DOTHAN, Ala. — A Dothan man accused of strangling his wife to death is now seeking to lower his bond, which is currently set at $1.5 million.
Stephen Miller, through his attorney David Harrison, filed a motion requesting the court to reduce his bond, arguing that the amount is effectively a denial of bail. Miller is charged with the murder of his wife, Gloria Miller, after he allegedly strangled her and later confessed to the crime during questioning by Dothan police officers.
Gloria Miller was reported missing last month after failing to return home to the couple’s residence on Halls Mill Road. Stephen Miller had participated in the search for his wife, even speaking with local news station WDHN hours before he confessed to authorities.
In a court filing, Miller’s defense team emphasized that the current bond amount is beyond his means and violates his constitutional rights. Attorney David Harrison argued that bail is a crucial part of the justice system, designed to ensure that an accused individual is not punished before trial while still being able to prepare for their defense.
“Bail, which is basic to our system of law, is allowed to prevent the punishment of innocent persons, to enable an accused to remain out of jail until the next proceeding in his case, to relieve the state of the burden of detaining an accused pending trial, to place an accused as much under the power of the court as if he were in the custody of the proper officer, and to enable an accused to prepare his defense to the charge against him,” Harrison stated in the motion.
Miller’s legal team also maintains that he is not a danger to the public and poses no risk of fleeing or going into hiding. They are requesting that the bond be reduced to a more manageable amount, in the range of $15,000 to $150,000, which would be within his financial reach.
Additionally, Harrison has requested a pretrial hearing to discuss the possibility of a new bond and to address the evidence in the case.
A hearing date for Miller’s bond request has not yet been set, but the legal proceedings continue as the case moves forward.
