An 85-year-old former doctor from Arizona, Stephen Miller, has admitted guilt to second-degree manslaughter after allegedly assisting a woman’s suicide in a New York motel room.
Miller, hailing from Tucson, faced charges under New York legislation that penalises those who intentionally assist in another person’s suicide. The plea deal reached in state court mandates Miller to serve five years on probation.
Miller had travelled from Arizona to a Kingston, New York motel to be present during the woman’s death. On 9 November 2023, housekeeping staff found the woman’s body. Ulster County district attorney’s office confirmed that local police, fire, and emergency workers concluded her death was an “assisted suicide.”
After voluntarily surrendering, Miller was arraigned in February for second-degree manslaughter and two assault counts, initially pleading not guilty.
On Tuesday, Miller’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, stated Miller offered comfort and minor technical support to a woman enduring severe, long-term pain. Lichtman mentioned the woman sought Miller’s help due to his involvement with the advocacy group Choice and Dignity.
“Technically, he broke the law,” Lichtman told reporters. “We acknowledge that, yet morally, Stephen Miller did nothing wrong.”
During the court session, Miller responded quietly but affirmatively to queries from Judge Bryan Rounds.
“Are you pleading guilty because you are, in fact, guilty of second-degree manslaughter?” Rounds asked.
“By your definition, yes,” Miller replied, before the judge clarified that the definition was based on state law.
Rounds repeated the question, to which Miller again answered, “Yes.”
Miller did not comment to reporters following his court appearance.
Miller lost his medical licence after a 2006 conviction for tax fraud in Texas, which resulted in nearly four years of imprisonment, according to the Department of Justice.
Although several states permit medical aid in dying, efforts to legalise it in New York have stalled in the state legislature.
What Other Media Are Saying
- The New York Times reports that Stephen Miller, a right-to-die advocate, pleaded guilty to manslaughter and received five years’ probation after helping a 59-year-old woman take her own life in a motel in the Hudson Valley region of New York.(read more)
- FOX 10 Phoenix reports that Stephen Miller, an 85-year-old former Arizona doctor, pleaded guilty to manslaughter for his role in the assisted suicide of a New York woman.(read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news
Who is Stephen Miller?
Stephen Miller is an 85-year-old former doctor from Arizona.
What was Stephen Miller charged with?
Stephen Miller was charged with second-degree manslaughter.
Why did Stephen Miller plead guilty?
Miller pleaded guilty under New York law for aiding in another person’s suicide.
What is the penalty for Stephen Miller’s guilty plea?
Miller will serve five years of probation.
Did Stephen Miller lose his medical license?
Yes, Miller lost his license after a 2006 tax fraud conviction.