SAN ANGELO, TX - Yesterday, LIVE! broke the news about the search for a missing person by the Tom Green County Sheriff's Office at the former San Angelo Speedway located northeast of San Angelo on FM 2105 (see that story here).
This search is part of a two-year investigation into the disappearance of 45-year-old Robert Lamar Miller’s wife, Naomi, who was reported missing in 2015.
This morning, a cadaver dog with Texas Search and Rescue (TEXSAR), Orion, located a body at the Speedway.
Joseph Huston, with the Gulf Coast Chapter of TEXSAR, and the K9 handler for the volunteer organization originally founded in Austin, said Orion, a four-and-half-year-old black lab, pinpointed the spot where the body was found about 40 inches down, and within 6 feet. TEXSAR volunteers were working the area south of the stands, around three major light poles. This was the area provided to the volunteers by local law enforcement.
Given the dirt in the area having been moved around, Huston said that was a "pretty good" find.
"It's a difficult site because there has been a lot of dirt put on it recently in the last three to five years,” he said. “It's been moved around a lot, which always causes the dogs issues in trying to pinpoint a body."
At this time, the body has not been identified. It will be sent off for identification, and LIVE! will provide an update when available.
Huston said this was one of two major cases the organization is working on currently.
WATCH: Close view of where the body was found:
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“This is a missing person's case,” he said.
When asked how a case gets filed with TEXSAR, Huston said, "We work with law enforcement." He added that members get called out by Texas Rangers or county officials. In this case, the Texas Rangers called out the group.
"They said she was in this area," Huston said. "We have out approximately 15 people [out here], including one K9."
Huston added that the organization not only works for law enforcement, but it also helps families find closure. Additionally, TEXSAR doesn’t engage in the investigation aspect of the case, but rather the searching aspect.
"We provide [law enforcement] as much help as possible, including maps," he said. He also provided activity reports and GPS indicators of where they searched.
Also, the K9s used in the searches, like Orion, go through extensive training.
"Orion and I train twice a week," Huston explained. "We train Thursdays and Saturdays."
They also train at multiple sites, and last year, Huston and Orion trained or deployed for 107 days.
Huston said he got into the area late Monday night and started going full force yesterday. Now that the body has been found, the next step for the group is to disembark, go home to their families and wait for the next call.
Update @ 2:30 p.m.
This afternoon, Tom Green County Sheriff David Jones held a press conference to discuss the body that was found at the old San Angelo Speedway on FM 2105.
He said confirmation of the body being found occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. Searchers with Texas Search and Rescue found a buried body they believe to be Naomi Michelle Miller.
“This is a missing person’s case from 2005,” said Sheriff Jones. “We received information in 2015 concerning a missing person.”
Investigators have been working this case since then, said the Sheriff.
This last week, TGCSO arrested Robert Miller for the murder of Naomi. She was 34-years-old at the time of her disappearance. Her body will be sent off for autopsy in North Texas.
Sheriff Jones said Miller has been charged with murder in this case, and he’s at the Tom Green County Jail.
“We are excited that the family will finally have closure in this case,” said Sheriff Jones.
Although her identity has not been confirmed yet, Jones said officials “certainly believe” that’s who it is.
Sheriff Jones noted that the Texas Rangers, Texas Search and Rescue volunteers, Housley Communications, and Tom Green County Road and Bridge helped tremendously in this investigation.
“We are very excited that this case is developing. It’s still developing, and we will continue to work this case until we present it to a grand jury,” Sheriff Jones added.
The investigation at the old Speedway should conclude tonight, Sheriff Jones hopes.
In regards to the crime and how it occurred, Sheriff Jones said no details are being released at this time. However, he did confirm Robert Miller was the victim’s husband.
In 2015, TGCSO received a report from one of Naomi’s relatives about her disappearance. Investigators conducted an extensive search to see if there was any activity. However, there were no banking, social security, or other actions to indicate she was alive.
“That was prior to December of 2005 when she went missing,” Jones noted.
When asked why it took so long for someone to come forward, Jones said, “I can’t answer that question.”
The story at the time was Naomi left after a family fight; she “just took off.” However, that wasn’t the case.
“Her body has been buried for about 11 years,” Sheriff Jones said.
Persons of interest and weapons involved in the case are still being determined. Since 2015 Billy Fiveash has been the investigator assigned to this case, and the Texas Rangers are aiding in the investigation.
Jones pointed out that Miller leased and operated the property where the body was found starting in January 2006.
According to Tom Green County Jail records, Robert Miller has been arrested 17 times. His previous crimes include theft of property, issuance of bad checks, engaging in organized criminal activity, and now murder.
Once more, Sheriff Jones reiterated how happy he is TGCSO helped the family find closure. Naomi does have two children living in the area who were younger at the time of her disappearance. The family has been notified of the new developments in this case.
To see live coverage of this press conference, click here.
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