Crime & Safety

Ravitch to lead prosecution in Healdsburg fatal shooting

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announces Friday she will lead prosecution herself.

Sonoma County District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced Friday she would assume lead prosecution herself in the case of Jarrod Miller, a suspect in a Healdsburg fatal shooting Tuesday night.

“This is a tragic event and we are committed to ensuring justice will be done,” Ravitch said in a news release Friday afternoon.

District Attorney's office spokesperson Theresa Menshek said this is the first case Ravitch has chosen to prosecute since she took office in January.

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Miller, 29, of Cloverdale, is being held without bail in Sonoma County Court on suspicion of first degree murder in the shooting death  of Tim Neuer of Healdsburg.

Neuer, 29, former owner and founder of Thrive Hydroponics indoor/outdoor garden supplies store in Healdsburg, was the Jarrod Miller lived with Neuer and his sister in a until he moved out recently and relocated in Cloverdale.

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Jarrod Miller returned to the Healdsburg home late Tuesday night. After a discussion, Neuer asked Miller to leave. Instead, police said, Miller took out a small handgun and shot Neuer multiple times.

Miller was later arrested by Windsor police. California Highway Patrol officers found the handgun in a vineyard near where Miller told police he tossed it out of his car.

Ravitch said she will prosecute this case together with Deputy District Attorney Scott Jamar. 

for Miller's first appearance at a hearing in Sonoma County Superior Court.

Miller did not enter a plea Thursday at the arraignment before Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Knoel Owen due to needing extra time to secure an attorney, according to court statements.

Miller returns to court to enter a plea on March 17.

NOTE: Earlier news reports that described Neuer as the current owner of Thrive Hydroponics were incorrect. Neuer is no longer an owner or employee at the company and has not worked there for at least six months. The information was corrected on Healdsburg Patch as of March 15, 2011.

 

 

 


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