Authorities are investigating a tragic incident at Atwood Lake over the weekend that left a 4-year-old boy and his father dead and the boy’s mother hospitalized after what officials described as a mental health crisis.
Tuscarawas County Sheriff Orvis Campbell said a 911 call at 10:39 a.m. on Aug. 23 reported a golf cart carrying a woman and three children entering the lake near the campgrounds. Witnesses said the golf cart flipped off a stone wall and landed in the water.
“The mother initially refused any help,” Campbell said during a press conference. “She made statements suggesting this was not an accident.”
By 6:03 p.m., divers recovered the body of 4-year-old Vincen Miller of Millersburg. The following morning at 8:29 a.m., divers located the body of 45-year-old Marcus J. Miller, identified as the boy’s father, 53 yards from the dock.
Mother’s statements raise concern
Campbell said deputies interviewed the children and the mother, who repeatedly claimed she threw her son into the water “to give him to God.”
“The mother was clearly suffering from what we believe was a spiritual delusion,” Campbell said. “The children were confused and repeated much of what their mother told them,” describing the situation as “a heartbreaking mental health crisis.”
Detectives obtained a search warrant for the family’s RV, but no evidence beyond photographs was recovered.
The mother, a 40-year-old Amish woman, was taken to a mental health facility for evaluation. Campbell said charges of aggravated murder and child endangerment are being considered pending the outcome of the investigation.
Family, church issue statement
The family and their Old Order Amish church released a statement thanking law enforcement and first responders and asking for privacy.
“These events do not reflect our teachings or beliefs but are instead the result of a mental illness,” the statement read. “We encourage anyone facing mental health challenges to seek professional help.”
The statement noted the family had received counseling in the past and that relatives and church members had been “walking with them through their challenges.”
Investigation ongoing
The Tuscarawas County Coroner’s Office said autopsies will be performed at the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner’s Office to determine the official causes of death.
Campbell said the community is grieving and emphasized the importance of mental health resources.
“This is not something we see every day,” he said. “Our hearts go out to the children, the family, and everyone affected by this tragedy.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
