call vice grip? something weird or like a >> Where did you hit him at? The chest, the arm, the head. >> Just in the head. >> Okay. How many times do you think you had to hit him? >> I don't know. >> Three or four times, I guess. I don't >> Did you take any money from him that he had in his shirt? Just be honest. >> Huh? >> I think he had 20 bucks in his shirt. >> Did I hear you right took 20 bucks from him or >> Yes. Did you have to hit him so many times to get get away from him? He >> kept on grabbing grabbing us. >> Was he holding you down on the ground or anything like that? >> So he's he's pretty, you know, he's pretty strong guy. >> Jack vice grips. 100% sure on the vice grips. We got a pair in there. They ain't got no blood in them or nothing. There's no blood or nothing on them. Did you wash them off? Wipe them down. Anything. I don't know. That's what I like it. >> You wiped them off? >> I think so. I don't know. >> I mean, I think that's what I like. >> The unconventional strategy of the detective somehow worked and Jackie admitted to the murder. With a confession obtained, detectives ended the interview and booked Jackie into jail. Although she claimed Howard made unwanted civil advances towards her, investigators found no signs of physical assaults during their examination. This led them to believe she fabricated the story after being pressed during questioning. Furthermore, the autopsy revealed that Howard was struck 18 times, 14 of those blows directly to the top of his head. At the time of Jackie's arrest, she was found with several hundred and a significant amount of pain. Given that she had no job and source of income, investigators believed that she had taken much more than the $20 she claimed. All the evidence pointed to one conclusion. That day, Jackie was in withdrawal and desperate for her next fix. She went to Howard asking for money like so many times before. Howard, possibly aware of what the money would be used for, refused. That refusal triggered an impulsive and irrational outburst that ended in Howard's violent death. The murder weapon was a pair of vice grips and was later recovered inside Howard's home, neatly cleaned by Jackie. Forensic testing later confirmed that the blood stains on Jackie's clothing matched Howard's DNA. Investigators also found no evidence linking her to the unsolved murder of John Strickland. His case was later resolved when authorities determined his wife was responsible for his death. In December 2017, 52-year-old Jacqueline Miller was convicted of murder and possession. Under Ohio law, she received an indefinite prison sentence of 15 years to life, making her eligible for parole after serving a minimum of 15 years.