Pennsylvania State Police. Photo by James Short.
The Pennsylvania State Police at Skippack filed a criminal complaint on July 2, issuing a felony charge of possession of a prohibited firearm after searching a Montgomery Township home and finding 14 different guns.
Frederick W. Miller, 69, of the 100 block of Limekiln Pike, told police he took the firearms because they had “sentimental value,” having previously belonged to his father, according to the complaint.
On Oct. 26, 2022, at 3:35 p.m., state police in Montoursville, Lycoming County said they interviewed Joan Miller, the mother of Frederick W. Miller. She was joined by another son, Roy Joseph Miller, Roy’s wife, Kathleen Marie Miller, as well as her youngest son, Chris Miller, at interviews conducted in her home on the 600 block of Campbell Road, Cogan House Township, Lycoming County, police said.
Joan Miller relayed to police, according to reports, that in the summer of 2021, she was in and out of Philadelphia-based hospitals, staying on occasion with her eldest son Frederick at his Ambler home. Police said that Joan accused Frederick of going into her home and taking her late-husband’s firearms.
Joan did admit that she sold Frederick a gun safe for $400 on July 20, 2021, “on the condition that it would be emptied,” police said. She also told police the sale occurred while she was not home. Her son, Roy, confirmed that Frederick would stay at the mother’s home on occasion while she was hospitalized.
Joan also told police that Frederick drove her to her home on Aug. 18, 2021, and “left her in the roadway.” She said that, when she entered her home, it was ransacked, per the affidavit. The incident was not reported at the time to local authorities. Joan said it was not reported because “Frederick can sometimes act out violently,” said police.
On Jan. 8, 2024, Skippack state police interviewed Frederick MIller in the interview room at their barracks. Miller said that he was his mother’s power of attorney, and that there had been “an ongoing family feud” amongst the mother and three brothers, police said.
He said he was, in fact, in possession of some of his father’s firearms, while also admitting he was not supposed to have firearms, according to the report. Police said that Miller had a prior conviction or pleaded guilty to a felony charge, prior to this incident.
Police discovered in Miller's criminal history prior charges including burglary and robbery, making him a person that is not to possess firearms, police said.
Miller provided police with the keys to his home and garage, as well as the combination to his safe, during a search on Jan. 8, 2024, of his Limekiln Pike home.
Five guns were removed from the safe, while another nine were found elsewhere on Miller’s property, police said.
The firearms were entered into Skippack PSP evidence. A criminal complaint was filed July 2 charging Frederick W. Miller with a second-degree felony count of possession of a prohibited firearm. A warrant was issued for Miller’s arrest.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
