Bio 

John Lawrence Miller was born around 1942 in Los Angeles, California. His parents were Harold A. Miller and Lela Miller of Long Beach. Before his first murder, Miller had already been in trouble with the law. In 1955, he was arrested for burglary. In 1957, he was sent to the Fred C. Nelles School for Boys in Whittier after burglarizing a house and stealing a car.

On November 11, 1957, when Miller was 15, his parents were allowed to take him out of the reform school for a short visit. Before they returned him, Miller ran away. He went to the home of a family friend, reportedly planning to steal money and a gun.

Soon after, he killed 22-month-old Laura Joan Wetzel. Miller later admitted to the murder and said he had wanted to know what it felt like to kill someone.

Murder Story

On November 11, 1957, 15-year-old John Lawrence Miller was allowed to leave the Fred C. Nelles School for Boys for a short visit with his parents. That night, he ran away instead of returning to the reform school. Miller went to the Rolling Hills area of Los Angeles County. He reportedly planned to break into the home of a family friend and steal money and a gun.

On November 12, 1957, Miller encountered 22-month-old Laura Joan Wetzel. She was later found dead inside the home. Reports state that she had been beaten. After the killing, Miller fled. He stole vehicles and traveled through California and Oregon before reaching Reno, Nevada. He was arrested on November 15, 1957, and returned to Los Angeles.

Miller confessed to killing Laura. He pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1958. After serving about 17 years, Miller was paroled in August 1975. Two months later, on October 23, 1975, he shot and killed both of his parents, Harold A. Miller and Lela Miller, at their home in Long Beach.

After the double murder, Miller fled again. He was later arrested after a bank robbery in Downey. In 1976, he was convicted of murdering his parents and sentenced to life imprisonment again.