The 43-year-old cold case of Debra Lee Miller, an 18-year-old waitress murdered in her Mansfield, Ohio apartment on April 29, 1981, has been solved thanks to advancements in DNA technology. Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann announced on Monday that the case, involving the brutal beating death of Miller with an oven grate, was finally closed with the identification of her killer, James Vanest.
Vanest, Miller’s 26-year-old upstairs neighbor at the time of the murder, was shot and killed by police last month during an attempt to serve him an indictment on federal gun charges. A “firm DNA profile” obtained from evidence at the crime scene linked Vanest to Miller’s death, a connection missed during the initial investigation. While questioned in 1981, Vanest was never considered a suspect until the recent DNA analysis. Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher stated that the DNA evidence was strong enough to warrant a grand jury indictment, although this never came to pass due to Vanest’s subsequent death.
Miller’s case had a long and troubled history, intertwined with controversies surrounding the Mansfield Police Department. She was one of several individuals whose deaths in the 1980s prompted an investigation into potential links between the police and these suspicious fatalities. A 1989 investigation, while concluding there was no evidence linking officers to the deaths, raised questions regarding sexual relationships between officers and Miller, and the adequacy of the initial homicide investigations. Miller’s diary entries detailed sexual relationships with several Mansfield police officers. Further controversy followed the next year when the local police chief retired amidst allegations of irregularities in the investigation into the death of a Mansfield patrolman’s ex-wife.
The Miller case was reopened multiple times, most recently in 2021, leveraging advanced DNA technology and forensic techniques. Chief Bammann described the renewed investigation as a thorough re-examination of the case, leading to “staggering” findings. In November 2021, police re-interviewed Vanest, who was located in Canton, Ohio. He admitted to lying during the initial 1981 interview, and investigators believed he was attempting to construct an alibi to explain his DNA being found in Miller’s apartment. A subsequent attempt to interview Vanest in Spring 2024 was unsuccessful, as he refused to cooperate and requested an attorney. Vanest then fled to West Virginia, leading to his arrest on state charges and subsequent federal indictment for gun violations. His fatal confrontation with law enforcement officers during an attempt to serve the indictment ultimately closed the case.
Mansfield Police Detective Terry Butler, whose great-uncle was among the first officers at the 1981 crime scene, expressed his satisfaction at solving the case. He highlighted the department’s dedication, emphasizing that “we don’t give up, we keep digging.” Chief Bammann stated that the department considers the case closed and hopes this resolution brings closure to Miller’s family.