Tim Miller, the director and founder of EquuSearch, has dedicated his life to finding missing people. After his teenage daughter Laura disappeared in 1984 and was found murdered two years later, he turned his grief into action. Four years ago, a stranger called with a rambling message about an unsolved murder case. Miller initially dismissed it, but after repeated calls, he returned the call. That conversation set off a chain of events leading to the identification of a possible serial killer and the arrest of an alleged accomplice.
The Disappearance of Laura Miller
In September 1984, 16-year-old Laura Miller went to a payphone to call her boyfriend in League City, Texas, and never returned. Police treated her as a runaway due to her history of seizures and depression. Two years later, her remains were found in an oilfield alongside another unidentified woman. The area, known as the "killing fields," saw about 30 women and girls disappear or die between the 1970s and early 2000s.
Miller's Quest for Justice
Frustrated with the police investigation, Miller began his own hunt. He suspected a neighbor, Clyde Hedrick, who had a criminal record and was linked to the death of Ellen Beason. Miller's tactics included a drive-by shooting at Hedrick's house and confronting him at gunpoint. Despite his efforts, no charges were filed for Laura's murder.
The Breakthrough
In 2012, at Miller's urging, Beason's body was exhumed, revealing a skull fracture. Hedrick was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 20 years. In 2019, DNA technology identified the two Jane Does as Audrey Lee Cook and Donna Gonsoulin Prudhomme. Then, in 2020, a caller named James Elmore claimed to have information about Laura's case.
Elmore's Confession
Elmore, a friend of Hedrick, told Miller that Hedrick raped and killed Laura with a cocaine overdose, then moved her body with Elmore's help. Elmore also implicated Hedrick in other murders. After four years of meetings, Elmore spoke to police, leading to a grand jury indictment for manslaughter and tampering with evidence.
Hedrick's Death
Before he could be arrested, Hedrick died by suicide in March 2023. Miller believes he did it to maintain control. Elmore's trial is set for August 2023, with bail set at $4.5 million. Police continue to search for more remains.
Miller's Ongoing Mission
Now nearly 80, Miller remains committed to EquuSearch. He has found some comfort but continues to help other families. "We got a lot more girls to find, and a lot more families to help," he said. His work has brought resolution to some cases, but many mysteries remain in the Texas killing fields.
