COLUMBUS, Ohio — A man who was shot and killed last month while authorities attempted to serve him an indictment on federal gun charges has been identified as the suspect in a decades-old murder case. This development came as police uncovered new evidence linking him to the 1981 murder of an 18-year-old woman from Ohio, through advances in DNA technology.
Mansfield Police Chief Jason Bammann announced that the cold case of Debra Lee Miller, who was brutally murdered in her apartment on April 29, 1981, has finally received a breakthrough. The investigation, which had remained unsolved for over 43 years, was reopened in 2021. Bammann noted that detectives took a fresh look at the evidence using modern forensic techniques, which yielded impressive results.
The DNA evidence pointed to James Vanest, Miller’s 26-year-old neighbor at the time of the murder. Although Vanest was questioned back in 1981, he was never named a suspect during the initial inquiry, which faced scrutiny over alleged police handling and misconduct.
In the years since, Miller’s case has been reopened multiple times. Richland County Prosecutor Jodie Schumacher stated that the DNA evidence against Vanest was robust enough to advance the case toward a grand jury. Unfortunately, he evaded the authorities for some time after declining further interviews.
After having been located living in Canton, around 100 miles from Mansfield, Vanest attempted to create an alibi regarding the DNA found at Miller’s home. Following his refusal to cooperate, he fled to West Virginia, leaving behind several firearms, and was arrested there on state charges.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives took over the case and later issued federal gun charges against him. On November 18, U.S. Marshals and a SWAT team came to arrest Vanest at a motel in North Canton. The situation turned chaotic when he allegedly pointed a gun at authorities, resulting in a shootout that ended with Vanest being fatally shot.
This grim resolution brings some level of closure to the Miller family, as authorities hope that identifying her killer will offer them peace. Detective Terry Butler expressed gratitude for the chance to resolve such a long-standing case, emphasizing that law enforcement remains dedicated to seeking justice, no matter how long it takes.
