Police in Columbus, Ohio, have revealed that the man shot dead while being served an indictment for federal gun charges last month has been identified as the perpetrator in an unsolved 43-year-old cold case. Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann announced on Monday that DNA technology advancements led to the breakthrough in the case of Debra Lee Miller, an 18-year-old Ohio woman who was killed in 1981.
Miller was found beaten to death in her apartment, and the case had remained unsolved until recently. Investigators re-examined the case using new forensic techniques and discovered a DNA match to James Vanest, who was Miller’s neighbor at the time of the murder. Despite being questioned during the initial investigation, Vanest was never identified as a suspect.
The reopening of the case shed light on allegations of potential police misconduct related to Miller’s death, including claims of sexual involvement between police officers and the victim. While previous investigations did not find evidence linking officers to the deaths, questions about police conduct during the initial probe were raised.
Vanest was located living in Canton, Ohio, in 2021 and was re-interviewed by investigators regarding Miller’s murder. He admitted to lying during his initial interview in 1981, leading authorities to suspect he was attempting to establish an alibi. Vanest later refused to cooperate with police, sold his house, and fled to West Virginia, where he was arrested on state charges and released on bond.
Following his indictment on federal gun charges, a confrontation with law enforcement officers at a North Canton motel resulted in Vanest being fatally shot after allegedly pointing a gun at them. Mansfield police now consider the case closed, bringing closure to the decades-old mystery of Debra Lee Miller’s murder.
Butler mentioned that his great-uncle had been among the initial officers to arrive at the site of Miller’s murder in 1981. Reflecting on the opportunity to bring closure to his family, Butler expressed gratitude for the chance to solve a case that had occurred when he was only ten years old. Emphasizing the importance of perseverance, he stated, “we don’t give up, we keep digging.”
