An Amish woman charged in the drowning death of her 4-year-old son at Atwood Lake last summer was found not guilty by reason of insanity Tuesday, March 3, following a bench trial in Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court.
Judge Michael Ernest issued the ruling after reviewing three court-ordered mental health evaluations of Ruth Miller, 40, of Millersburg in Holmes County. Miller waived her right to a jury trial, leaving the decision solely to the judge.
According to findings read into the record, Miller was suffering from a severe mental disease at the time of the August 2025 incident and did not realize the wrongfulness of her acts.
Authorities said the case began the evening Miller drove a golf cart into Atwood Lake with her children aboard. Three of her teenage children were able to get out of the water safely. Investigators said Miller told them she had thrown her 4-year-old son, Vincen Miller, into the lake to “give him to God.”
Dive teams later recovered the child’s body. Miller’s husband was also found dead in the lake. Investigators previously said the couple appeared to be experiencing what they described as a “spiritual delusion,” believing the water was not a danger and that they could walk on it.
Court documents stated Miller believed she could walk on water and that God had asked her to be swallowed by a fish — beliefs mental health professionals determined were part of a severe psychotic episode.
Miller was indicted on charges of aggravated murder and endangering children.
Under Ohio law, a finding of not guilty by reason of insanity means the defendant is not held criminally responsible due to severe mental illness at the time of the offense. The case will now move to a separate hearing to determine Miller’s commitment and treatment in a secure mental health facility.
Miller will remain in the Tuscarawas County Jail pending that hearing. A date for the next proceeding had not been announced as of Tuesday.
