CLEVELAND -- For the second time, a jury has found Ronald Miller guilty of trying to murder his wife by tampering with the engine of her car, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy J. McGinty announced today.
Miller's latest trial went to the jury late Friday afternoon.
Today (Aug. 24) the jurors found the 76-year-old Richmond Heights man guilty of attempted aggravated murder, attempted murder, felonious assault and violation of a protection order.
Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Steven A. Gall set 8:30 a.m. Sept. 1 for his sentencing.
Miller faces up to 11 years in prison.
On Feb. 8, 2013, Ronald Miller attempted to kill Rhoda Miller, his third wife, by lodging a wood shim in the throttle mechanism of her 2004 Honda Civic.
Unable to stop, Rhoda Miller avoided hitting children or other innocent pedestrians in the parking lot by steering her car through the window of a nail salon at a Richmond Heights shopping plaza.
Rhoda Miller, now 67, was not hurt in the accident.
A tow truck driver discovered the wood shim lodged in the engine.
Expert witnesses for the prosecution concluded that it would have been impossible for the wood shim to have gotten there accidentally.
In February 2014, another jury also found Ronald Miller guilty on these charges, but the verdict was overturned on appeal and a new trial ordered.
"Ronald Miller likes to portray himself as a sweet little old man, but in reality, he's cold and conniving, and he tried to kill his wife rather than simply get a divorce," said Assistant County Prosecutor Gregory J. Mussman, who represented the State of Ohio along with Assistant County Prosecutor Carl J. Mazzone.
"Luckily for her, his plot failed, and once again, a jury has seen through his facade."
