On Friday, January 26, Olivia Miller of Michigan appeared in court on several charges following the death of her infant son. The 23-year-old is charged with several felonies, including manslaughter and child abuse. On November 22, 2023, her 8-month-old son, Asher Johnson, drowned in the bathtub while she was busy on her cell phone.
Wood reported that Miller left baby Asher unattended in the bathtub for at least 20 minutes while she was busy with her phone call, which led to the infant drowning. A Law&Crime review of court records reveals that Olivia Miller was taken into custody on Thursday. She is charged with murder, manslaughter and second-degree child abuse in connection with Asher Johnson's death.
Michigan mother's different accounts of the infant drowning tragedy
Olivia Miller has reportedly contradicted herself in her various statements regarding the events leading up to the sinking. According to reports from Grand Rapids NBC affiliate WOOD, Miller initially called 911 at approximately 3:38 p.m. on November 22. She had already told emergency dispatchers that her infant drowned in their bathtub at their home on 16 Mile Road NW.
Responders arrived at the appointed time and found the victim dead, face up on the ground. He was taken to Helen DeVos Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
During further questioning by investigators, Miller reportedly said she put her son in the bathtub with a few inches of water and went out to do laundry momentarily before returning to find Asher floating with his face half-submerged.
The affidavit states that Miller provided “various stories” throughout the investigation, MLive reported. Miller's cell phone data, which reveals usage patterns, directly contradicts her statements to police. The data shows Miller began using her phone at 3:17 p.m. and continued without interruption, with only a short 18-second break, until she called 911 21 minutes later.
About four minutes before emergency services were called, Miller reportedly sent a text message to her father that said:
“I'm just trying to talk while I have time while Asher takes a nap.”
She then made two calls to Asher's paternal grandmother, informing her that the baby had drowned, before finally calling 911.
An autopsy reveals drowning as the cause of the infant's death
An autopsy performed by the county's chief medical examiner recently confirmed that 8-month-old Asher Johnson died of drowning, Mlive reported. The medical examiner's report also revealed that Asher had been lying on his back on the floor for at least 20 minutes before authorities arrived at Olivia Miller's home in Michigan.
On Friday, Miller arraigned herself. Grand Rapids, Michigan's ABC affiliate, WZZM, reported on the proceedings in her case. Miller has pleaded not guilty to charges of manslaughter and second-degree child abuse.
Miller's “actions show no indication of intent,” Miller's attorney, Frank Stanley, stated.
Miller was devastated by the loss of her infant child, according to her attorney. Olivia Miller's preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 14.
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