COWLITZ COUNTY, OR – An Oregon landlord has been charged with second-degree murder after confessing to his sister that he killed his longtime tenant and stuffed the body in a 55-gallon barrel on his property, authorities said.
Ricky Dean Miller, 67, faces charges of murder and unlawful disposal of human remains following the discovery of 71-year-old Dennis Eugene Schmitt’s body on December 17.
The Cowlitz County Sheriff’s Office responded after Miller’s sister reported that he had confessed to killing someone. Deputies executed a search warrant and discovered Schmitt’s remains in a large orange barrel on the property.
Schmitt had lived in a separate residence on Miller’s property for approximately 24 years.
According to court documents, Miller told investigators the deadly confrontation occurred on November 28 when he visited Schmitt’s home to discuss their strained relationship. Miller claimed Schmitt grabbed his shoulder and told him to leave.
Miller stated he “grabbed a wooden walking stick” and struck his tenant “at least one time and possibly several times.”
Two days later, Miller allegedly dragged Schmitt’s body outside and covered it with a tarp. Several days after that, he purchased the barrel from a feed store and placed the body inside.
A forensic examination revealed Schmitt suffered multiple blunt force injuries and showed evidence of strangulation. Miller reportedly told detectives he remembered placing his foot on Schmitt’s neck and his hand over his mouth before realizing “he was likely dead.”
Miller is being held pending his next court appearance.
